The Joe Walsh Rigging St George Championship
Garde Wins Season Opener - St George Sailing Club 23rd September 2006
The first of the season's interclubs kicked off on Saturday, with the St George Championship. Many thanks to event sponsor Joe Walsh Rigging for organizing the 12's to sail at St George Sailing club and putting up a very handy prize pool, split between Handicap and Scratch places.
The fleet was greeted with a light NorEaster on arrival, with many crews forecasting it to build and putting in the 2nd rigs, with the exception of Datacall (Andrew Stevenson and Brad Greenrod) seeing the light and going big rig.
Off the start with the local 16 footers, which managed to get the better of the start than any of the 12's. O (Jono Temple and Richard Jones) got out to an early lead from Gizmo (Michael Bochner and Tim Barraclough) and Sirromet (Michael Spies and Damien Vlotman). A few position changes at the top mark saw Garde (Brett Hobson and Alex Johnson), jump to 2nd place, only to get blown off course down the first kite run to put Gizmo back in 2nd.
O's lead was reduced to a few seconds by the next top mark by Garde then Gizmo. One lap later Garde took the lead and held on to win from O and a surging Datacall in the dying breeze.
Highlight of the day was Jono Temple's witness description of Gizmo "going down the mine" during one kite ride. A good effort with 2nd rig up in a big rig breeze! It was thought that the Gizmo had found the bottom, causing the nose dive, but Michael Bochner bravely denied the rumour.
Handicap honors went to Datacall.
Skiff-Ed