Class Rules

2011 NAB ARYA Radio A Class National Championship

3^rd 4^th and 5^th January 2011

The Championships were held at Kogarah Bay Sailing Club in Sydney’s South in conjunction with Kogarah Bay Radio Yacht Club and the NSWRYA. 

There were thirteen entrants from NSW, two from WA and one each from Victoria and Queensland.  Expat Brad Gibson made the trip home from GB to attend his sister’s wedding and stayed to compete in the National Championships.

Before racing commenced the boats were check measured and two boats were found not to be in accordance with their registration certificate.  Both boats were able to sail after some modifications. 

Racing got underway in two fleets at 10.30am in a brisk southerly breeze with an overcast sky.  Victoria McNulty organised two skippers from the fleet not sailing to act as observers.  The course was two and a half laps windward and return. The bottom mark was a gate and skippers could choose to go to either left or right after the run from the top mark.

After the first morning Gary Cotterell was leading Brad Gibson by one point but during the afternoon Brad was able to take the lead with a score of 6 points to Gary’s 10 points.  A storm during the afternoon stopped racing for almost an hour so only eight races (16 heats) were completed on day one.   

Day two was in almost the same conditions but without the storm so a further 10 races were completed during the day with Brad easing away slightly from Gary to an 8 point lead. Racing for the 3^rd podium spot was being closely fought between Phil Page, Pat Obrien and Rob Obrien with each shining throughout the day.

Day three started with a very light SSW breeze that gradually strengthened and swung to the SE after the first race.  At lunch time the breeze changed to an easterly in the four to five knot range for the remainder of the day.

The regatta was sailed in a very friendly spirit and great rivalry, with 3 protests swiftly taken care of over the duration showing that a good observing system using non sailing skippers worked well. I congratulate all the skippers, well done.

KBSC were perfect hosts providing great lunches and a superb presentation dinner.  Many thanks to Allan Bicknell, Victoria McNulty, Neil Webb, Brian Hard, Jim MacGillivray, John Lamey, Karl Peipman, Ian Hayden, Terry McLeod and Mal Cody for their help.  Special thanks to David Black, the hard working Qld Secretary for giving up his time and travelling to Sydney to score the Nationals in all classes.

Now for the 10 raters!

Owen Jarvis

PRO