12:25 AM Fri 1 Jan 2010 GMT
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'Oliver Kalpokas (7074) and Paddy Gilbert (7051) in action. - Australian Sabot Championships, day three'
Peter Mcintosh
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Only one point separates the first two senior leaders after six races in the Australian Sabot Championships at Gosford.
Victoria's Oliver Kalkopas in Tenacious and Gosford's Vardon Robson in Thunderstruck have both sailed very consistently in conditions ranging from light to moderate on Brisbane Water.
Robson's teammate Kirk Mitchell is sitting in third spot in Easy Tiger closely followed by Sydney's James Brewer, Dylan Passmore and Paddy Gilbert.
Kalkopas had a great day on Thursday with a first in the fifth race and a third in the sixth, while Brewer enjoyed two second placings and Gilbert his second first placing.
Gosford competitors in the top 20 include Kurt Hansen (11th), Henry Makin 12th, Matt Lang (17th) and Bradley Leicester (19th). Of this group, Leicester had the best day leading for much of the way in the fifth race to finish fourth and backing it up with a sixth placing in the sixth.
A total of 63 Sabots are competing in the senior division, with an 8-10 knot nor-easterly on the menu on Thursday.
In the 18-strong junior division Gosford's Sophie McIntosh and Jordan Makin in Double Diamond recorded two second placings on Thursday and their lead will not look quite so comfortable when drops come into play.
Clubmates Blake and Ashleigh Robson in Black Pearl enjoyed their first win in the championship and backed it up with a third placing in the sixth race which was won by South Queenslanders Lily Geck and Carlton Smith in Kid Blast.
Many of the visitors relaxed and enjoyed an impressive fireworks display at Gosford waterfront on New Year's Eve. The final four heats are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
The major sponsors are Robson Civil Projects and Performance Sailcraft Australia, with Ronstan and Zhik donating numerous prizes for both the Nationals and Sabot Week competitors.
by Peter McIntosh
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