5:13 AM Fri 9 Apr 2010 GMT
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'Young Tasmanian sailors racing on the Derwent in the recent State Youth
Championships.'
Peter Campbell ©
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The 2010 Tasmanian Schools Team Racing Championship will be hosted by Tamar Yacht Club at their Beauty Point headquarters this weekend.
Thirteen school teams from around Tasmania have entered for the regatta which will be sailed using two fleets of team sailing boats owned by Tamar Yacht Club as well as Yachting Tasmania's new fleet.
Reigning national and inter-dominion champions Hutchins would normally be hot favourite to win this event, having won 8 of the last 10 Tasmanian championships. They are however undergoing a major re-build of their team having lost two helms from last year's all-conquering team.
To add to their woes, their remaining helm and this year's team captain George Jones looks unlikely to sail after having surgery to repair a broken jaw suffered during the Easter break. Hutchins will still be competitive with Lewis Noye and Alec Bailey showing plenty of potential in local school team sailing over the last couple of months, and they are likely to be joined by the experienced Jack McCullum should Jones not be able to sail.
Main challenge to Hutchins should come from the Guilford Young/ St Virgils combination. Led by the talented Rowan Clark with support from the reliable Justin Boutchard and up and coming Jonny Cooper, this team will be mentored by first-time coach Ollie Nicholas who will be keen to pass on his repertoire of moves developed over many years of top-level team sailing.
Also in the mix for overall honours will be the Friends team led by the tenacious Doug Shephard, although their team has been weakened by the absence of Sophie Chesterman who will not be back from competing at the World Laser 4.7 championships.
Other possible contenders are Launceston Grammar, led by quality Laser sailor Angus Barton, and a team from Wynyard High/Hellyer College, most of whom are ex-Sabot sailors. Not much is known about the team racing form of the North-West coasters, but under the wily coaching of Chris Symonds they could surprise some of the more fancied teams.
Hobart College have been strengthened this year with the addition of Zac Pullen and will also keep the top teams honest.
Racing starts at 0930 on Saturday morning and 1000 on Sunday. Organisers are hoping to get through between 100 and 150 races before close of racing on Sunday.
Team sailing consists of short races (usually 6 - 8 minutes) between three two-person boats on one team against three identical boats on the other team around a very tight course. Competitors use their boat handling skills and rules knowledge to assist their team mates to create a winning combination. It is not just about the first boat to finish. Umpires patrol the course to penalise competitors who breach the rules.
The top two teams from the state championships will gain automatic qualification for the Australian Schools Team Racing Championship to be sailed in Adelaide in July. Depending on acceptances from other states, the third placegetter may also receive an invitation.
by Murray Jones, Yachting Tasmania
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