79th Australian Sharpie Championships
2022/23 Hobart, TAS.
Host Club: Sandy Bay SC and Derwent Sailing Squadron.

Invitation Races 1 & 2.
31/12/2022.

Get Ready to RUMBLE!
46 Teams hit the start line today for the 79th Cascade Brewery Australian Sharpie Nationals. And if the invitation race day is anything to go by it's going to be a fast and furious series that's top-end heavy.

Amongst the fleet are 7 National Title holders:
* Smoke (Michael Forster)
* The Lizard (Peter Chappell)
* The Purple Circle (Ash Gabrielson)
* Maelstrom (Jason Heritage)
* Warpig (Sam McCloud)
* Shaderunner Pro (Mark Soulsby)
* One Hump or Two (Drew Latham) the last Tasmanian to win the series back in 2011. Two-time National Title winner helm and local Taswegian Frazer Read makes his debut on wire, with his daughter at the helm.

The first invitation race had two previous champions in the top three, The Lizard and Purple Circle, with Warpig (Geoffrey Mccloud) in the tussle, and the second had a different two previous champions, Maelstrom and One Hump or Two with Shootin Blanks (Noah Taylor) in the mix, and local state champion Snatch (Kirsty Salter) hot on their heels.
The fleet also boasts a diverse range of sailors - possibly the most diverse range in any Australian dinghy competition. Amongst the sailors there are B14, International Cadet, and Nacra15 World Champions; 29er and Teams Racing National Champions, talented offshore steeds who only just got back ashore and foiling moth gurus, an Australian Cricketer, sisters and brothers, life partners and bestmates, parents and kids (grandparents?), a few known merry-makers and a loud and jolly local Sharpie Class President.
The heat will be on (and not just because it's forecast to be nearly 30 degrees) in all parts of the fleet for the pros and the guns all the way through to the new faces who've found out that the best way to fly is by Sharpie.
Make sure to read NOR 8.1 to see all the perpetual prizes that will be up for grabs in the mixed fleet of 4 U21s, 20 Opens, 4 over 40s, 18 over 50s. The latter of course will be asking why is Stu Hamilton and Ric Buchannan on Mark Boat and not in the line up?! Good luck, sail hard, and as always, FLY SAFE!

Races 1 & 2
2/1/2023.

Race 1

So it Begins..Race 1 & 2 wrap
While not known for being bright and bustling in the morning hours, with a layday after the invitation race on NYE, the fleet was on the pulse and out warming up early in the light and humid Sou'Easter as the Race Officer set the course for the first day of championship racing.
Off the line in Race 1, One Hump or Two (Drew Latham) and Smoke (Michael Forster) were 1-2 at the pin heading out towards the Eastern, but the bulk of the fleet was at the boat end with a righty coming down the course. It was a big split to find out if the deeper stronger river current out left would make up for the softer pressure.
A split that didn't pay, as One Hump or Two came into the windward mark buried under the fleet as they set their kites, (and to add insult to injury had to take spins after rounding). Shootin Blanks (Noah Taylor) led the front pack closely followed by Maelstrom (Jason Heritage) and Dying in the Saddle (Finlay Crisp) and Warpig (Geoffrey Mccloud). Rounding in the middle of the next pack at 10th, Snatch (Kirsty Salter) got a 3 for 1 with a nice high kite set, rolling a few more in the early part of the reach.
The breeze built steadily as the reaches stretched the fleet out, first and second extending with third placed Dying in the Saddle dropping back to lead the next pack, Snatch jumping to 5th by the leeward mark tailed by Origami Underwear (Matt Jahn) just ahead of Warpig. Not a lot of opportunity for gains on the second and final uphill, as the pressure well and truly filled on the righthand side for an easy speed track beat. A bit speedier for those that remembered to get their vangs back on!
The final downhill it was a game of finding the best VMG as the breeze came in gusts spread across the course. Maelstrom split early from leader Shootin Blanks to ride a nice gust Eastward with ripping speed, while the latter sailed a deeper softer angle on the inside. The risk paid off as Maelstrom gybed back towards the final jagleg with plenty of heat, easily crossing the race leader. Snatch played a similar game and climbed to 3rd on the final run. One Hump or Two, needed another lap to make magic happened, but managed to climb to 18th by the finish.

Race 2

No time to get comfortable, as Race Two had a whole new flock of leaders and a few UFDs. Dump Truck (Alec Bailey) and Origami Underwear looked a little too famous off the line and were top 5 at the first mark were docked with UFDs. Early leaders in the previous race Shootin Blanks were caught spinning off the line after go, and by the top mark all three podium finishers in Race One were thoroughly mixed deep in the fleet. Impact (Esther Read) who had a 2nd row start at the boat end, made a clearing tack early on and played a nice game up the right side to round in 12th.
By the second leeward mark of the 3-lapper, Ostentatios (Guy Bancroft) still held the lead with Shootin Blanks in a hungry second, well and truly making up for their early spins. Focus (Angus Higgins) and Blakc Sun (David Lightfoot) held on to the leaders, with One Hump or Two catching 3 boats on the inside at the mark followed by Impact holding on in 13th.
Maelstrom rounding outside in 20th while Snatch might have been in the deep twenties, but at least it was a family affair with Gunsmoke (Maddy Salter) alongside.
The breeze softened into the third and final lap, with plenty of opportunity for passing. Shootin Blanks overtook Ostentatious for a 20 boat length win and Focus for a clean third with Black Sun in fourth.
Incredible tight racing, if you are in Hobart for the next few days get out on the water for a closer look! Competition resumes tomorrow with Race 3 at 1255hrs.

Races 3 & 4
3/1/2023.

Race 3

Getting into it, Races 3 & 4
"Yesterday had a bit for everyone," says Matt Jahn (Origami Underwear), "We had one start that was a bit ambitious, but in general the conditions were good." And the competition? "Oh, it's warm. The top 15 is definitely on," adds helm Alex Blacker (Sassy Foods).
The hot fleet set out for the cold afternoon with high overcast cloudcover and an East by Sou'East breeze gently coming up the river. While the Race Officer, Ian Ross, AP'd the first start at 13:55hrs, the fleet cruised around hove-to, chatting and chilling with bums on the floor, looking like a fleet of jumbo 2.4s with just heads popping up above the gunnels. The crew of The Purple Circle (Ash Gabrielson) put in an order for more breeze, "Another 20 kts would be nice!" But in the end it was only an extra 5 kts that filled in, as boats casually slipped into pre-race warm up and course suss out. There was massive line sag in the rack up leading up to go, something noted by pin end Race Management volunteer Richard "Fish" Fisher, "I haven't seen a lot of aggression [on the line], three or four have had a crack, but the fleets a long way back [at the start]." Snatch (Kirsty Salter), Focus (Angus Higgins), The Purple Circle and One Hump or Two (Drew Latham were solidly leading the lefthanders off the pin out towards the Eastern shore, while a minute into racing two-thirds of the fleet tacked off right, including all the boat end starters. It was a big and early split, lots of gamble on the line to see if the far left lifts were good enough to match the top righties starting to fill. Warpig (Geoffrey Mccloud) and Maelstrom (Jason Heritage) were second row in the battle for breeze up the middle of the course in the early minutes after go. Focus and One Hump or Two looked famous in their first tack back, riding nice lifts for an easy cross on incoming starboard tackers, but up at the top of the course it was all right-handed, with everyone on the left having to suffer softer breeze into the top mark.
The Chilli Factor (Grant Warner) led the right, until Shootin Blanks (Noah Taylor) tacked inside them for a shy layline approach and the first to set. Origami Underwear quickly overtaking for second, and Impact (Esther Read) rounding in fourth. The top two extended on the reach, with Impact overtaking by the leeward mark for third, followed closely by The Muppet Show (Dave Mann), and Bangin Sheets (Alice Bucchanan) crewed by the visiting German team in a respectable mid-fleet position. Maelstrom took a risk with a hard tack out left after the bottom mark, sailing into oncoming kite traffic, while most the leaders played the right again for the second beat. It was nearly a soldiers course on the final downhill, the fleet favouring a deep starboard run, with leaders Shootin Blanks tossing in a conservative late gybe for an easy lay into the middle of the line for their second bullet of the series. Origami Underwear was next for second, followed by Sassy Foods in third, The Lizard (Peter Chappell) fourth and Impact in 5th. One Hump or Two took advantage of the starboard inside lay into the final mark to tip Maelstrom on the jag leg into the finish.
Dry Reaching (Conrad Byrt), BDE (Harry Mitton) and Morning Glory (Patrick Distenfano) all finished within a second of each other, proving that the competition is tough no matter the top, middle or bottom third of the fleet.
Congratulations to freshman helm Esther Read on her first single digit finish. What was the secret? "The crew [Dad]," she diplomatically reports, "Wanted to start at the pin, and I said 'NO! we're starting at the boat!'" [The interviewer didn't ask, but we can probably guess his rebuttle would be, "I was just testing her."]

Race 4

Three starts later, with a few early BFD (black flag disqualifications) returning to shore, the fleet got going for Race 4 in the classic irony of a boat ended line with 2 generals, and when the pin moves up there's a hard lefty at the gun, with a few port tack starters hammering the point. In a dying 10-12 kts, it was a softer race for the three lapper, but Shaderunner Pro (Mark Soulsby) made the most of it, extending on the final lap by taking advantage of "the squeeze" off Sandy Bay Point. Mark Boat Volunteer and Sharpie Legend Ric Bucchanan reports on the final race, "There wasn't much in [the breeze], it was pretty soft, and a game of snakes and ladders. And Alice caught a ladder!" Another proud father moment out on the race course today. Good to see Sharpie sailors producing good Sharpie sailors! A few teams made big gains by playing up the left, "The first time the left paid all day," according to Fish from his view at the pin. It was Maelstrom and Focus for second and third, with Bonfire (Oli Burnell) getting his first taste of the single digit feels this series. Special mention to the unofficial competition for best Zinc Face Warriors - so far in the runnings the main-hand on Shadowrunner Pro, skipper of Warpig, and the main-hand on Spent (complete with pink zinc lips), "Mustn't let these lips chap, baby!" Take note, sailors (and race volunteers!), it's a long way to go yet.

Races 5 & 6
4/1/2023.

Race 5

DAY 3 WRAP!
Heading into Day 3 of racing, it is tight competition right through the fleet. Our leader Shootin Blanks (Noah Taylor) has emerged before any drops hit the series, and there's only a point between second placed Focus (Angus Higgins) and third, Shaderunner Pro (Mark Soulsby).
Maelstrom (Jason Heritage) and Ostentatious (Guy Bancroft) are keeping in the game, making big gains after deep starts early in the series, proving they have the speed to be a threat. Pointy enders Origami Underwear (Matt Jahn), Sassy Foods (Alex Blacker), Dying in the Saddle (Finlay Crisp) and The Lizard (Peter Chappell) go into the day most hungry for a drop, all carrying letters on the scorecard.
Deeper in the fleet there's a tight battle zone from 23rd (Bullit, John Hutcherson) to 28th (The Chilli Factor, Grant Warner) with only 5 points between, 37th (Morning Glory, Patrick Distenfano) to 41st (Hydroplay, Sam Bailey) with only a 6 point spread, and a mere 2 points between the four boats at the back, led by Maximum Effort (Laruen Keil).
One Hump or Two (Drew Latham) and Truck Cunic Homes (Charlie Conor) are the first Tasmanians sitting in 8th and 10th with scores heading into the day in striking distince of top five.
It was a tight-lipped launch in the light Eastish-Sou'aster with mixed cloud cover over the fleet's mixed feelings sailing out to the course.
As the warning flag went up, the soft Southeasterly won out, but still a lot of deep luffs in the pre-start line up, cunnos blown to make the most of it.
First start of the day was the tightest so far, with racers punching the line at go at the boat, pin and middle of the line. (Maybe the fleet is reviewing the media of the previous day and taking note?!) Off the line was another deep split in the fleet between those who tacked out early for the long march right, and the siren's call of the left, haunting sailors with the promise of a too good to be true lift that drops halfway up the course leaving teams with nothing in the top left corner to get back to the windward mark.
The starboard tackers storm into the mark led by Shaderunner Pro, still flying with their winner's wings from yesterday, Nude (Phil Kelly) making their top of the fleet debut after a few bad starts, with series leader Shootin Blanks in 9th. At the leeward mark, Shaderunner Pro still led, with two father-son teams in tow: Nude and Pro Circuit (Anthony Mitton) - more proof that families who Sharpie together stay..fierce! Shootin Blanks snuck inside at the reach mark to pick a few off, with Maelstrom hot on their tail as they headed into the second lap.
The breeze filled in for the second beat, a soldiers march up to the top right-hand corner, with minimal opportunities to pass. But the final downwind showcased a wide spread of angles, as the leader ran dead square down rumline, with a hungry pack reaching on both the Eastern and Western flanks. Nude holds for second, Sassy Foods climbing to third. Maelstrom, The Lizard and Smoke (Michael Forster) all claiming a few points on the series leader who finished 9th.
It was a top race for Gun Smoke (Madeline Salter), living up to the name and smashing the start, and Bangin Sheets (Alice Bucchanan) put a solid 6 points on their competition going into the day, as well as Cascade System (Eliza Dalton) gaining a few points in their race.

Race 6

The sun won out as the afternoon wore on, but there was only an extra knot in it, and for Race 6 it was the same play out the gate, with both Focus and Shootin Blanks starting at the boat and tacking out early to the right, and with them the battle of the youth helms with Family Feud (Robin Forster) and Impact (Esther Read).
By the top of the course the breeze was softer and dying. The middle right paid (maximising time in the stronger river current), with the leader on the middle left converging at the mark with the front pack. Sassy Foods led, with Smoke and Focus. Ostentatious followed with a hope and a prayer of a layline that cost them spins and a few more attempts to round the mark with the oncoming wall of starboard tackers. Among those was Atomic Blonde (Craig Mann) having their best race of the series.
An extra knot kicked in for the final downhill to condense the fleet and make for a series of tight finishes after a long and light race. It was Sassy Foods, Smoke and Focus who extended their lead on the second lap to cross the line first. A big congrats to Family Feud, Hydroplay and Gin & Tonic (Don Allen) for batting above their average! Not sure if it was the sunnier conditions, or the promise of free bevvies for the lauded "States Night" pre-layday fun that made these boats so quick in the final race of the day.
The light and shifty conditions sure tightened the game. Good luck getting an invite to the top ten unless you're a previous national champion. Safety boat volunteer and local Sharpie legend Stu Hamilton says to not count him out of that crowd. "But I've got to give it another 10 years," he says, "It wouldn't be fair to the fleet otherwise!"
Catch everyone on Friday when the series resumes with Race 7.

Races 7 & 8.
6/11/2023.

Race 7

Gettin to the Business End with Race 7 & 8
"Fourth times the charm" as the saying goes. The breeze was light, the fleet farily tight-lipped, and it took a few starts for the fleet to relax and get racing. After the first general, the Race Committee generously ran another start with the U-flag, but then it was off to black, where a few were docked and sat out for the fourth start and Race 7. Among those were fourth place going into the day and previous national champ Maelstrom (Jason Heritage) who didn't have any letters yet, and will now have to carry their 17th.
Known pin-lovers Ostentatious (Guy Bancroft) and One Hump or Two (Drew Latham) were hot off the line heading to the Eastern shore, Focus (Angus Higgins) with a clean start at the boat end, and a heap of Tassie teams tacking out right early in the beat. It was a race back to the middle at the top end, with the upper corners dying, and winning teams tacking on the shifts coming up the middle.
Winners on the left Ostentatious duck the sterns of starboard layliners, as Focus snakes a shy layline with the ole "windward roll" rounding to come clean, just ahead of The Lizard (Peter Chappell). As the series is tightening up, aptly named Under the Radar (Anthony Turton) and One Hump or Two round in third and fourth, both improving their chances of cracking the top ten in the series. Warpig (Geoffrey Mccloud) might be chasing fifth going into the first reach, but they are the leaders when it comes to the Zinc Faced Warrier competition today! Series leaders Shootin Blanks (Noah Taylor), having a conservative go, round behind the top ten in a cluster making fifteenth.
By the leewrad mark, The Lizard overtook Focus with Shootin Blanks slowly picking off victims to slide into 10th. Bangin Sheets (Alice Bucchanan) had a fantastic downhill, turning the corner in twenty-first.
There's a bit more pressure for the second uphill, making it a more forgiving beat than the earlier shift hunt. Focus re-takes the lead off The Lizard and is the first to pop their kite, followed by Under the Radar and One Hump or Two. Shootin Blanks methodically picking off a few more boats to round in sixth. Ostentatious lost a few going up the left and decided they didn’t want anymore of that Eastern shore by throwing in a gybeset for the final run home.
Coming into the bottom mark it was neck and neck for first, second, third who all hit the bottom together, with Under the Radar on the inside, just soaking low enough to squeeze by the mark. They take the hooter with The Lizard and Focus in second and third. Sassy Foods (Alex Blacker) made good ground climbing to fifth behind One Hump or Two, and Shootin Blanks keep their sixth. Bangin Sheets have a photo finish with BDE (Harry Mitton) and Slave Girl (John Weigand), edging them out for twenty-first. Gin & Tonic (Don Allen) had an absolute blinder of a first lap well and truly amongst the midfleet action, dropped in the second lap to finish just behind their competition Creepin (Dan Townsend).

Race 8

With the wiggles out of their system, the fleet has an easy and clean go of the start for Race 8, no doubt helped by the seabreeze trying it's best to hit 12 kts. Typical big split off the line, with the usual faces in the usual places (Ostentatious and One Hump or Two at the pin) and real live video footage of the Tas Sharpie President getting a front row start! Same game play we've seen before with the top left offering nothing for sailors to get back to the middle, and the top right pack led by the hungry trio of Focus, Sassy Foods and Shaderunner Pro. Shootin Blanks with another deep first leg, popping their kite in about fifteenth, use clean air to pass above a few, and methodically work their way to the inside the second half of the reach to minimise damage on the next reach.
On the final beat volunteers on Mark Boat "Smart & Brainy" called the shots live over the VHF, giving all listeners on channel 14 a play by play of the tacks up the mid-right. Focus extends, rounding with a ten boat-length lead and an easy gybe set, followed by Sassy Foods and Nude (Philip Kelly) and their competition Shaderunner Pro in fourth. Shootin Blanks working their magic into fifth. Dying in the Saddle (Finlay Crisp) who made big gains rounding inside a pack a the reach mark having a crack in eleventh, and Dump Truck (Alec Bailey) having good one rounding with Balck Sun (David Lightfoot) in twentieth.
On the final run the promise of 12 knots fades and the fleet is in a game of limbo - how low can you go?! - Focus fully commits to it sailing rumline all the way down for an easy win, leaving the angle battle behind them. Sassy Foods makes the best of the starboard advantage coming into the bottom mark to sneak in front of Shadrunner Pro, and trying to snake the high road too much too quickly Shootin Blanks hunting for third tips it in five boatlengths from the finish, ultimately recovering for a seventh.
Despite the speedy recovery, it was enough of a blunder to open up the hunt for first as we head into the last day of racing. With only nine points between first and fourth it promises to be an awesome showdown right through the final lap!

Final Boarding Call, Fly Sharpie Races 9 & 10
7/1/2023

Race 9

On the final morning of the championship, Tas Sharpie President Oli Burnell was slightly down in the mouth that yesterday's bar sails were below par. Which means the boatpark is all business today, with first place up for the taking to any number of teams who have a hot day. Teams from tenth through twentieth will also have the opportunity to catapault up the fleet once a second drop comes in.
Sharpie and local sailing legend "Honda" Declerk shares a bit of wisdom before heading out on the water, "I've learned more this event by sailing an old boat than I would have if I just arrived and the boat was all ready to go. Nothing is set up, and we're fixing it on the go." Important words for all, that if you're not gunning for a championship, you can still make the most of your event and apply it the next. "Hopefully I can take these lessons with me when I'm up the front of the fleet!"
Everyone's got their eye on someone else today. The Calvert brothers sit casually discussing how long they won't speak to each other once one of them beats the other. They usually sail together, but at this event they are competing "Big Units" hanging outside different steeds. Morning Glory (Patrick Distenfano) from Victoria rig up next to their competition Dry Reaching (Conrad Byrt) of Queensland. "We met them this week and they seem like alright guys, so we're going to do our best to smash'em today." Dump Truck (Alec Bailey) will be watching Atomic Blonde (Craig Mann), and Maximum Effort (Lauren Keil) for Cascade System (Eliza Dalton) at the tail end of the fleet.
But the competition is fiercest up the top, and the sailors know it. Julian Salter aboard Snatch laughs over his shoulder as they launch off the beach, "There's only two more races, what could possibly go wrong?!"
Four starts seems to shake the hangovers and/or nerves from the fleet as Race 9 starts under a Black Flag - as if the stakes weren't already high enough. But it's a clear start, and the fleet is off into the soft Easterly. Maelstrom (Jason Heritage) is first to the mark, piecing the shifts together up the middle, while teams who dug too far into the corners got left with nothing to come back on. Sassy Foods (Alex Blacker) rounds in second, followed closely by Shadreunner Pro (Mark Soulsby) fellow candidate for over-all winner. Focus is close behind with series leader Shootin Blanks (Noah Taylor) a few more deep. Maelstrom ultimately holds onto the win, with Sassy Foods and Shaderunner Pro in second and third, which is just enough to consolidate on Shootin Blanks who caught up to fifth, with only a point between them heading into the final race of the series. Focus was third going into the day and a bit deep early in the game, but climb back to seventh at the finish. One Hump or Two (Drew Latham) keep the pressure on in fourth.

Race 10

The flags drop for the final showdown and the racers are off. Black Flags, gusty and shifty light to moderate conditions, it's the perfect storm that sailors will have to weather, and keep spectators in their seats! Shaderunner Pro has a brilliant beat and is first to the top, followed by Sharpshooter (Nick Fleming) having the best race of their series with Maelstrom the third to pop their kite.
Maelstrom overtake them both on the reach to extend for an ultimate win, Sassy Foods and Shootin Blanks both deep in the fleet with their top competition Shaderunner Pro and Focus punched in the lead pack. Dying in the Saddle (Finlay Crisp) having a good crack in the last race chasing the top pack. Shootin Blanks recovers in the second lap, but they don't pick off quite as many as Sassy Foods who puts a point between them over the finish. Previous national champions Warpig (Geoffrey Mccloud) and Maelstrom have a brilliant final race, making sure the fleet remembers them as they take first and second, followed by Dying in the Saddle's first podium finish of the event.
Heading in, Sassy Foods are the first to crack the beers, they've done the math and have nabbed the title by a point in the last race! Congratulations to the SA boys who kept the heat on to the last.
It's been a phenomenal event on all accounts, tight racing and top volunteers, old mates reuniting and new mates made with some of the best boatpark banter on offer the world over.
Who's ready for next year?
Thanks for tuning in, and remember next time you need to choose to always Fly Sharpie.
Words: Lizzi Rountree



Bring on the 80th Australian Sharpie Nationals - with the next carnival to be hosted by the Mordialloc Sailing Club. Get around it.

Thanks again, Lizzie for writing the above Race Summaries.