Australian Melges 24 Nationals Taking Place This Weekend
Sail Port Stephens is host to the second Australian Melges 24 National Titles. Nine races will make up the regatta and take place from the 24 - 26 April 2009.
The High Performance One Design Melges 24's will shine in the ideal conditions on offer at Port Stephens.
Mako Polarised Sunglasses have teamed up with Melges, both are high tech performance products that achieve results.
Teams of four or five crew with a weight limit of 360kg will make up the fleet competing for the title of 2009 Australian Melges 24 Champion.
Last years champion from RGBYC, WA Heath Townsend returns with his team to defend the title in his 2nd Melges 24 East Coast based yacht Wot Tha.
The beauty of the Melges 24 is it allows yachting families quality time together. The yachts are trailerable and easy to rig and launch. No winches and furling headsail means all ages can participate in the Regatta together. Testimony to this is the fact that the World Titles have been won by 60+ year olds and teenage skippers.
Team Faz Vitesse, The Farrimond family from RGYC consists of father David and his four sons Dale, Adam, Scott and Michael. They are making the most of the regatta as a family reunion. David is currently on contract in Dubai, Dale is returning from Scotland to meet up and enjoy the Sail Port Stephens Regatta.
Mark Moriarty from RQYC Business Time is using the Nationals primarily as a learning opportunity. Sons Nick (18) and Hugh (15) have competed in school sailing teams and were both in one of the three Australian teams at the inter-dominion schools teams racing in NZ last year. Max Creedy and Warwick Heath have distinguished junior dingy sailing careers and make up the team.
The 2009 Sportsboat Champion Mako Melges new crew consists of two father and son teams Geoff and Matt Masters, David and Alex Lyons and good friend John McCuaig.
Heath Walters RPAYC Australian builder of the Melges 24 will race on No Comment with 11 year old son Harley and brother Murray along wwith Rob Brewer and boat owner Mark Bernardinis.
Anarchy SPYC is campaigned by owner John Hall who also races with his teenage son Tim.
With most families finding it difficult to spend quality time together the regatta schedule for the Melges 24 is the ideal opportunity to compete in an International One Design Class and socialise together off the water.