Ashby, Bundock on top at A Class Catamaran Nationals

Despite competing against a fleet that is full of America's Cup sailors and world champions, it seems that Glenn Ashby knows something about A Class Catamarans that no-one else has yet learned. Following a run-away win in yesterday's invitation race, Ashby took two bullets on the first day of the Nationals proper.

In 2008, Ashby and Darren Bundock claimed the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in the Tornado class. Both yesterday and today Bundock chased his former teammate home - yesterday offering the (friendly) opinion that Ashby is "mad" and that's why he will stand up on the wire going downwind when sane mortals stay in the boat.

Another sailor often considered to be a bit crazy out on the wire is 49er world champion Nathan Outteridge, who lives just 200 metres from the regatta headquarters and knows Wangi Wangi and other parts of Lake Macquarie better than anyone. Outteridge used his wire skills and local knowledge today to record a second place in the first heat, relegating Bundock to third. However, that was in 10-12 knots when most sailors will stand up going downwind. When the north-easterly increased to 15-18 knots for the second race, the more experienced cat sailors came to the fore, with world champion Steve Brewin (recovered from yesterday's broken mast) chasing Ashby and Bundock home. Outteridge was 6th to leave him in 4th place overall on 8 points, behind Ashby (2), Bundock (5) and Brewin (7).

Another recent world champion, Tom Slingsby, is relatively inexperienced at cat sailing and says he is much more comfortable upwind than down. However, he is sailing the A Class as part of his preparation for the 2013 America's Cup aboard the Oracle boat and finished today with a creditable 5th in the windier second race and a rare 15th equal in the first, when he was judged to have dead-heated with Davis McKenzie. Slingsby sits in 10th overall on 20.5 points, one place and 1.5 points behind his potential AC "boss" James Spithill, who recorded consistent placings of 10th and 9th.

The other big names in the Top 10 are Simon McKeon (9 points), Andrew Landberger (13) Brad Collett (16) and Scott Anderson (17). The first of the internationals is the German Bob Baier (16th), ahead of Dutch AC sailor Dirk de Ridder (28th). Darren Bundock's Dutch partner Caroljn Brouwer is 38th, ahead of her countryman "The Postman", Finn sailor PJ Postma (43rd).

American AC legend John Kostecki had another bad day. After breaking his rudder yesterday he had another DNF today along with a 27th to leave him 48th in the 67 boat fleet. Breakages have been a regular problem for the sailors, especially those like Outteridge, Spithill and Slingsby who took delivery of their boats only a few days before the regatta started. So far forestays, rudders and daggerboards are the most commonly damaged items, along with two masts that fell in yesterday's practice race.

Two races are planned for tomorrow, when the wind and sea conditions should be similar to today.

- Roger McMillan.