Ashby in a class of his own on Lake Macquarie

Fourteen times world catamaran champion and Olympic Silver medalist Glenn Ashby was simply too fast downwind for the quality field that assembled at Wangi Wangi for the A Class catamaran Nationals. Ashby won five of the nine races for a total score (after one drop) of 14. This left him 13 points clear of world Moth and 49er champion, Nathan Outteridge, who took the silver medal ahead of the current A Class world champion, Steve Brewin. Ashby's Olympic Tornado partner, Darren Bundock, was fourth.

Outteridge was the surprise packet of the Nationals as this was only his second major event on an A Class, and he got his boat only days before the first race. In fact, he was almost last onto the water for the practice race last Monday as his family and friends rallied round to put sponsor stickers on the hulls.

Like Ashby, Outteridge owes his medal to downwind speed. Others, like America's Cup winning helmsman James Spithill, were quicker upwind but only Ashby and Outteridge were consistently prepared to stand up on the wire going downwind and play every shift and wave from that precarious position. This position is "knots faster" than sitting down in the boat, according to Ashby, but the sailor needs the balance and confidence to attempt it, especially in the 18-20 knots north-easters which prevailed during the championships.

While most of the "rockstars" in the fleet now take a rest before resuming their America's Cup or Olympic campaigns, Outteridge has flown to Melbourne and sails the first race of the Moth Nationals at Blackrock this afternoon.

- Roger McMillan