Sailing's rockstars get their instruments and will come out to play on Lake Macquarie

Until late last week, it was touch and go if the shipping container  transporting six DNA A Class Catamarans from the the Netherlands would arrive with sufficient time  for the 2012 John Cootes Furniture Australian A Class Championships beginning January 3 at the Wangi Amateur Sailing Club.

The container has fortunately safely arrived at Lake Macquarie, and Glenn Ashby, James Spithill, John Kosteki, Dirk de Ridder, Tom Slingsby, and Nathan Outteridge are now busy preparing their boats for the event. They should have the next four days in order to become familiar with the attributes  of their boats.

These Championships will be a unique event on the Australian Sailing Calender, bringing together three current World Champions : Tom Slingsby (Lasers), Nathan Outteridge (49ers), and Steve Brewin, sailing on these very high performance and efficient 18 foot catamarans.

Added to the mix are the five sailers from the Oracle America's Cup Syndicate ( Spithill, Kosteki, de Riddder, Darren Bundock and Slingsby), Ashby from team New Zealand, as well as the three former Olympic medallists Andrew Landenberger, Chris Cairns and Scott Anderson. The form guide suggests that this will be a very tightly-fought series and the top 10 places should  be quite a battle.

Ashby, with seven A Class World Champiomships to his resume, remains the favourite for the event. Bob Bier, the current European champion, will be competing on a chartered DNA, adding his name to the Northern Hemisphere contingent.

Simon Mckewon, who is the current Australian of the Year, will be taking a break from his official duties to compete.

The practice race will be held late in the afternoon on January 2, with the nine race series comencing the following day under the watchful eye of PRO Tony Outteridge.

- Bob Griffits.