2024 Etchells World Championships - Day 4

Magpie’s Graeme Taylor, James Mayo, and Richard Allanson spread their wings and launched themselves into an 11-point lead after Race 7 and Race 8 of the 2024 Etchells World Championships in Fremantle, Western Australia.

With the drop now coming into play, AUS1486 Magpie is comfortably ahead of second place overall, GBR1490 No Dramas, Graham Vials, Billy Russell, and Andrew Lawson.

Prior to racing kicking off today, The Croc AUS1402, Michael Manford, Dean McAullay, and Nicholas Gray were in third overall; however have now been pushed back to fifth, with USA1494 AMac, Andy Beadsworth, Brian Ledbetter, and Ben Lamb taking their place on the podium with one race to go.

Race 7 had a course length of 1.7nm and conditions between 7 and 10 knots. After the first gate mark rounding, there was a course change to the left, and things began to slightly settle.

Peter Merrington, Ian McKillop, and Steve Jarvin, sailing AUS1485 First Tracks, had their best race of the championships, taking the gun, and accelerating themselves into sixth overall.

Peter Merrington, Ian McKillop, and Steve Jarvin. Photo Alex Dare, Down Under Sail

Race 7

AUS – Peter Merrington, Ian McKillop, and Steve Jarvin
AUS – Chris Manton, Rodney Hagebols, and Nigel Abbott
GBR – Shaun Frohlich, Duncan Truswell, and Edward Wright

Race 8 was also set at 1.7nm and saw a course change from 220 to 205. The breeze shifted left all afternoon. The conditions increased from the previous race, with the sailors coping 10-15 knots across their bows.

“The start line was 500m long, but the fleet was keen to hang out at the pin end,“ said Kevin Wilson, Race Officer on the pin end of the line. The race management team only reported one black flag penalty all day, that being in Race 8.

With Magpie securing the penultimate race win, they now have the upper hand heading into the final race on Friday, 22nd March.

Given their day, and the 11-point lead, Magpie almost has the World Championship secured.

Richard Allanson, crew member on board Magpie, talked through their day.

“The first race didn’t go quite to plan!”

“We didn’t get off the start line very well in Race 7, so it actually turned out to be our drop race so far. But we managed to take some learnings from that first start and started well in Race 8, maybe not all the way to the favoured end, but we had a nice lane and were able to boogie fast to the left side with the rest of the guys.”

“We were overlapped with three other boats round the top mark to be fourth and did well down the run, picking up two boats, and then managed to grind our way into the lead up the beat,” said Allanson.

“We extended down to the last run to win the race, which puts us in a pretty strong spot tomorrow,” continued Allanson.

Heading into Race 9, Magpie just needs to stay clean.

“I think No Dramas has to finish second or better, so it’s in his hands, really. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t do anything really stupid and throw it away,” said Allanson.

“On our boat, we enjoy the luxury of being brutally honest with each other, and it’s never taken personally. So we’re here to do our best and keep improving.”