The fun had gone out of sailing for the crew onboard Geochemical Assessments as they counted down the days until the end of last season. Skipper Nathan McNamara and brothers Warwick and Jack Taylor felt overwhelmed, leading to a decision to take a break over the off-season to reignite their passion for the sport.
During the break, McNamara married and honeymooned in the Maldives, Warwick travelled through Europe, and Jack enjoyed adventures in Kyrgyzstan. This time away paid off, as the trio returned to competition with renewed energy during the recent short course pointscore series.
In just their second race of the season, Geochemical Assessments achieved a commendable runner-up finish, trailing Buckingham Marine Services, skippered by Daniel Turner. The race conditions proved challenging, maintaining suspense throughout the 32-strong fleet. Canberra Airport, helmed by Archie Cropley, secured third place. Interestingly, guest boat Eric’s Storage from Middle Harbour crossed the line first but did not feature in the official standings.
The Middle Harbour fleet joined the Manly sailors for a day of racing ahead of the upcoming national 16ft championships in January. A decision was made to abandon the day’s second race due to inclement weather, allowing Geochemical Assessments to celebrate their early success.
McNamara expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting, “We found a nice gap to tack out and just tacked on each shift, which paid off at the top mark when we were in second. The boat was moving quick, and we were able to stay in the top pack. Hopefully, we can keep doing that for the rest of the season.”
Looking ahead, McNamara is optimistic about Geochemical Assessments’ potential at major regattas as the crew gains more experience on the water. Support off the water is strong as well, with the Taylor boys’ mother, Heather, actively volunteering at Manly and providing assistance as an expert driver on the rescue and pin boats.
Warwick noted his mother’s dedication, saying, “Mum loves it down there. She’s there every week and is a very keen volunteer. It’s a great community at Manly, and she is happy to help out in any way possible and support us at the same time.”
In the 13s’ fleet, the short course race witnessed a smaller turnout due to several sailors attending the Flying 11 state championships. Imagine Signage, helmed by Beau Dransfield and Goro Tomishima, capitalised on the reduced fleet, securing victory ahead of Botany Access and IMEI.
Words Adam Lucius
Photos on shore – Nathan Hopkins
Photos on water – SailMedia | Michael Chittenden
#Manly16s #GeochemicalAssessments #SailingResults #16ftChampionships #NathanMcNamara
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