Geelong, Victoria: Mack One, skippered by Ben Franklin, dominated to win her second Australian Championship with a race to spare at the Festival of Sails this month.
With another “Boat of the Day” flag in their grasp, Franklin and his crew of Josh Franklin and Allan Moffatt, enjoyed the sail home with a final day scorecard of 2, 1, 2. They never finished off the podium at all during the event, so a well-earned victory to the team from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.
One highlight of the regatta was the battle for the podium places, in which 10 points separated second to sixth places at the beginning of the third and final day.
After opening the day with a win in Race 7, but a less than ideal Race 8, Rob Douglass and his Rabbel crew went into the final race 1.5 points behind Port Curtis Sailing Club’s Andy Patrick.
It was a nail biter, with the Patrick looking shaky at the start of Race 9, and Douglas looking strong. Brett Whitbread and Joel McDonald (Supervax 24/7) stormed away with a big win.
However, it was those from third to fifth where the podium places would be decided, as the US team, skippered by Sandra Askew, lay between Douglass and Patrick. The determined Americans hit their stride well on Day 3 – but too late to make the top three.
Top 10 Overall Results:
1 MACK ONE AUS248 Ben Franklin RQYS [3] 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 2 12
2 COWABUNGA AUS155 Andy Patrick RQYS/PCSC 5 6 4 2 4 2 4 [8] 4 31
3 RABBEL AUS218 Rob Douglass JBSC 7 4 3 4 5 [10] 1 4.5 3 31.5
4 SUPERVAX 24/7 AUS247 Brett Whitbread RQYS 2 2 2 9 10 [12] 6 4.5 1 36.5
5 SLICK AUS235 Brian Case RGYC 4 [18] 7 3 2 6 9 2 18 51
6 WEAPON OF CHOICE 184 Fred Kasparek CYC 1 3 5 [25] 19 7 5 6.5 11 57.5
7 KERB AUS283 John Whitbread RQYS 6 8 6 11 1 5 [16] 14 10 61
8 FLYING JENNY USA178 Sandra Askew NYYC [14] 10 10 8 7 13 3 6.5 5 62.5
9 THE BEAST AUS244 Michael James RQYS 9 9 8 10 6 18 [19] 3 8 71
10 VIXEN 246 Sam Allen RQYS 8 12 9 17 12 3 8 12 [20] 81
