Kylie Vaiciurgis and Sarah Roberts sailing 2074 Lookin’ Good took out the Vaikobi 60th NSW NS14 State Championships over the weekend of 18/19 March 2023. The event was sailed on the very challenging Hastings River at Port Macquarie in the Mid-North Coast region. Light to moderate winds combined with strong run-out tides and a narrow course area to make for a real test of sailing ability within the 22-boat fleet. 6 races were sailed with Kylie and Sarah pipping Hugh Tait and son Zac for first place overall. Wind against tide made for short works with very long runs on the windward leeward course and starts were particularly fraught with the tide consistently pushing boats over the line early. Extra complexity was thrown into the races with the landing and then taxiing of a sea plane in the race course during one race and the mobile wind shadows created by the river cruising barge, fresh from its tour of the canal estates adjacent to the river.
The NS14 class continues to show its wide appeal and level playing field for competitors with the all-female crew on 2074 outsailing all-comers in all sorts of combinations including family and youth crews. Notably 2nd through to 7th placed boats all consisted of family crews with parents sailing with their kids. The top ten also included youth crews and even vintage boats showing that it is the skill of the sailor, not the age of the boat that delivers competition results. The event was well run by Port Macquarie Sailing Club who also put on a social BBQ on Saturday afternoon and a well-received breakfast on Sunday morning. The club has a prime position on the river and easy launching over a sandy beach.
The next major NS14 regatta will be the National Titles which will be sailed at Southport in Queensland in early January 2024 so grab a boat and join the action in this versatile and high-performing class.
Monty Lang
NSW NS14 Class Association President
