The VX One Victorian State Titles at Royal Brighton Yacht Club featured a diverse range of conditions across six races, resulting in teams from interstate dominating the podium.
A fleet of 13 boats navigated the waters of Port Phillip, completing four races on Saturday in challenging, shifty breezes and lumpy sea conditions. This was followed by two races on Sunday, which presented lighter and more testing circumstances, requiring patience and precision from the crews.
Boats that successfully adapted their setup to the varying conditions achieved the best results. Notably, Dollop (AUS319), led by Rob Douglass, Nicole Douglass and Josh Griffith, effectively balanced speed with sufficient power to navigate the chop on the first day, before adjusting their tactics to seize the breezes on day two.
Consistency was key throughout the event, with Dollop ultimately winning with a total of 10 net points. The crew demonstrated solid performance through the breezy conditions of Saturday, maintaining composure during the light air on Sunday.
Rob Douglass reflected on the importance of quickly establishing teamwork in a newly formed crew and adjusting to the diverse sailing conditions. He noted, “New to the team this weekend was Josh, so we spent time early talking through our experiences, strengths and weaknesses to get clear on how we wanted to run the boat.”
Douglass detailed their approach to the varied conditions, saying, “Saturday was breezy but easing and shifting all day. We started like a rusty, new team with a bad first beat, but we gradually found our rhythm and built momentum from there.” He remarked that their rig settings considered the wind strength and focused on maintaining speed through the chop.
Sunday brought an entirely different challenge, with light winds necessitating fewer manoeuvres and a focus on sailing straight. Douglass concluded, “We probably managed the shifts and a bit of luck better than most.”
He also acknowledged the strong competition from visiting teams and the warm hospitality they received from the local VX One fleet, remarking, “It was great to see four interstate teams make the trip, and pretty telling that three of them ended up on the podium.”
South Australia’s Dave Alexander, Mitch Young, and Harry Shlager on Gidget (AUS359) claimed second place, remaining competitive with a series of solid finishes. Meanwhile, fellow South Australians Doug Watson, Thomas De La Perelle, and Matt Morris on Yaffayat? (AUS358) rounded out the podium, marking a sweep for the travelling teams.
Just off the podium were Craig Garnston, Paul Fleming, and Paul Newman on Barney (AUS337), the top Victorian crew, who showed potential but lacked the consistency found among their interstate counterparts.
This regatta underscored the competitiveness of the VX One class, with exciting racing and tactical challenges across the fleet. The event also highlighted the contributions of volunteers and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club for hosting, enhancing the racing environment.
Looking ahead, the VX One season includes upcoming events such as the Oceania Championship (Midwinters) at RQYS from 6 to 8 June 2026, Airlie Beach Race Week from 8 to 12 August, and state championships in Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia later in the year. The climax will be the VX One National Championship at CYC of South Australia from 10 to 15 January 2027, leading into international events like the Bacardi Cup and the inaugural VX One World Championship in Miami in March and April 2027.
More information can be found at www.vxone.org.au
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