Etchells 2025 Australian Championship - Women's Helm Trophy
by Jeanette Severs 5 Nov 2024 03:01 PST
1-5 November 2024
Jeanne-Claude Strong, Max Jameson, Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton bring Flying High 2 to the finish line in race 7 of the Etchells 2025 Australian championship © Jeanette Severs
The winner of race 7 of the Etchells 2025 Australian championship regatta said she was taking the same team to the 2025 World championship.
Race 7 was the second and last race on the card for day 3 of the Etchells 2025 Australian championship.
The championship regatta was contested on Lake King at Metung, in rural Victoria. Jeanne-Claude Strong and her crew of Max Jameson, Sam Newton and Seve Jarvin, on board Flying High 2 AUS1435, blitzed the field on the start line.
"We had nice conditions for today's racing," Strong said later.
"There was just enough breeze to make it interesting.
"The wind was very shifty, and the nice flat water made it easy to sail."
For race 7, Strong took Flying High 2 closer to the start boat than she has been want to do during this regatta.
Flying High 2, like many of the boats at the top of the fleet, started closer to the pin than the middle of the start line.
Strong's changed strategy of starting closer to the start boat than the middle in race 7, paid off.
Strong said she was able to get clear water and clean wind from the start. On the downwind legs, Flying High 2 was able to stay ahead of the top of the fleet.
"In race 7 we had a really good start. Seve is an ace tactician and Sam is fabulous on rib and trimming," Strong said.
"Sam's really good at calling the line. We got a good jump on getting to the line.
"And when you're first in the race, you can do what you want, go where you want.
"You can decide where you want to go by reading the wind.
"Max did a superb job hiking in, all day he kept it straight."
Skiff sailor Max Jameson, from New Zealand, was the youngest competitor in the regatta, at 11 years old. He sailed with Strong in the 2024 World championship, contested at Fremantle, WA.
Race 7 was set over 1.1 nautical mile, bringing it shorter than the 1.2nm set for race 6 earlier in the day.
Course axis was set at 145 by race officers Ross and Kevin Wilson. Wind speed was 8 knots. The full fleet of 32 boats lined up for the race. After her strong start, Flying High 2 was first around the windward gate and maintained that lead on the first downwind leg.
Approaching the leeward gate, Flying High 2 led Magpie AUS1486, Matilda AUS1488, Great White Hunter AUS1483, Flirtation AUS1026, Racer CC HKG1482, Tiger AUS1524, Lisa Rose AUS1484, Gen XY AUS1082 and Elusive AUS1360.
The wind speed was reducing to 6 knots as the front of the fleet attained the windward gate for the second time.
Strong and her team on Flying High 2 maintained their lead, flying their pink spinnaker on the second downwind leg to be first across the finish line.
Second place was taken by Magpie, helmed by Graeme Taylor, with James Mayo and Ben Lamb as crew.
Into third place sailed Great White Hunter, with David Dunn on helm and Sandy Higgins and Peter Bellingham as crew.
They were followed by Racer CC, Tiger, Flirtation, Matilda, Lisa Rose, Elusive and Playing Around 3 to round out the top 10.
"There was a bit of pressure running down to the finish," Strong said. "GT (Taylor) was coming up on us and we were looking for the wind.
"This is the team we'll take to the 2025 World championships in Melbourne."
The results going into day 4 were close, with no very clear outcome until the final two races. Race officers Kevin and Ross Wilson said they were planning on two races on day 4 to complete the series, with Ross Wilson saying he wasn't going to spoil a good regatta.
"We planned for three races on day 3 but the wind was pretty tricky," Ross Wilson said.
"The wind pressure was up, then down, and the breeze was moving on a wide axis.
"Eventually we got a down pressure. We wanted everyone to get home, so we left it at two races for today.
"Having spent a fair number of years sailing down here, I'm aware the wind can bail out."
Flying High 2's individual results were fifth in the series, and winner of the invitational race. JC Strong received the Etchells womens helm trophy for the championship.
Individual race and series results are on the Metung Yacht Club website here