50th Tasar Australian National Championship at Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
by Chris Payne 24 Jan 00:55 PST
50th Tasar Australian National Championship © Tom Hodge / tomhodgemedia.pic-time.com
The 50th Australian Tasar Championship was held at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club (MOFSC) in Western Australia in January 2025, celebrating a half-century of competitive Tasar sailing. The event drew a talented fleet of sailors from across the country, with the picturesque backdrop of Mandurah and the club's exceptional race management contributing to a truly memorable regatta.
A Family Affair in the top ten
This year's championship showcased the unique family-oriented spirit of Tasar sailing, with father-daughter combinations dominating the top twenty standings. Among them was the youngest competitor, Naomi Taylor, crewing for her father Ian aboard 'Sweet Potayto'. The duo delivered an impressive performance, winning three out of the ten races and showcasing a combination of skill, resilience, and teamwork.
Consistency across the series ultimately determined the final standings, with Craig McPhee and Wayne Hale from South Australia securing the championship title aboard Roll Your Own (sail number 2857). Their exceptional sailing, including multiple race wins, ensured they held off a competitive field.
Western Australia's own David Meehan and Rhyss Edwards took second place aboard Critical Path (2938), while the Victorian team of Heather Macfarlane and Chris Payne, on WAC (2969), claimed third. The family-focused camaraderie and high level of competition were evident throughout the event, with sailors demonstrating both sportsmanship and skill across all conditions.
A Spectacular Venue
Mandurah's reliable sea breezes and stunning coastal scenery proved an ideal setting for the milestone event. Multiple Olympic Gold Medalist Mat Wearn hailed Mandurah as his favourite sailing venue in the Southern Hemisphere, a testament to the venue's world-class conditions. He also expressed his enthusiasm for Lago di Garda, Italy—the host location for the 2025 Tasar World Championships—which he regards as the Northern Hemisphere's best sailing destination. There is a full gallery of great photos by Tom Hodge.
Volunteers: The Heart of the Event
The success of the championship was due in no small part to the dedicated volunteers from both MOFSC and the local Tasar fleet. Their hard work behind the scenes ensured the smooth running of the regatta and created a welcoming, community-driven atmosphere for competitors and spectators alike. And of course no sailing day was complete without a daily presentation full of laughs and prizes led by Al Capitan - Alistair Murray. The celebration of the 50th championship was as much a tribute to these volunteers as it was to the sailors.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 Australian Tasar Championship is set to be held at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Brisbane in early January. With this year's event setting a high benchmark, anticipation is already building for what promises to be another exciting chapter in Tasar sailing.
As the sailors now set their sights on Lago di Garda for the World Championships later this year, the 50th Australian Tasar Championship will be remembered as a historic and heartwarming celebration of the class's legacy, marked by family, competition, and community spirit. Full details on the 'Garda Worlds' can be found at 2025.tasarworlds.com
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat (sail) | Helm (Region) - Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R10 | R8 | R9 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Roll Your Own (2857) | Craig Mcphee (SA)‑Wayne Hale | 2 | 2 | [ 3] | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | [ 16] | 1 | 14 |
| 2 | Critical Path (2938) | David Meehan (WA)‑Rhyss Edwards | [ 10] | 4 | 5 | 1 | [ 17] | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| 3 | WAC (2969) | Heather Macfarlane (VIC)‑Chris Payne | 1 | 3 | [ 4] | [ 4] | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 26 |
| 4 | Escape Boat (2937) | Scott Olsen (WA)‑Julie Olsen | [ 17] | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 3 | UFD | 2 | 5 | 3 | 29 |
| 5 | Al Capitan (2941) | Alistair Murray (VIC)‑Clare Ridgway | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | [ 10] | 5 | 4 | 5 | 8 | [ 9] | 48 |
| 6 | Tae Think Again (2922) | Lloyd Lissiman (WA)‑Skip Lissiman‑Kim Short | [ 11] | 10 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 3 | [ 13] | 56 |
| 7 | Windfix (2859) | Ross Martin (VIC)‑Natasha Martin | 3 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 9 | [ 14] | 6 | [ 11] | 58 |
| 8 | Sweet Potayto (2192) | Ian Taylor (VIC)‑Naomi Taylor | 6 | [ 28] | 1 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 1 | [ 18] | 61 |
| 9 | Waimukabout (2617) | Andrew Martin (VIC)‑Imogen Martin | 9 | 5 | 6 | 6 | [ 19] | 7 | [ 14] | 7 | 13 | 8 | 61 |
| 10 | Crisp (2658) | Dennis Dixon (WA)‑Zoe Dixon | 19 | 11 | [ 23] | 14 | [ 24] | 12 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 6 | 92 |
| 11 | Zailing (2915) | Trevor Date (WA)‑Peter Browne | 4 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 10 | [ 24] | [ 18] | 10 | 93 |
| 12 | Oogy Wawa (2830) | Stuart Templeton (SA)‑Nicole Kidman | 15 | 7 | 16 | 11 | [ 28] | 14 | [ 24] | 6 | 21 | 5 | 95 |
| 13 | Product of Australia (2673) | Kayne Binks (WA)‑Louise Binks | [ 20] | [ 15] | 13 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 95 |
| 14 | Unleashed (2860) | Dean Dixon (WA)‑Zac Bruce | [ 14] | 12 | 11 | 13 | SCP | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 95 |
| 15 | SMAC (2883) | Peter Davis (TAS)‑Karen Davis | 12 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 18 | [ 22] | 7 | [ 19] | 10 | 12 | 98 |
| 16 | Firefly (2878) | Anton Mann (WA)‑Ela Roodhouse | 16 | RET | 19 | 12 | [ 26] | 16 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 7 | 108 |
| 17 | Clear Air (2905) | Jessica Lundh (WA)‑Liz Wright | 5 | RET | 12 | 28 | 7 | 17 | 17 | DNS | 7 | 22 | 115 |
| 18 | Bonavita (2936) | Heath Townsend (WA)‑Ben Roodhouse | [ 27] | 18 | 24 | 9 | [ 27] | 19 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 124 |
| 19 | Destino (2959) | Mahoro Sekiguchi (JAPAN)‑Ryo Uematsu | 13 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 11 | DNS | 20 | 15 | [ 23] | 127 |
| 20 | Sail a Vie (2963) | Blaise Vinot (VIC)‑Ingrid Vinot | 21 | 16 | 14 | 24 | 13 | [ 25] | RET | 18 | 25 | 16 | 147 |
| 21 | Ook Fish (2002) | Harry Wright (WA)‑Isabella Dunlop | 7 | 22 | [ 30] | [ 26] | 14 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 17 | 26 | 157 |
| 22 | Elusive (2872) | Neil Temperley (NSW)‑Stuart Glase | 25 | 24 | 21 | 19 | [ 33] | 18 | 18 | 17 | [ 32] | 17 | 159 |
| 23 | Under pressure (2818) | Kenneth Waller (WA)‑Cj Waller | 18 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 20 | [ 27] | 20 | [ 27] | 166 |
| 24 | Elegantly Wasted (2887) | Neil Forster (WA)‑Rachel Fowler | 28 | 20 | 20 | DNS | 11 | 20 | 25 | DNS | 23 | 20 | 167 |
| 25 | Up 2 Us (2945) | Anthony Walsh (VIC)‑Emily Walsh | 22 | 27 | 18 | 27 | 9 | 29 | 19 | DNS | 19 | [ 32] | 170 |
| 26 | Wheres What (2081) | Chris Carmichael (WA)‑Chris Bucktin | 24 | 19 | UFD | DNF | 25 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 24 | 21 | 171 |
| 27 | Butterfly Effect (2774) | Kate Best (WA)‑Geoff Munt | 23 | 13 | [ 32] | 23 | 20 | 26 | 16 | 25 | [ 30] | 28 | 174 |
| 28 | A‑Team (2138) | Ashton Blay (WA)‑Alex Dixon | [ 33] | 25 | [ 29] | 25 | 23 | 27 | 23 | 23 | 28 | 24 | 198 |
| 29 | Hei Hei (2993) | Damien Smith (WA)‑Lorelei Barnes Smith | 29 | 26 | 25 | 20 | [ 31] | 28 | 28 | 22 | [ 33] | 25 | 203 |
| 30 | Blasar (2901) | Warren Blay (WA)‑Belinda Black | [ 31] | 29 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 31 | 22 | DNS | 27 | 31 | 212 |
| 31 | Date Night (2812) | Jamie Wright (WA)‑Rebecca Wright | 30 | 23 | [ 31] | DNF | 29 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 226 |
| 32 | Cows With Guns (1954) | Fiona McCabe (WA)‑Fiona Davidson | 26 | 31 | 26 | 29 | 32 | [ 33] | 31 | DNS | 26 | 33 | 234 |
| 33 | MAD (2590) | James Crisp (WA)‑Francesca Crisp | [ 32] | 30 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 27 | DNF | 31 | 30 | 237 |
| 34 | No Cap (2095) | Philip Goodchild (WA)‑Nicola Goodchild | DPI | DNS | 33 | DNS | 34 | 34 | 29 | DNS | 34 | DNF | 268 |
