2010 Melges 24 Australian Championships - A family affair

1:09 AM Tue 4 May 2010 GMT

'A hive of activity in preparation for the 2010 Melges 24 Australian Championships at The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron' Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron was a hive of activity in preparation for the 2010 Melges 24 Australian Championships yesterday.

Crews arrived from all over Australia. David Farrimond Vitesse AUS 709 spent the weekend on the 20-hour drive from Geelong, with new crewmember Ben Roodhouse, owner of Go Dogs Go in WA joining their team for the regatta. Still a true family effort, mum Lyn was out washing the hull.

Geoff Masters Jolt AUS 746 and his gun team arrived on Friday and spent the weekend training on Moreton Bay, keen to defend his 2009 Champion Title. Jason and Amanda from Arriba Arriba's AUS 215 put in a hard training session in yesterdays 15-20 knots and came back with blood on the deck.

In the midst of all the activity Laila Engler arrived straight off the plane from her six-month working holiday in New Zealand. Engler races Melges 24, 334 out of her club SVH-SEGLERVEREINIGUNG in Germany. She contacted Melges Asia Pacific, keen to get a ride at the Australian Championship, Malcolm Wood Fox May Wonder AUS 668 will benefit from Engler's experience.

After a few introductions crews were interested in her European sailing experiences and her travels. This is the fantastic thing about the Melges 24's, you can show up and race anywhere in the world.

Winners of the weigh-in, Heath Walters Matilda AUS 19, were closest to the pin 360kg weight limit after burgers and beer for lunch, much to Heath Townsend Kaito's AUS 709 disbelief as they had dropped six kilograms overnight.
With light to moderate South-easterly breezes today, it's up for grabs.

by Tracey Walters