Living Colour Landscapes 505 Nationals

8:48 AM Sat 14 Feb 2009 GMT

'Offshore Sailing - Living Colour 505 National Championships' Simon Reffold

This Sunday sees the start of the Living Colour Landscapes 505 Nationals, hosted by the Manly 16' Skiff Club.

Over 30 boats are registered with representation from all States (and the ACT) as well as a UK entry.

Of particular interest is the return to 505 Racing of Australian Sailing Team coach and past National Champion Adrian Finglas from Brisbane's RQ. He is joined by five other Queenslander teams - with the notable exception of reigning National Champs Bill Cuneo and John Warlow who have had to abstain with work commitments. Finglas is notably quick and the testing conditions that look to be in place for the regatta will suit his style.

However, the South Australians have a new State Champion in Sandy Higgins, who with crew Jordan Spencer will be keen to keep the good results on the roll. Sandy has also won previous National Championships and is regarded as one of the top 505 Sailors in the world. He leads a fleet of eight Crow Eaters making the trip up which also includes top female Skipper Sarah Withall and youngsters Jono Bannister and Nick Deussin.

505 on the Harbour - Living Colour 505 National Championships - Simon Reffold

The NSW contingent is led by Michael Quirk and crew Simon Reffold. Quirky has won two previous National Championships and these are his home waters so he is expected to do well. So too is Carter Jackson who is sailing with David Page. Both Carter and David have long and proud dinghy pedigrees and will be fast in the bump off the heads.

The 505's have long been 'mingling' their members with the Tasar fleet (keys in the fruit bowl anyone?). This year two Tasar champions have made the jump. up. Rob Douglass and Shane Guanaria are both Tasar National Champions - Shane being the most recent. Rob also has a Tasar worlds under his belt.

Victoria is at the epicentre of all the Tasar/505 Mingling with both Victorian teams being heavily involved in both classes. Jonathon Ross (whose web development company Halcyon Daze is also and event sponsor) is joined by Ian Scholes on the wire.

Finally - the ACT is represented by veteran Sharpie sailors Daniel Keys and Daryl Roos sailing PeopleBank. The Canberran's have been practicing solidly all summer and are expected to perform well in a blow since Lake Burly Griffin is either flat as a tack or 30 knots.

Finally - our pommy freeloaders are represented by Terry Sutcher, sailing with International Class President (and living Class monument) Pip Pearson. Terry scored a second in the windy British Nationals last year and can easily take on any of the top Aussie teams.

Of course its all going to be about the Weather, with the glorious Sydney summer conditions of the past month all but a distant memory now. Here now, it is fresh Southerly, torrential rain and three metre seas and its forecast to remain like that for a week. Oh, and there have been two shark attacks in the past two days.

Luckily - the 505 Sailors are a plucky bunch and aquatic carnivores, Big Wednesday swells and howling gales just serve to quicken the pulse a little and sharpen the reflexes.

It is just this kind of derring do, devil-may-care attitude that attracted event sponsor Living Colour Landscapes to partner the 505's in this event and put up the brilliant first prize painting - which Living Colour CEO Stephen Oatley painted himself.

Stephen Oatley and his first prize painting - Living Colour 505 National Championships - Simon Reffold Click Here to view large photo

Living Colour are joined by supporting sponsors Ullman Sails, Gill Clothing, Halcyon Daze Web design and Lewmar whose small boat range is growing in size and scope.

There will be daily results available right here or through the official site; int505nationals.com/

Living Colour 505 National Championships - Simon Reffold

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