Australia’s Newman claims second Musto Skiff world title
At the ACO 9th Musto Skiff World
Championship at Blairgowrie Yacht
Squadron, Melbourne, four races on a big
breeze final day held the potential for all
kinds of place changing, but Australian Jon
Newman kept his nerve to win a second
world title in this demanding singlehander.
With the breeze gusting up to 25 knots off
the shore and shifting through as much as
30 degrees, it was a far from straightforward
race track. Newman did not always start that
strongly but relied on his incredible boat
handling, windshift spotting and all-round
boatspeed to charge through the fleet – winning
the championship with two races to spare
but staying on the water anyway to finish off
in style, winning the 13th and final race.
Second overall was fellow Aussie, Will
Phillips, at his first Musto Skiff worlds, some way
in front of the GBR battle for third, which saw
Jamie Hilton claim the third spot on the podium.
“It’s great to win the championship again,”said Newman, whose previous title was won
in Perth on the other side of Australia.
“Will’s a friend and he put up a good
battle. I think he had a couple of extra swims
than he would have liked and I managed to
hold it all together all the way through to
the end. He’s a great sailor so I’m happy to
have won against such a good competitor.”
George Hand from Great Britain, in a final
day charge, crossed the finish line of the last
race in fifth and looked back to watch his rival
for third overall. Fellow Brit Jamie Hilton was
at full pace down to the finish line with three
boats closing in from the far side, all with a
gybe to complete; all three port-gybers capsized
in a mega gust, leaving Hilton to sweep past
and cross the line in ninth. He had finished
on equal points with Hand, and with Hilton’s
two bullets from earlier in the week, this
broke the tie in the flying Scotsman’s favour.
GBR’s Alex Knight and James Poston also made
the top 10, in sixth and seventh respectively.Learning curve
for 420 youth
teams
Youth GBR helms selected to compete
at the 420 Worlds in Western Australia
found it tough racing against their
international peers in fresh conditions
at Fremantle Sailing Club, Perth.
Two world titles went to Spain, with
brothers Enrique and Pablo Luján
winning the Open fleet and Martín
Wizner/Pedro Ameneiro the Under-17
division, while it was a home nation
win for Australia’s Nia Jerwood/
Monique De Vries in the Ladies’ fleet.
The top GBR teams were Jack Lewis and
Charlie Bacon, fifth overall in the Under-
17s, and Isabel Davies/Gemma Keers, also
placed fifth overall, in the ladies’ fleet.
“The highlight was winning our first
international race in the 420; I was really
happy when we crossed the finish line
hearing the hooter go off!” said Lewis. “We
managed to put in some great races and
learnt loads. Our main goal to work on
now is being able to reach-hoist quicker
than the other boats. Also we found it is
really important to go out sailing before
the regatta to find the correct setting, and
settling into the wind, as during most of the
regatta it was 20+ knots every day. It was
a really fun experience being able to sail
against the best from each of the countries.”DOWN UNDER FEATURE
BARNIE KAAK; LF SPORTS56 Yachts & Yachting March 2018 yachtsandyachting.co.uk