MORNINGTON Yacht Club’s James Jackson and crew Harrison Chapman, of Royal Brighton Yacht Club, won the delayed 420 National Sailing Championships on Sydney Harbour, 9-13 April.
Their victory gives Mornington Yacht Club its 35th National Title in 75 years.
The 420 Nationals are one of the few national championships to be held this year after a difficult 16 months of COVID-19 restrictions.
James and Harrison sailed in a wide range of conditions – from large swells inside Sydney Heads against inconsistent light winds, to 30 knot westerlies, and then typical sea-breezes.
The pair had to use all their sailing skills to navigate amid seaplanes, ferries and “crazy” keel-boaters. In the first race they learned that their interpretation of the 50-metres-off-the-ferry rule differed from the jury’s: A warning whistle after passing the stern of a ferry meant they still had to do penalty turns – losing the lead and coming fourth in that race.
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Despite being made to earn every point they hung in there, overcoming several protests and aggressive racing in which they collided with other boats three times.
With a big lead after two days racing, they sailed conservatively to ensure their 18 months of effort was not wasted and won the series with a race to spare.
Four firsts, two seconds, two thirds and a fourth gave them a total of 17 points and made it only the fifth time since 1974 that a Victorian boat has won the event.