fivepointfive - April 2023

NATIONAL REPORT - AUSTRALIA
Great racing
on Pittwater
The Australian Fleet enjoyed a good year in 2022
and so far in 2023, with great results at the 2022
Worlds in Hankø and once again, an exciting
Festival of Fives and Australian Championship in
February/March 2023.
Once again, the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club hosted the
week’s racing on beautiful Pittwater. This year 12 boats signed
on for the Championship.
The David Booth Memorial Race was the preliminary race, a
handicap start race from the Club, down Pittwater, around Lion
Island and a dash back to the Club. The 5.5 Metre division was
won by Rhapsody (Tom Spithill), with Sic Em Rex II (Tim Fussell)
in second and Alpha Crucis (Martin Cross) in third.
Day 1 of the National Championships saw Sydney’s weather
at its finest with a 12-15 knot north easterly breeze settle in
and make for some exciting prestart manoeuvring. There was
some very close racing in Race 1 and 2, with Ku-Ring-Gai
(John Bacon), Rhapsody (Tom Spithill) and Alpha Crucis (Martin
Cross) going 1,2,3 in both races. Race 3 was won by Rhapsody,
then Alpha Crucis with Scotty O’Connor’s 1968 Classic Kings
Cross in third, letting the Moderns and Evolutions know that
the Classics were not to be taken lightly. With the forecast
for lightening conditions over Days 2 and 3, it was decided
to continue racing and Race 4 was won by Ku-Ring-Gai with
Rhapsody and Kings Cross completing the podium.
Day 2 held true to forecast with 10 knots of ENE breeze filling
in for the day. Ku-Ring-Gai took Race 1, with Rhapsody and
Black Magic (Jamie Macphail) coming home in a tight finish.
Damian Macey reports on the Australian 5.5 Metre
National Championship and Festival of Fives Week
Race 2 went to Rhapsody, then Black Magic and Alpha Crucis.
Black Magic stamped its name on ‘Boat of the Day’ with a win in
Race 3, from Ku-Ring-Gai and Alpha Crucis.
On Day 3 there was a half hour delay in racing waiting for the
breeze to fill in, and conditions remained light for the day. Race
1 was won by Black Magic from Ku-Ring-Gai and Kings Cross.
No surprises in Race 2 with Rhapsody taking the win from Ku-
Ring-Gai and Black Magic.
In the end the 2023 Australian Championship was won by
Ku-Ring-Gai (John Bacon) from Rhapsody (Chris Hancock,
sailed by Tom Spithill) with Black Magic (Jamie Macphail) third.
The handicap results were Sic Em Rex (Tim Fussell) from Alpha
Crucis (Martin Cross) and Arunga VIII (Joachim Fluhrer)
The Pittwater ‘Lemoncello’ Gold Cup for 2023, hosted
by the Woody Point Yacht Club, was won by Rhapsody (Tom
Spithill). The Associates Trophy 2023 (Ladies Helm Twilight Race)
was won by Rhapsody (Annie Taylor) from Skagerak (Lauren
Crossman) and Alpha Crucis (Anna Cross).
Once again, the ‘Festival of Fives’ proved to be a great
week’s racing for the fleet and with the promise of three more
boats coming up from Sydney Harbour for the next Nationals,
the Australian 5.5 Metre class is going from strength to strength.