Newman Takes Musto Performance Skiff Worlds Title

Paul Newman had the Musto Performance Skiff Worlds title wrapped up ahead of the final day but it was all on for the rest of the top ten.

Our prediction of changes was wrong, the regatta had already shown us the best sailors on the top. Marcus Hamilton (AUS) and Thor Schoenhoff (AUS) kept their second and third position and will be together with Jon Newman on the stage.

The final day of racing started as the previous day left off – a course lying across the Swan River, meaning flat water but big gusts and shifts in the 15-20 knots of breeze. The fleet got away cleanly with Nigel Wallbank making the best of the shifts to round the first mark first, followed by youth sailor Stuart Keegan and Newman. A 20 knot gust took the fleet down to the leeward mark at speed, where there were a few casualties as the boats converged. Wallbank overstood and let the following pack past as he reached into the mark

The leading back of Keegan, Schoenhoff , Paul Newman and Jon Newman battled it out with the right side of the course paying. Places changed constantly as the wind shifted one way and back again. Jon managed to battle through to take with win, with Keegan second and Dave Poston (GBR) coming best out of battle with Schoenhoff and Paul to take third.

Last race started all clear, half went left half went right. Guys out of the left suffered early with dwindling wind. Victorian 6 time national champion in the sabre class Wayne Bates, affectionately known as “Batesy” smacked the right hand corner and was looking famous with a 100m to go to the first mark. When a big left hand shift put a and to his fame, although rumor has it, he beat the World Champion to the first mark. Top positions changed many times with frequent oscillations and massive wind strength changes to go with them.

Gusts came through at 20-25 knots and boats that rounded in that gust could often ride it the whole way down. Jon having already won the series and not needing to sail, went right up the second with Hamilton, Schoenhoff and Paul Djikstra. The middle/left worked this time and Richie Robertson and Dennis Jones (AUS) came onto the scene for the next rounding. Places changed many times again but Marcus prevailed, Big Dave from the mother land sailed flawlessly for the second, and Robertson carried a massive gust through the middle to snatch third from Djikstra who got fourth and Paul who got caught out right for a very close 5th.

Top five
1. Jon Newman (AUS) – 12pts
2. Marcus Hamilton (AUS) – 43pts
3. Thor Schoenhoff (AUS) – 52pts
4. Ian Renilson (GBR) – 60pts
5. Denis Jones (AUS) – 62pts

Results