A very successful 6 days of DF Class racing has come to an end in Western Australia. The Austin Lakes Radio Sailing Club hosted the event with support from Radio Sailing Association of Western Australia. A massive thank-you goes out to the Organisers and Volunteers, without whom the event would not have succeeded.
It is now done and won.
May we thank all the skippers who came across from afar and near to be a part of the 2024 National Championship Regatta.
The racing was of a very high level and raced in a very sporting friendly way. You guys set the bar for the DF95 Class across our nation and we regard you as ambassadors to our future.
In a valedictorian speech at UWA, the entertainer Tim Minchin (watch YouTube) asked everyone in the crowd to be a teacher. Not in a classroom but in everyday life. One of the great things about the DF Class is we help others set up the boat or improve new skippers so they enjoy our sport as much as we do.
We hope you can be a teacher in your clubs and to any new sailors you meet by making them interested in trying our DF Class boats.
This week of racing posed many challenges with winds that swirled and varied in pressure, finding the right line and sailing clean and fast was not easy for any of us. We did achieve 99 heats of racing over the 6 days which is awesome and a credit to Bruce Robins and his team. The Winds for the last three days were all supposed to be Easterly but unfortunately did drop a little more southerly then expected which left lifts at the top marks that locals benefitted from BUT they changed constantly. Our courses were open and passing was possible and in the end sailing clean and fast over the shortest trip possible won the day.
On day one I requested you meet each other during this event and make new friends. Hopefully you will have the opportunity to host an event in the future which we may travel across to be a part of the action. Building networks and National relationships takes effort but you have shown initiative so we need to visit your grounds soon.
So, on behalf of ARYA, RSAWA, ADFRSA and ALRS we thank you for coming out to race with us and hope you had an enjoyable time.
Congratulations to Nick Jerwood for the win, Donks for second place and also to John Wyatt for third.
To all of our incredible volunteers, a massive thank you. Your efforts allowed us to all go sailing. We acknowledge your commitment and the energy you bought to the event. Special thanks to Bruce Robins for taking on the Race Officer role and standing aside from your own sailing. To the crew behind the scenes - those who spent untold hours on emails and in meetings making decisions about how to make this a premium event - our gratitude.
Cheers
Andrew Donkin
Commodore ALRS