The ILCA Oceania & Australia Masters 2023 finished on Monday. The regatta offered testing conditions to 154 participants through four days of sailing in Port Stephens.

The regatta kicked-off on Friday with strong 22-29 knot ENE “breeze” with many sailors surprised to be sent out in those conditions. A former Olympian stated, “I’ve sailed for 40 years and never been sent out in that”. Sailors rallied to assist each other launch in the breaking beach swell and those who raced had to hold on tight to complete the first two races in survival mode. A special mention goes out to Chris Tattersall who ultimately chose not to race and assisted all of the boats in the park in launching – such a wonderful display of our DBSC spirit for everyone to see!

Conditions improved somewhat for the second day with a “moderate” 15-18 knots, again from ENE with an outgoing tide, and tired legs for all who had sailed the day before. On the third day the wind shifted to the south, with once again, moderate to fresh conditions for the final two days.

All around it was a tough regatta with conditions requiring full hiking for most of us, throughout the entire ten races.

It was fantastic to see a large team of 18 sailors from DBSC who were still smiling at the end! Well done to our DBSC sailors who performed well under difficult conditions.

ILCA 7

Apprentice

David Newman 3rd

Master
Rod Barnes, 4th

Geoff Kirk, 7th

Nick Pellow, 8th

Craig Sheers, 11th

Mike Dunne, 15th

Steven London, 18th

Grand master

Yves Stening 16th

ILCA 6

Apprentice

Roberto Blum 1st

Master

Ian Alexander 3rd

Andrew Cox 4th

Alistair Sutherland 6th

Murray Stone 8th

Kate McHugh 10th, 1st female

Grand Master

Christopher Tattersall 24th

Great Grand Master

Martin White 4th

Patrick Levy 8th

David Airey 16th

Steven London was once again the winner of a combined encouragement and good Samaritan award, this time for rescuing a sailor mid race on the first day, plucking him from the treacherous conditions and sailing him back to his overturned boat, before continuing his race.