2016 Etchells National Championships - by Jill Connell
Congratulations to RPAYC member Richie
Allanson, who, along with his team
mates on Magpie, won the 2016 Etchells
National Championship.
Helmed by
Graeme Taylor (GT) with Richie and James
Mayo, these three highly experienced and
well regarded sailors won three races and
the overall pointscore. Magpie achieved
an impressive 10 point lead ahead of
second place winner, Triad, skippered by
John Bertrand sailing with Bill Browne
and Jake Newman. Fifteen+ skippered
by Etchells Vice President David Clark was
third overall. Triad won the Masters and
Grand Masters divisions.
Odyssey had a very successful Nationals
achieving 21st, which continues Odyssey’s
ongoing improvement. Helmed by RPAYC
member Jill Connell, sailing with coach
and top pro-sailor Wade (Bubs) Morgan,
and with Ben Lamb (Lamby).
There were 46 of the nation’s top Etchells
fiercely competing on Port Phillip Bay
during the week on January 10. Many of
the sailors competing are highly regarded
professional sailors competing for the
excitement and challenge of sailing these
stunning one-design boats in perhaps
Australia’s toughest regatta in the nation.
The Fleet included several Etchells World
Champions, America’s Cup sailors, Volvo
to Hobart. The sailing conditions varied
even more than the “4 seasons in a day”
cliché about Melbourne’s weather. From
being too light to race, to too strong to
race, from 40 degrees to a really cold
under 20 degrees, from moderate sea
way to quite “bumpy”, and everything in
between. It was such a treat with the race
course being just a few minutes from the
Royal Brighton Yacht Club bar and café.
Congratulations to the regatta organising
committee, the race management team,
sponsors and the Royal Brighton Yacht
Club who all worked seamlessly to