New Years Eve saw the opening ceremony of the 14th Mirror World Championships with Event Director, Anthony Galante, on behalf of the Princess Royal Sailing Club and its members recognised the cultural and spiritual links that Noongar people have to the land and sea, and acknowledged the traditional owners of country know today as Albany or Kinjarling, or place of the rain.
Mineng Elder, Alwyn Coyne, welcomed the competitors in a traditional welcome to country which was followed by traditional dances by the Kinjarling Yoorls, a group of Aboriginal dancers. Backed by troup leader, Ryan Humphries on didgeridoo, the group of boys and men performed a number of dances including the "Wind Dance."
 |
| Kinjarling Yoorls performing the Wind Dance |
ay 3 a full range of breeze from 3 to 25 knots providing something for everyone. The morning started in 5/6 knots from the East and moved about resulting in a change of course. The Irishman, Ross Kearney and Max Odell showed blistering pace in the light breeze storming to a 20 boat length lead and an unassailable lead. They were chased by Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher from Tasmania who were liking the light conditions with New South Welshman Mark Phillips and son Hugh pushing to the front of the fleet after Hugh had recovered from illness that saw miss the first day of racing.
7th - Ross Kearney / Max Odell
8th - David Conlon / Charlotte Bond
9th - Miles Odell / Rory Odell
13th - Matthew & Ben Lulham-Robinson
14th - Ed Grayson / Matthew Foster
19th - Emma & Rachel Grayson
20th - Millie Newman / Jessica Rust
40th - Martin Egan / Ruth Smith
44th - Craig Bond / Tom King
55th - Ollie & James King
63rd - Vicki Bond / Ben Eeles
d Paul and Austin Taylor separated by one point with 7 races completed and one drop. The Gilberts, on 12 points, managed three wins on a spectacular day on Princess Royal Harbour. The Taylors sailed to one bullet and 3 thirds and are a threat on 13 points.
The GBR team assembled in Albany for measurement over the 26th & 27th December at what initially looked like a bleak, cold and windy Albany skyline - a shock to many after the searing 40 degree heat of Perth some 4 hours north.
Measuring, opening ceremonies and briefings out of the way 64 registered boats from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Philippines, Ireland and of course the UK took to the water with an extremely high level of entrant; Lachlan Gilbert and Peter Taylor leading the Aussie charge again, Ridgely Balladares & Rommel Chaves from the Filipino Olympic 470 squad & 3 x world fireball champions on the water.
The GBR entrant is made up of 5 boats from Brightlingsea and five from around the UK plus Ross Kearney skippering with Max Odell for an eclectic mix of Shamrock and Rose - a mirror form of a Guiness Shandy perhaps.
The Aussie Nationals, serving as the Pre-Worlds, was held over 3 arduous days each with 4 races. Competitors awoke on day-1 (sunday 28th Dec) to strong winds, clearing skies and soaring temperatures. Things were looking up already.
e 45th Australian Championships kicked off with the Cliff Scott Memorial Invitational, the traditional warm up of the Mirror fleet. In fresh SSE conditions, the fleet got racing and all the nerves and anxiety are now gone.
The Cliff Scott was a close tussle between the Philippines team of Ridgely Balladares and Rommel Chavez and 2007 Mirror World Champion Ross Kearney and Max Odell from Ireland. They steamed up the first beat with the Philippinos getting a good break of 10 boat lengths that was bridged to a couple by the time the teams reached the bottom gate on the trapezoid course. The gap to the following pack was quiet substantial and the two front runners were never headed. Balladares and Chavez took the bullet followed by Kearney and Odell. the Cliff Scott Memorial Trophy for the first place Australian boat went to 2009 Australian Champions Lachlan and Finn Gilbert who edged in front of two other boats in a tight finish.
Page 148 of 165
