Damian and Emily Carey in ‘Bob’ have taken out the Australian Mirror Championship in a dominant fashion after clinching the regatta with a race to spare. The pair were consistent throughout the entire regatta and were able to sail well in races 6, 7 and 8 to come away with a well-deserved victory
30 December – Races 6, 7 & 8
Races 6, 7 and 8 were sailed in what is best described as a washing machine, light winds against a tide and sea swell that was still very much prevalent from the storms earlier in the week. The race committee worked hard all day to keep the courses true for the competitors with six course changes made during the day as the breeze worked its way from 280 degrees right through to 210. With three clean starts and plenty of tight racing, the fleet finished the day well in time for a well-earned drink.
Race six went to a consistent Paul and Hugh Plowman sailing ‘Girra-Girra’, with Jenny Graney and Charlotte Armstrong in ‘Carpe Diem’ and Peter and Rohan Dean in ‘Transom Note’ rounding out the podium. Race seven went to Simon and Tyson Barwood in ‘Bullet Proof’, with Damian and Emily Carey sailing ‘Bob’ and ‘Transom Note’ in second and third respectively. Race 8 was briefly lead by Mirror newcomers Sarah Withall and Zoe How on ‘Stay Calm’ before ‘Carpe Diem’ took the lead at the first bottom rounding and maintained the lead for most of the race.
Boats traded places for the minor placings before ‘Bob’ made its move down the last run to pinch the lead and were never headed to the finish line. ‘Carpe Diem’ and ‘Girra-Girra’ rounded out the podium. The win meant ‘Bob’ sealed the championship with a race in hand, while the remainder of the podium was to be decided in the final race the next day.
Damian and Emily Carey took out the Australian Mirror Championship with a race to spare. Photo: Karl Olsen.
31 December – Race 9
Competitors were blessed with sunshine and light westerly winds for the conclusion of the 51st Mirror Nationals on December 31. With the champion-elect in Damian and Emily Carey on ‘Bob’ already decided, all that was left for the final day was the minor placings.
The fleet was a little too keen to get racing underway, however with a third of the fleet advancing the line the race committee invoked the ‘U’ flag at the restart and the fleet got away cleanly. Simon and Tyson Barwood in ‘Bullet Proof’ won the start at the boat end of the line and led the fleet at the windward rounding. Damian and Emily Carey sailing ‘Bob’ however weren’t satisfied just yet and took the lead down the run and were never headed to the finish.
Alexander and Charlotte O’Bierne sailing ‘Game On’ had a strong race to take second, and ‘Bullet Proof’ maintained its nerve to finish in a strong third place to seal second overall in the championship from Paul and Hugh Plowman on ‘Girra-Girra’ who finished a respectable 4th in the race and rounded out the podium for the championship.
Henley Sailing Club would like to thank all of the volunteers, supporters and all of the competitors both local and afar because without you we would not have an event.
