Mudpuddler June 2014 June 2014 | Page 11

AUSTRALIAN TEAMS RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS ON ALBERT PARK LAKE Rod Thomas The Australian Team Racing Championship was sailed on Albert Park Lake over the June Queen's Birthday long weekend. After over 80 short races the overall victory went to the Talladega Nights team sailed by three young adult skippers from the Royal Yacht Club Tasmania, with three junior Optimist sailors from Sandringham Yacht Club as their lightweight crews. Runners up were “For the Lads” a team of mainly Irish pedigree with a few Aussie ring-ins from the Albert Park Boatshed. This was a comparatively low key event contested by 12 teams. There were two teams from Tasmania, an RQYS team from Queensland, a Uni NSW/ ANU Team from New South Wales and 8 Victorian teams. The format saw a pair of teams sail three Pacer class boats against each other, with over 90 very short 10 minute races across the Saturday and Sunday. We had a couple of sailors from Albert Sailing Club competing with Hanna Richards who sailed for the Latrobe University Team, and Paul Caddaye who was co-opted to crew in the Uni NWS/ANU team for some races o