Coach v Coach in the 2016 David Lukins Regatta
The David Lukins regatta was held on
10th and 11th of September 2016. This
was the seventh running of the event
since its inception in 2009 to commemorate the memory of David Lukins, a much
valued member, Volunteer and mate. David was awarded one of the Club’s most
prestigious awards, Volunteer of the Year
award for 1998-1999.
This event has attracted some of RPAYC’s
best sailors, battling to get their name
on the beautiful David Lukins Memorial
Trophy.
Just looking at the names on the trophy
of previous winning skippers and crew,
you get an appreciation of the caliber of
the event as you identify Olympic and
World Champions.
This regatta has a strong connection
with the Club’s Youth Development (YD)
program, as David Volunteered countless
hours helping shape the lives of some of
those champions mentioned above.
This year saw 10 teams compete for the
coveted title. 5 skippers out of the 10
teams were past graduates of the Youth
Development Squad, some ranging back
to the early 90s. The other teams competing were the current Youth Development Squad and for the first time, one
team skippered by Nick Andersen represented the Club’s Intermediate Youth
Development Program (IYD)
Racing got underway on Saturday in a
puffy 20-25 knot North westerly, that
slowly went west during the day, and at
times gusting into the 30s.
This provided some exciting racing,
particularly on the downwinds with the
asymmetrical spinnakers propelling the
Elliott 7s down the course at breakneck
speeds.
Showing a near dominant performance
on the first day was current YD squad
member Malcolm Parker and team. It was
clear that this team knew the boats, as
their heavy weather boat handling really
was a step above most of the competi-
tion. By the end of the day, Parker and
his team had lost only one race to Nick
“Gazza” Garland.
For the second and final day of racing
on Sunday, the conditions were much
different, with a weak westerly starting
off the morning, then a beautiful 6 knot
ESE wind coming out of the little pond
for the afternoon.
The last two races of the round robin
were completed, and the top four were
decided. At the end of the Round Robin,
Malcolm Parker led the competition 1
point clear of Murray Gordon. Tom Spithill and Nick Garland filled the remaining
spots for the semifinals in third and 4th
respectively. As the top ranked competitor from the round robin, Parker got
to have first pick of his opponent and
surprisingly chose his coach Tom Spithill
for the semi. This left Murray Gordon to
sail against Nick Garland.
Spithill managed to advance to the finals
winning 2-1 over Parker, and thus proving he can still practise what he preaches! Gordon and Garland also had a tight
fight, with Garland leading Gordon to the
finishing line, then quickly undertaking
a penalty turn right on the line. Unfortunately Garland didn’t execute a perfect