6:10 AM Sun 10 Jan 2010 GMT
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'McDougall in perfect control as he rounds the top mark two seconds later. - International Moth Class nationals'
Bernie Kaaks
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The 2010 International Moth Class Championship finished today with a resounding win to Victorian Andrew McDougall sailing a McConaghy built Mach 2 foiling Moth.
He won 11 of the 15 races and most by convincing margins. On day 3 of the regatta a problem with the leveling sensor, or wand, made the boat almost uncontrollable and McDougall did well to complete all three races despite some heavy spills.
An enthralling battle for the minor places lasted right through to the final race, when Andrew Stevenson finished just ahead of his arch rival Luka Damic to take second place by just one point. Alan Goddard finished fourth with a very consistent performance. His worst placing was a 7th in the very light with race on the final day, the only race in the series which was 'non-foiling', meaning the breeze was not strong enough to lift the craft onto their foils and clear of the water.
It was in these conditions that WA's Richard Heritage was able to wrest a heat win from series leader McDougall. He started well in the light conditions and maintained good control and speed throughout to round the windward mark with a small but decisive lead, which he maintained in agonizingly light conditions all the way to the finish line to beat the time limit by a mere five minutes.
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Richard Heritage blasts off after winning the first heat on the final day - International Moth Class nationals - Bernie Kaaks
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Stevenson leads Damic in a tight contest for second and third overall - International Moth Class nationals - Bernie Kaaks
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Visitors were full of praise for the organisation and hospitality of host club South of Perth, and the on-water race management of race officer Les Swinton and his team.
Most skippers enjoyed the WA breezes, which were a little lighter than normal for this time of year, giving them ideal foiling conditions. On the final day, leaders were achieving speeds of 12 to 14 knots to windward and 15 to 16 knot downwind in a breeze strength of barely 15 knots!
Final results:
1. 3380 Mach 2 Andrew McDougall 16
2. 9332 HTFU Andrew Stevenson 32
3. 3573 Ready Luka Damic 33
4. 3570 Obsession Alan Goddard 52
5. 3263 No name Phil Kurts 69
6. 3420 Silent Assassin Brent Pearson 71
by Bernie Kaaks
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Manly, QLD
