6:04 AM Fri 16 Oct 2009 GMT
Defending champion Vaughan Prentice promises tough competition in next month's Wharf Tavern Etchells Queensland State Championship for Etchells sailors with designs on taking the coveted trophy.
Prentice will be up against a high-quality fleet of 20 boats from Queensland, Hong Kong and New Zealand. The two-day regatta will see the fleet contest six races on the open waters off Mooloolaba Beach on the 14 and 15 November.
While Prentice claims he is just coming along to make up the numbers, he says some of his fellow Etchells sailors may argue that this is when he is at his most dangerous.
Ask his North Sails business partner Mark Bradford. 'A relaxed Vaughan is definitely dangerous. I think that his form in the last year has shown that he will be hard to beat. He won't be alone though. Mooloolaba's Dave Turton won't be easy along one or two others that are likely to pop up and do a good job.'.
Prentice rates a top three placing in the State championship very highly. 'I have had many seconds and many thirds, but never actually managed to win one until last year. Competing in the Etchells class at State level I figure if you finish in the top three you are doing pretty well. Most of the State championships are won on a count back so it is always very close within the top three or four. So at State level to finish in the top three is not bad and when we come to Mooloolaba to do the mid-winters, to finish in the top ten you are in the hunt.'
Vaughan will content the championship with two of winning crew from 2008, Chris Anderson and Darren Hutchinson, plus young Laser sailor Curtis Skinner who has recently returned from the Laser Youth World Championship, held in Brazil.
by Tracey Johnstone
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Troughton Island, WA
