5:32 AM Sat 30 Jan 2010 GMT
Victoria Harbour is proving to be not just a good place to sail but also a great venue for delivering sailing to spectators and the public, adjacent to a precinct known much better for other sporting action.
Both the Audi Docklands Invitational, held in January as part of Audi Victoria Week, and the Victoria Harbour Schools Series, have grown in the last two years, due to the short course racing format, and the up close up visibility of the on water action.
This year's Victoria Harbour Schools Sailing Series will be held over four days, Thursday - Sunday March 18-21 and will see Victorian Secondary School Sailing Teams fight it out for the right to represent Victoria at the National Championships in June. The event is open to all Victorian secondary schools, with some travelling from regional areas such as the Bellarine, and Mornington Peninsulas and Gippsland. Twenty four schools will be selected to enter the series based on their 'form' at local regattas and training activities at twelve yacht clubs throughout the state. Based on their results over the first three days, the best teams in this elimination series, progress to the finals on Sunday. Early predictions are that both St.Leonards and Hailebury, winners in the last two years, will be there for the finals. Many of the schools involved have been practicing at local clubs, with support of local club coaches, on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings, as part of their school sports program.
Unlike traditional 'fleet' sailing where is it every boat for themselves, the Victoria Harbour Schools Series is team based racing. Each school has a team of three boats.. That school races against one other school in each heat and result of the race is based on a cumulative points score of each boat placed 1-6. So a team that finishes first second and sixth (9) beats a team that finishes third fourth and fifth (12). Teams have an incentive to help their fellow team members, or indeed hinder the opposition. It adds a whole new dimension to sailing. And the often variable winds caused by the buildings around Victoria Harbour can add an element of surprise that heightens the action and tests the sailing skills. Each team sails boats with the same coloured sails so competitors and spectators can always see who is winning. Races are short and sharp, of around 15-20 minutes duration, and two fleets of six boats keep the action happening..
Thanks to sponsorship from both the City of Melbourne and Lend Lease the competitors and public spectator experience is enhanced by the 'Lady Cutler' which is moored alongside north wharf. (on the south side of Victoria Harbour near the sales centre). The Lady Cutler acts as both Race Headquarters and also the Grandstand for viewing of the racing. Parents, friends, local residents and the public are all invited aboard to watch the racing unfold.
The Victoria Harbour Sailing Series is hosted by Docklands Yacht Club which runs community sailing activities most weekends, and is organised by Yachting Victoria, the sports peak body. For more information call Yachting Victoria on 03 95970066 or visit
www.yachtingvictoria.com.au
So put a reminder in your diary for March 18-21 to drop down and see some close quarter sailing action aboard the Lady Cutler at the Victoria Harbour Schools Sailing Series.
by Samuel Watson
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