09/10 Sabot Nationals @ Gosford Sailing Club...
Team captains from Tasmania, South Queensland, Victoria, Southern NSW, North Queensland and host zone Northern NSW hoisted their flags and more than 300 visitors packed into Gosford Sailing Club for a barbecue dinner.
MC James Ellis thanked gold sponsor Performance Sailcraft Australia for bringing along a couple of brand new 4.7 Lasers to allow the youngsters to try out the class during the event.``It’s fabulous that the Laser class has come to the party, as all the Sabot kids have to move on somewhere eventually’’ Mr Ellis said.PSA will also provide a Laser 4.7 for use at next year’s Youth Championships in Adelaide to one of the top 10 sailors by way of a ballot when the Sabot championships wind up on Sunday.
Mayor Holstein reminisced about being encouraged to hop into a Sabot 35 years ago by long-time club identity Lenny Walpole, his former Gosford High School teacher.``I think I spent four hours out there and got no further than 100 metres from shore,’’ Mr Holstein laughed.The mayor reminded guests of the council’s active plan to integrate the city with the waterfront.Mr Walpole once made trophies in the woodwork department of his school for the nationals when they were last held at Gosford in ’66-’67.
Trophies at the regatta this year have been generously funded by gold sponsor Robson Civil Projects, represented by Peter Robson described as ``a legend and icon in relation to GSC and the Sabot class.’’ Peter still has four grandchildren involved in sailing.Peter’s daughter Debbie Graham, as Sabot Week patron along with husband Steve, recalled how when she first sailed the class 30 years ago she was one of only three females to qualify for the nationals. Today there are 46 girls in the championships.
GSC president Andrew McDougall said the development of junior sailing was the club’s number 1 priority and full-time sailing administrator Peter Walsh had been employed to bring more sailors to the club through the junior sailing program.Yesterday there was no shortage of youngsters, now all they need is a bit of breeze in the days for the 10 races to come
