Eighteen Contest SA Marblehead Toad Cup
With the 2020 Marblehead Australian Championship just weeks away the SA Marblehead Toad Cup was an ideal practice regatta and with eighteen sailors competing it was tough.
With a light SSW breeze blowing down 'The Pat' conditions were ideal for some good quality racing, and with eight South Australian's entered in the Marblehead Australian Championship, this was the last solid practice before heading off to Yarrawonga (VIC) in the coming weeks.
Race wins didn't come easy with the top four alternating wins throughout the day, reflective of tight competitive racing. Paul Littledyke started well winning the first race but with a number of 19's on his scorecard, these could well have been the difference between a cup win and his overall finish of 4th. Brett Osborn regularly found a top three finish as well as winning four races, but this was only enough to place 3rd overall while Grant Edwards, consistent throughout the day remaining in striking distance to the lead, ended up 2nd overall.
At the end of the day it was Scott Mitchell with his recently launched Red Ant F6 who won the 2020 Toad Cup winning seven of the nineteen races sailed to end up 9 points clear of Edwards.
While the clash at the front end went on, throughout the fleet the racing was tight with some great tussles in an effort to finish one better than the bloke next to you.
The Marblehead Class is going from strength to strength with fleet numbers growing in numerous states in Australia and with eighteen boats competing in this event along with the class being re-established in Western Australia, the outlook is extremely positive. This years Australian Championship is expected to see a fleet size in excess of 35 boats which will be the largest fleet in over 20 years, being a true reflection of the interest in the class.
The winner Scott Mitchell pictured below having a well earned beer!
Results
Pos | Name/Club | Sail No. /Design | Nett | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | MITCHELL, Scott ADELAIDE RCYRC (SA) | AUS 52 RED ANT F6 | 40.0 | 71.0 |
2 | EDWARDS, Grant ADELAIDE RCYRC (SA) | AUS 09 INDIE | 49.0 | 67.0 |
3 | OSBORN, Brett ADELAIDE RCYRC (SA) | AUS 79 INDIE | 53.0 | 86.0 |
4 | LITTLEDYKE, Paul ADELAIDE RCYRC | AUS 77 1477 | 57.0 | 114.0 |
5 | WHITE, Tony SARYC | AUS 69 1469 | 67.0 | 95.0 |
6 | GROOME, Duncan ADELAIDE RCYRC (SA) | AUS 99 F6 | 93.0 | 143.0 |
7 | BESSELL, Allan SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RYC (SA) | AUS 27 STARKERS 3 | 115.0 | 168.0 |
8 | MORRIS, Ben SMYRC | AUS 18 1418 | 122.0 | 179.0 |
9 | ARLAND, Tim SARYC | AUS 66 | 137.0 | 184.0 |
10 | GOLD, Alan SARYC | AUS 05 1505 | 139.0 | 178.0 |
11 | DOWSETT, Ian SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RYC (SA) | AUS 62 INDIE | 158.0 | 205.0 |
12 | JUTTNER, Chris SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RYC (SA) | AUS 02 INDIE | 172.0 | 222.0 |
13 | COCKSHELL, Malcolm STIRLING MARBLEHEAD YRC | AUS 73 | 183.0 | 236.0 |
14 | WATSON, Jeff SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RYC (SA) | AUS 150 MC DOWALL / BLINK | 187.0 | 234.0 |
15 | MARCEL, Ecio SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RYC (SA) | AUS 50 FUZZY LOGIC 5 | 205.0 | 256.0 |
16 | WHITEHEAD, Bob SARYC | AUS 45 1345 | 227.0 | 284.0 |
17 | PEAKE, Greg ADELAIDE RCYRC | AUS 61 1461 | 248.0 | 305.0 |
18 | LYKKE, John SOUTH EASTERN HILLS MYC | AUS 72 1472 | 300.0 | 357.0 |