Day 2 of the Australian Marblehead Championships.
The 2025 Australian Marblehead Championships at Montrose Bay, Tasmania, witnessed a series of exhilarating races on Day 2 of the Championships.
Scott Condie from Canberra MYC, sailing his Grunge AUS 06, showcased exceptional skill, securing multiple first-place finishes and maintaining a consistent lead. Greg Torpy of Eagleby RYC, also with a Grunge design (AUS 25), delivered strong performances, including several top-three placements, keeping the competition intense.
Andrew Reid from Albert Park MYC, with his Grunge AUS 74, remained a formidable contender, consistently finishing near the top, and sitting on equal points with Torpy at the end of Day 2
Local sailor Kyle Stewart of Risdon Brook RYC, navigating his Indie AUS 59, leveraged his familiarity with Montrose Bay's conditions to achieve commendable results and moving up into fourth overall in a countback from Victoria's Rob Nowak, adding to the event's dynamic and competitive atmosphere.
Montrose Bay served up a dynamic mix of conditions throughout the day, keeping skippers on their toes. The morning began with a light northerly breeze around 5 knots, providing tactical racing with plenty of opportunities for well-timed shifts. A bit of luck was needed if you got caught on the wrong side.
One feature of these events are the spectacular lunches! An early lunch was taken to allow the breeze to build. Once the breeze came in, it settled into the north.
As the day progressed, the wind gradually built, peaking at around 12 knots in the afternoon, accompanied by occasional gusts that rewarded those who could balance aggression with control. The water conditions mirrored the shifting breeze—mostly flat in the morning but developing a slight wind-driven chop by early afternoon, particularly along the windward leg, where precise boat handling became critical. By the final races in the late afternoon, the breeze eased slightly, settling into a more manageable 8 to 10 knots, allowing for fast, competitive racing in near-perfect Marblehead conditions.
While the front-runners battled for the podium, several skippers further down the rankings delivered impressive performances on Day 2. John Cole-Cook, who had some major problems on Day 1 came back with a flurry, found his rhythm with three well-earned heat wins in races 10,11 and 14,as well as some podium finishes in other races, demonstrating sharp tactics in the shifting Montrose Bay breeze. Cameron Clarke battled back from some major problems on Day 1 to make sure his journey to Tasmania wasn't in vain, but unfortunately local skipper John Hall hit a snag and was unable to continue. Hopefully everyone will be back on the water for the final day.
The racing showcased the depth of talent in the Australian Marblehead fleet, proving that persistence and adaptability are just as crucial as raw speed in the world of Marblehead sailing.
Results
Pos | Name/Club | Sail No. /Design | Nett | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CONDIE, Scott ACT/CANBERRA MYC | AUS 06 GRUNGE | 35.0 | 60.0 |
2 | TORPHY, Greg QLD/EAGLEBY RYC | AUS 25 GRUNGE | 51.0 | 88.0 |
3 | REID, Andrew VIC/ALBERT PARK MYC | AUS 74 GRUNGE | 63.0 | 99.0 |
4 | NOWAK, Rob VIC/ALBERT PARK MYC | AUS 17 GRUNGE | 84.0 | 114.0 |
5 | STEWART, Kyle TAS/RISDON BROOK RYC | AUS 59 INDIE | 91.0 | 125.0 |
6 | OSBORNE, Brett SA/ADELAIDE RCYRC | AUS 79 INDIE | 108.0 | 155.0 |
7 | JOYCE, Ray TAS/RISDON BROOK RYC | AUS 57 GRUNGE | 113.0 | 155.0 |
8 | GOWER, John QLD/EAGLEBY RYC | AUS 63 GRUNGE | 117.0 | 160.0 |
9 | NEWMAN, Mark ACT/CANBERRA MYC | AUS 60 GRUNGE | 121.0 | 163.0 |
10 | COLE-COOK, John TAS/RISDON BROOK RYC | AUS 12 F 6 | 153.0 | 210.0 |
11 | BLACKWOOD, Lisa TAS/RISDON BROOK RYC | AUS 35 F 6 | 158.0 | 215.0 |
12 | RYAN, Chris VIC/PATTERON LAKES RMYC | AUS 8 F 6 | 162.0 | 215.0 |
13 | MARSHALL, Rod TAS/RISDON BROOK RYC | AUS 81 MANTRA2 | 195.0 | 246.0 |
14 | HARDING, Russell NSW/ILLAWARRA RYC | AUS 32 INDIE | 196.0 | 253.0 |
15 | BENOIT, Bruce NSW/ILLAWARRA RYC | AUS 21 PARADOX | 204.0 | 254.0 |
16 | MOLL, David NSW/ILLAWARRA RYC | AUS 2 F 6 | 210.0 | 267.0 |
17 | HALL, John TAS/RISDON BROOK RYC | AUS 38 F 6 | 276.0 | 333.0 |
18 | CLARKE, Cameron QLD/GLADSTONE RCYC | AUS 174 ROK | 281.0 | 338.0 |