Azza On Top at Happy Rock!
The 2026 International One Metre Class Central Queensland Regatta delivered a fantastic weekend of competitive racing on Gladstone waters, with a massive 38 races completed across two days of varied and testing conditions.
Day one opened under light southerly breezes, making the early racing a tactical challenge as sailors worked hard to find pressure across the course. As the day progressed, the wind gradually built to around 6 knots, allowing the fleet to settle into a strong rhythm and rack up races. Consistency quickly became key, with Aaron Farrar establishing himself as the early benchmark, regularly featuring at the front of the fleet.
Day two began in classic A-rig conditions before the easterly increased steadily throughout the day. By the latter stages of the regatta, sailors had changed down to B rigs, with choppier, lumpier conditions testing both boat handling and decision-making. Despite the increasing difficulty, racing continued at an impressive pace, bringing the total to 38 races — a remarkable achievement for a two-day regatta.
Farrar proved untouchable when it mattered most, finishing with a commanding 55 nett points. His performance was built on exceptional consistency, highlighted by an impressive string of race wins through the middle and latter stages of the series. The result marks an ideal lead-in for Farrar ahead of his upcoming trip to London for the IOM World Championship in May, where he will be looking to carry this form onto the international stage.
Fellow Gladstone sailor Greg Torpy pushed hard throughout the regatta to secure second place on 81 points. Torpy showed flashes of brilliance with multiple race wins and remained firmly in contention across both days, particularly in the building breeze on day two.
Rounding out the podium was Doug Allen from Sunshine Coast, finishing on 90 points. Allen delivered a consistent series with regular top-three finishes, keeping the pressure on the leading pair throughout.
Just outside the podium, Andrew Wilson sailed a solid regatta to finish fourth, while local sailor Ian McKay completed the top five in a competitive fleet that featured a strong mix of experience and emerging talent.
With excellent race management, a full schedule of racing, and conditions that tested every aspect of the sport, the Gladstone regatta delivered a high-quality event that showcased the strength and depth of IOM sailing in Queensland.
Results
| Pos | Name/Club | Sail No. /Design | Nett | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Farrar GLADSTONE RCYC (QLD) | AUS 34 V12 | 55.0 | 101.0 |
| 2 | Greg Torpy GLADSTONE RCYC (QLD) | AUS 125 B12 | 81.0 | 121.0 |
| 3 | Doug Allen SUNSHINE COAST RSC (QLD) | AUS 72 V12 | 90.0 | 131.0 |
| 4 | Andrew Wilson WYNNUM MANLY RMYC (QLD) | AUS 161 VISS | 95.0 | 144.0 |
| 5 | Ian McKay GLADSTONE RCYC (QLD) | AUS 95 V2 | 148.0 | 206.0 |
| 6 | John Gower EAGLEBY RYC (QLD) | AUS 63 VENTI | 171.0 | 221.0 |
| 7 | Mark Beneke FCRYC | AUS 164 VENTI | 208.0 | 269.0 |
| 8 | Trevor Duigan WYNNUM MANLY RMYC (QLD) | AUS 5 V12 | 211.0 | 270.0 |
| 9 | Ben Thorburn GLADSTONE RCYC (QLD) | AUS 171 K2 | 225.0 | 288.0 |
| 10 | Ian Shaw NBRYC | AUS 193 | 227.0 | 293.0 |
| 11 | Laurie Donohoe GLADSTONE RCYC (QLD) | AUS 28 BRITPOP | 229.0 | 297.0 |
| 12 | Murray Walker SPRINGFIELD LAKES RYC (QLD) | AUS 10 VISS | 254.0 | 319.0 |
| 13 | Gravel Wardrop GLADSTONE RCYC (QLD) | AUS 93 V10 | 255.0 | 320.0 |
| 14 | Phil Wells WYNNUM MANLY RMYC (QLD) | AUS 41 ORCA | 263.0 | 331.0 |
| 15 | Jimmy Mee EAGLEBY RYC (QLD) | AUS 43 V12 | 296.0 | 364.0 |
| 16 | Paul Bergamini GLADSTONE RCYC (QLD) | AUS 137 V12 | 298.0 | 366.0 |