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Day one set the tone early, with a volatile south-easterly breeze testing the fleet before easing into a more settled westerly by the afternoon. Racing was extremely close, with just four points separating the top four boats at the end of the day. John “JB” Brolese showed impressive pace in his woody design to take the early win in the lighter conditions. Scott Mitchell and Alex Scapens initially looked a touch rusty but quickly found their rhythm, while Neil How quietly put together a consistent scorecard, reading the shifts well to stay firmly in contention. Gary McCarthy also sailed an excellent first day to be in second place overnight behind Mitchell with How and Scapens third and fourth respectively.

Day two brought a new challenge, opening in a north-easterly before gradually swinging to the north-west, providing excellent racing conditions and plenty of opportunities for movement on the leaderboard. It was here that the regatta truly came to life.

Alex Scapens (AUS 106, V12) delivered a composed and clinical performance when it mattered most, stringing together a series of top finishes including multiple race wins to secure the championship with a nett score of 55. His ability to stay in the top group throughout the fleet rotations proved decisive.

Gary McCarthy (AUS 181, GC24) pushed hard all weekend and remained a constant threat, finishing second overall on 63.6 points. His consistency kept the pressure on Scapens right through to the final races.

Scott Mitchell (AUS 52, Britpop) completed the podium in third with 71 points, showing strong pace across both days, while Neil How (AUS 01, Venti) was not far behind in fourth, just a single point further back, underlining how tight the competition remained across the leading group. Further back, Paul Littledyke and Patrick Parisienne rounded out a competitive top six.

Importantly, this regatta also served as a key lead-up event for both Alex Scapens and Gary McCarthy, who will represent Australia at the 2026 IOM World Championship in London this May. Their performances at Harts Mill will no doubt provide confidence heading into international competition, with both sailors demonstrating the speed, consistency and tactical awareness required at the highest level.

With 26 races completed across the weekend and constantly changing conditions, the South Australian Championship once again proved to be a fantastic test of skill and adaptability, and a great showcase of the strength of the IOM fleet heading into a busy international season.