Frank Russell has claimed the 2026 NSW A Class State Championship following a thrilling two days of racing at Koonawarra Bay Sailing Club, with the title decided in the closing races of the 21-race series.
The championship delivered two vastly different days of sailing, from frustratingly light winds and challenging heavy-weather conditions on Day 1 to near-perfect racing conditions on Day 2.
The opening day began with a delayed start as competitors waited for sufficient breeze to commence racing. Eventually, two races were completed in a light easterly before the wind faded, prompting an early lunch break.
Racing resumed with a further race in similar conditions before a significant shift to the west brought strengthening winds and a change to B rigs. With winds exceeding 15 knots and gusting to 25 knots, the afternoon became a test of both sailing ability and equipment reliability.
Daniel Weizman (IRYC), sailing his Sword, made a commanding start, winning the opening three races. However, jib failures in races four and five disrupted his early dominance.
Frank Russell (LMRYC), sailing his UFO-2, capitalised on the changing conditions, recording three consecutive victories in races four, five and six. Barry Grant (KoBSC), sailing his Fuse 9, also demonstrated excellent consistency, while Tom Collinge (NM) remained firmly in contention sailing his Stiletto.
With equipment failures and demanding conditions taking their toll on several competitors, only seven races were completed.
At the conclusion of Day 1, Russell and Grant were tied on 20 points, with Collinge third on 22 and Weizman fourth on 23, setting the scene for an exciting second day.
Day 2 delivered considerably more favourable conditions, with sunshine and a consistent east to north-easterly breeze of 5–10 knots allowing an impressive 14 races to be completed.
The championship quickly developed into a two-way battle between Russell and Weizman, with the pair dominating the racing and ultimately sharing 20 of the 21 race victories, each recording ten wins.
Weizman started the second day strongly, building on the pace he had demonstrated during the opening races of the championship. However, Russell responded after lunch, stringing together a series of victories to steadily reduce the deficit.
By the completion of race 19, the championship was finely balanced, with the two leading skippers separated by very little.
The decisive moment came in the penultimate race when Weizman suffered an unfortunate rig failure, preventing him from competing and resulting in a costly score. The setback handed Russell a crucial opportunity heading into the final race.
Russell made the most of it, winning race 21 to secure the championship with a nett score of 27 points, five clear of Weizman on 32.
It was a dramatic conclusion to an intensely fought contest, with Russell's strong finish proving decisive after Weizman had threatened to take the title.
Barry Grant completed the podium in third place with 58 points, his consistent performances throughout the championship securing a comfortable advantage over fourth-placed Tom Collinge.
Jon Pinkerton (KoBSC) produced a strong second-day recovery, including a victory in race 20, to climb to fifth overall, ahead of clubmate David Archer in sixth.
Across 21 races, competitors experienced an extraordinary range of conditions, from near-calm waters to demanding 25-knot gusts, before enjoying a full day of competitive racing in steady breezes.
The championship ultimately came down to the final two races, highlighting both the competitiveness of the A Class fleet and the importance of consistency and equipment reliability.
Congratulations to Frank Russell, the 2026 NSW A Class State Champion, and to Daniel Weizman and Barry Grant for completing the podium.
Recognition also goes to Koonawarra Bay Sailing Club, the race management team and volunteers for delivering the championship under such varied conditions.
Event Results - Top 5
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