Paradise RYC's Gary Metcalfe (32) took the Queensland DF95 title in commanding style, winning seven races and finishing in the top three in 15 of 16 races at the event sailed on 07-08 November at Emerald Lakes, Gold Coast.
After his three discards he finished on 19 points, 29 clear of the rest of the fleet. His worst counting score was a 2nd. He led from the first morning: after Saturday's eight races, with two drops, he was on 9 points, 12 clear of Derick Warne. Plenty of smiles all weekend, none bigger than the champion's.
Behind him the fight for the podium went to the last race. Club-mate Hank Beyer (79) earned his first podium, on the back of superfast boat speed downwind. After an up-and-down Saturday with a 13th and a 22nd, he sailed the second-best Sunday of the fleet: two race wins, six top-three finishes and 13 points after drops, climbing to second on 48. Andrew Gibbs (52) won his race 1 seeding heat and was steady on both days, joint third on Saturday and fourth on Sunday, to take third on 57. Sunshine Coast's Derick Warne (55) was second overnight after back-to-back wins in races 4 and 5, but faded slightly in Sunday's stronger breeze to finish fourth and win the Grand Masters division.
Day by day
Saturday · races 1–8.
An overcast start that cleared to warm sunshine, with a light, shifty north-westerly that died around midday before a north-easterly sea breeze filled in for the afternoon. The swinging breeze made Saturday afternoon's course a real challenge. Race 1 was the HMS seeding race, sailed as separate heats, with Metcalfe and Gibbs winning their heats. Race winners through the day: Stephen Elkington (race 3), Derick Warne (races 4 and 5), Nick Taylor (races 2 and 7), and Metcalfe (races 6 and 8).
Sunday · races 9–16
Very blustery: a southerly change brought a south to south-east breeze that built from about 8 knots in the morning to 13–15 knots after midday, with strong gusts and passing showers. Race 9 was sailed with A rigs, and the fleet changed to B rigs for the rest of the day, with some boats down to C rigs. The racing was great. Metcalfe won four more (races 10, 12, 13 and 14). Hank Beyer won races 9 and 11, Nick Taylor race 15 (his third win of the regatta), and Sydney's Steven Findlay closed the event by winning race 16.
On and off the water
Racing was sailed in great spirit all weekend: no raised voices, happy skippers and lots of smiles. Thanks to Race Officer Daniel Bergen and the team of volunteers, who ran 16 races over two days, including a gusty Sunday of rig changes, smoothly and on time.
Where the fleet came from
Thirty boats entered and 27 raced, from ten clubs in four states. Three Paradise RYC and Sunshine Coast entries withdrew before racing (Tony Fannin, Mick Gentles and Nicolas Leluan). The host club fielded the biggest team: 10 of the 27 boats, including the whole podium.
Event Results - Top 5
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