Written by Beau White – originally published 3 January formula16.net
Grant and Lilly managed to extend their lead over second place today to secure the big title. The southerly from yesterday stuck around a little longer than expected and influenced the easterly flow that was forecast.
Lilly Smith has been after this title for a long time, missing out at Frankston in 2021 on countback, 2022 at Port Stephens she teamed up with this years Taipan 4.9 Champion Simon Hallsworth, boat breakages on the rental Viper held them back to 5th. In 2023 at Meningie she secured 6th with Peter Dunk, Eden last year Lilly and Grant fought tooth and nail to the End against Emma Rankin and Beau White where it came down to the final races where they slipped and secured the second spot. Her tenacity and teamwork with Grant has paid off and the pair finished with a good 10 point margin this year.
The F16 fleet this season in particular has become very competitive, 5 different race winners over the regatta, thus a solid performance for the Harken Vaikobi sponsored team to hold their nerve on the final day and finish all the races clean and with low points. A massive congratulations from all in the F16 and wider sailing community to Lilly and Grant.
“It was like playing UNO”, remarked Luke Ratcliff ” you know a game with an element of chance, theres some big holes and carpet ride gusts, but the same guys seem to always work their way through and win”
Yesterday second place seemed all but secured for Luke and Nick Reader. I remarked yesterday that with the turn of speed that Katie and Emma had found on their Viper after the great rudder debacle, the boys would need to be defensive. Emma’s badger like determination and good boat handling is not to be underestimated coupled with Katie’s experience and starts they were looking very dangerous indeed. The girls smashed out three excellent races while Luke and Nick seemed to falter in the shifty breeze and just get caught on the wrong side of the holes and gusts while Emma and Katie ripped chunks out of their points lead and ultimately secured second and relegated Luke and nick to 3rd.
Luck was not on the boys side and a snagged kite halyard in the first race sent them reeling backwards toward a high number finish of 8th. The lads slid into the ferocity of the mid pack to the extent of getting into a protest with Kris Bilston on his rental Viper.
This ain’t the first rodeo for Kris after coming through the Australian Sailing Nacra 15 program and securing a very respectable 3rd at last years F18 Nationals. However he is known for being very…..vocal on course. Tangling with Nick Reader is a battle few win. Kris lost the protest and the Race of the Rentals with James (Jimmy) Henderson and Lewis (Luigi) Abbott was back on the table.
Jimmy and Luigi finally found their form today and secured great starts to stay in clear air. They banged the left hand corner and secured two wins in the final races. A good finish for the young team to keep them motivated for the rest of the season. The Race of the Rentals ended even on points after 12 races and it came to countback after the last race. With the protest loss Kris slid to 5th and Lewis ascended to 4th – a result closer to what us observers were expecting from the very quick duo of Luigi and Jimmy.
Possibly the two highlights of the day came from the buffalos. Angus Musgrove who normally sails solo due to his affinity for custard dainishes and craft beer teamed up this year with RPAYC coach from the UK Sam Brakely.
In race 1 today, the lads wound up on Port and blitzed the fleet off the line. The lack of free board and frequency of pies, though, produced the inevitable claws from the pack, dragging them back into the fleet for a 7th finish.
Murray and Danielle Makin on a convertible Viper better known for closing the bar than dieting advice rounded the top mark first in the final race of the day. The whippets arrived after them at the offset whimpering and wondering where these bulldogs had come from. The lightweights scampered away downwind, tails between their legs whites of their eyes showing as they looked at the bulldogs lumbering toward the bottom mark.
The midpack were not to be messed with, Pete Walker increased with speed throughout the regatta and the father daughter team of Dave and Hayley Fisher were always ready to capitalise on mistakes by the punters up front.
Combining the event with the Taipans who have a very similar ethos, culture and demographic has been a great initiative. There has been positivity from all the sailors, a 42 boat regatta is good thing and when everyone is of a similar mindset, good times, good racing, being understanding and supportive of the fellow sailors in your community really is something special in life. Next year the event will move to Victoria, Westernport or Gippsland lakes will be selected and it will be combined with the Taipans.
As the curtain falls on this epic annual event it is once again glaringly clear that the F16 is a phenomenal boat. They attract a fun and diverse crowd of sailors. Seeing the teams smiling during races, shredding across the water in the gusts and talking to them post racing is inspiring.
Whether you sail for the sheer pleasure of gliding across the water floating the windward hull with the spinnaker, or if you want cut and thrust racing at the highest level. If you want a boat to show the youth development elite that the old guns still have many lessons to teach, or if you want a wind craft that is suitable for the family and solo sailing. The Formula 16 and its amazing community of enthusiasts is the is the place to be.
