There must be something about sailing on Queensland waters in winter because the 2021 ASBA National Titles hosted by Darling Point Sailing Squadron has attracted 20 Sports Boats to the regatta with just under a week until the starters gun. The 4-day regatta held over the 25^th to the 28^th of June will have a range of windward/leeward and passage races held in Morten Bay, Brisbane. After Covid-19 postponed the regatta back in January the ASBA committee agreed to hold the regatta in winter and use it as a kick starter to the northern Queensland regattas which has seemed to have paid off. With 20 nominations to date (and possibly more to come). This is the best regatta in years for numbers. Its also great to see a few new members with their new boats out on the water.

The regatta is shaping up to some what of a state of origin on the water as all of it competitors are from either Queensland or New South Wales. Reports are that shots have already been fired with something of a slur coming from 2-time Nationals Champion, Malcom Dean. He encouraged his NSW competitors to start their travels at “50 to 6” (not 5:10) just like the score in the first State of Origin game. Malcolm is in great form with a 1^st place at the ASBA NSW titles back in April. Will he get his nationals hat trick? Will he go out on a high? As he is selling his Shaw 650 “The Stig”, or will another Sports Boat take it out. Only time will tell but he will have a range of other design boats gunning for him.

The 6.5m design boats have the best numbers of the fleet with 7 boats on the start line. (3 Leech 650s and 4 Shaw 650s) Pre regatta talk is it is going to be a cracker with the skippers already betting bottles of rum for the win. ASBA President (Andrew Clauson) and ASBA Vice President (Malcolm Dean) are both looking forward to the battle but best of all they have a handful of other 650’s, so the need to sail hard and watch their backs. Its going to be hard fought to win the battle of the 650’s.

But it does not stop there. The regatta will host an Elliott design division which contains 3 mighty Elliott’s 7’s and 1 Elliot 780. This was drummed up by a joint venture between the ASBA and Elliott owners trying to get a Elliott 7 Nationals within the ASBA Nationals. Unfortunately, we could not get there so giving the Elliott design boats their own division to battle while still racing for SMS rating and ASBA LTP handicap honors in the other divisions.

Up the fastest time end of the fleet, the regatta has a good range of 7 to 8m boats to get bragging rights for line honors. For the 8m boats we have a newcomer to the fleet. Graham Turner with his Thompson 8 looking to get the gun, it will give the other 8m boats some stiff competition. Two 8m boats have gone through some big modifications since the last time they raced with the ASBA, and the Scorpion 8 More Dough is skippered by a local Brisbane sail maker so local knowledge may come into play. To keep the 8m boats on their toes the slightly smaller 7m range boats can not be underestimated. Especially if the wind is in their favor. This includes the Andrews Wiklund’s Crank, Leon Thomas’s Sayer 7 and the 3 REO Sports Boats (Andrew York) designs. Its going to be a hard-fought battle and we could see podium winners coming from these guys.

The ASBA has been running two main divisions across its regattas for the past 2 years with great results. SMS rating has been the primary system used since the ASBA was convened. But the ABSA saw a need to bring is a second system for those that did not want to chase a “rating”. The ASBA LTP (Long Term Performance) Handicap was constructed in conjunction with Top Yacht for a fairer performance handicap system. It was designed to stop the major highs and lows of performance handicaps and is also to seek out boats throwing races to get a better handicap. For the last 2 years the ASBA has been using the system either in trial in the background or included in the results. This has been well received by the ASBA members so far and they hope to keep that trend going.

As always, these regattas cannot be run without the support of the host club Darling Point Sailing Squadron and the ASBA sponsors Harken Australia, Evolution Sails Gold Coast, Marine Outlet, Keels On Wheels, Ted Tec, Wet Tech Rigging and official photographer Jules Magic.

There is still time to put a campaign together, and you do not have to worry the ASBA has scratched the late entry fee to help you get there.

For all the info check out the ASBA webpage www.asba.org.au or ASBA FaceBook page www.facebook.com/sportsboatsaus You can also watch some of our pervious regatta videos at www.youtube.com/channel/UC06fS6fSP_9pAjAlkX6kuyQ

Hope to see you one the water soon,

The ASBA Team