Melbourne hosts Australian Para Sailing Championships

The Inaugural Australian Para Sailing Championships were held at Royal Brighton Yacht Club in Victoria from December 13 to 16, 2018. The Championships were held in conjunction with the 2.4mR, Hansa 303 and SKUD 18 open fleet racing in the Sail Melbourne International Regatta.

The Championships concluded nine days of Para World Sailing activity in Melbourne:
December 8-11: Oceania Para Sailing Development Program (Sandringham & Royal Brighton YCs)
December 10-12: Australian Para Sailing Squad Training Camp (Royal Brighton YC)
December 12: National Para Classifications (Quest Hotel / Royal Brighton YC)
December 13: Para Sailing Forum (Royal Brighton YC)
December 13-16: Sail Melbourne & Australian Para Sailing Championships (Royal Brighton YC)
 
Classes & Competitors
 
2.4 Norlin OD
The open 2.4 competition attracted a modest sized fleet including two para sailors.  Current 2.4 Para Sailing World Champion and Australian Open 2.4 Champion Matt Bugg was unavailable for this regatta, however Neil Patterson placed third overall in the Open fleet to claim the National Para Sailing Championship in this class. 
 
Hansa 303
The Hansa 303 single person class drew nine entries representing five of the eight Australian States & Territories.  The fleet included four sailors with physical disabilities, two with intellectual disability, one athlete with multiple disabilities and two non-classified sailors.   Current Hansa 303 Para World Sailing Champion Chris Symonds posted a perfect scorecard to win the Open competition from current Liberty World Champion Bob Schahinger.

Fleet numbers in the Hansa 303 two person competition were disappointing but it is expected that, by requiring only one of the crew to meet the classification eligibility, numbers can be increased substantially in future years.
 
SKUD18
The SKUD 18 was sailed under class rule J5 which provides for a centreline helm and actively transferring crew.  Four of the five entries had a non-classified sailor as the crew who used a variety of cockpit setups to enable safe transfers through tacks and the location of foot straps. The three teams from the Queensland Para Sailing Academy at Southport Yacht Club claimed the top three positions.