The Etchells state champion team skippered by Skip Lissiman yesterday claimed the title of Champion of Champions after a count back was required to separate them from the Women’s state champion team, skippered by Adele Frean and supported by Shock and Oar Nautical and Leisure Clothing.

29ers skippered by Peter Nicholas leads the Women's team (Adele Frean) ahead of the Etchells (Skip Lissiman).

The regatta, sailed from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club on Sunday 24^th May, commenced in a light south easterly which slowly died out by noon, but not before some close racing in the first two races which saw the Etchells claim one win, followed by the Women claiming the second race.

The third race was held in a dying breeze that saw two boats; the Etchells and the 29er state champions skippered by Peter Nicholas being scored Did Not Finish after the time limit elapsed. In the receding winds however, the Flying 15s state champion, David Tucker, skilfully picked the last of the wind shifts to enjoy first place ahead of the Women’s champions and 29ers.

With racing postponed after three races due to calms across Freshwater Bay, boats were sent ashore for lunch and the tally showed the Women to be enjoying a clear lead on 5 points ahead of the Flying 15s and Etchells, each on 10 points.

Racing recommenced after an hour’s break, only to see the fourth race abandoned as the river glassed off and boats sat motionless along the start line. However, a further wait paid off as a consistent westerly filled in across Freshwater Bay to see the final three races completed.

The 29er champions started the afternoon strongly, punching through the fleet to take first place ahead of the Women in second and the Etchells in third. This gave the 29ers a much needed lift on the point score after a sixth place and a DNF earlier in the day but furthered the gap between the Etchells and Women by another point.

In the fifth race, the S80 state champion, Simon Cunningham picked a nice shift on the final run to take their turn at claiming a win from the early race leader Skip Lissiman, after a 4 boat pile up at the top mark saw the Viking 30 team skippered by Colin Cowden disqualified.

The sixth and final race was claimed by the 29ers, the only team in the series to win twice, with the Etchells snatching second place on the final run and the Women close behind in third place.

When the final scores were tallied and the drops were made, the Etchells and Women teams had scored the same placings across the 5 heats, bringing the count back down to who-beat-who in the final race. And so Skip Lissiman and his team of Etchells yachtsmen ended the close and fiercely contested competition as the 2009 Champion of Champions from Adele Frean and the women’s team, with Peter Nicholas and the 29ers in third place.

For more information on the event, go to www.wayachting.com.au/events-lisiting.asp

Final Scores:
Etchells – Skip Lissiman 10 points
Women – Adele Frean 10 points
29ers – Peter Nicholas 14 points
S80s – Simon Cunningham 16 points
Flying 15s – David Tucker 21 points
Viking 30s – Colin Cowden 22 points