Zhik Combined High Schools Sailing Championships at Belmont 16ft Sailing Club - Day 3
by Rod Carter 14 Apr 2023 00:20 NZST
Pre-start - 2023 Zhik Combined High Schools Sailing Championships, day 3 © Red Hot Shotz - Chris Munro
Day 3 of the event saw a grey skies and a moderate 14-18knt Southerly breeze. The conditions proved to be difficult for some competitors to handle with several boats finding themselves in the water during the day.
Competitors Joel Beashel (Morisset High) and Marshall Day (Macquarie College) were once team mates sailing in Flying 11's and having won a National title together. Now the pair as fierce rivals and are battling each other on different boats to win the championship.
Joel Beashel sailing his 16ft Skiff made a decisive last minute decision to change his little rig for the big rig. The decision proved to be a masterstroke with Beashel going on to win Race 5 by a comfortable margin. Marshall Day sailing his Cherub finished in second place with Connor Radford (Merewether High) finishing in third.
In race 6, Marshall Day managed to reverse the result taking the win on corrected time with Beashel in second place. The ever consistent Christian Spencer (Newcastle Grammar) sailing his 29er again managed to secure a podium finish with a third.
With drops now coming into play the overall leader board has Marshall Day leading (11pts) going into the final day of racing. Connor Radford (21pts) again finds himself in familiar position to last year in second place with Joel Beashel (22pts) in third. With strong winds forecast for the final day of the Zhik Combined High Schools Sailing Championship the event is wide open for the taking.