Zhik Combined High Schools (CHS) Sailing Championships at Belmont 16ft Sailing Club Day 1
by Rod Carter 17 Apr 11:55 NZST
16-19 April 2024
Beashel makes a solid start to defend his title on the opening day of the Zhik Combined High Schools (CHS) Sailing Championships.
The Zhik CHS Championships commenced this week at Belmont 16ft Sailing Club, with the usually large fleet numbers well down from previous years. Over the years the CHS sailing regatta has seen many sailors progress to State, National, World and America's Cup champions. Take nothing away from the smaller number of competitors this year, the racing is still as fierce at the top of the leader board.
Joel Beashel (Morisset High School) has made his intentions known early in the Zhik CHS Sailing Championships securing the overall top spot after Day 1 having posted two podium finishes in Race 1 and Race 2. Joel Beashel comes from a strong pedigree of sailing with both his parents (Adam and Lanee) having represented at Olympics, winning World Championships and America's Cup campaigns. He is now forging his own sailing destiny, aiming to become the only competitor in the events 57 year history to win the event three times, having previously won the event in 2021 and 2023. Joel already joins a very small illustrious group of sailors who have won the event twice including the likes of Nathan Outteridge, Tom Slingsby and Henry Makin.
Race 1 saw the 70 strong fleet greeted with a gentle 10knt SE breeze. Connor Radford (Merewether High School) competing on a Wingfoil blitzed the fleet with a solid display of skill and speed, managing to remain on the foil for the entire race to not only finish first across the line but also on corrected time. Second place went to Joel Beashel and his crew sailing their 16ft skiff while third place saw a tie on corrected time between Keisha Day (Macquarie College) on her Cherub and Heidi Bates (St Luke's Grammar) sailing her 13ft skiff.
Race 2 got under way in similar conditions. Joel Beashel is no stranger to competing at the front of the fleet and his team including Banjo Nicholson and Max Nearn sailed their 16ft skiff in a near perfect race to claim the win. Second place went to Flying 11 sailor, Aidan Nosworthy (Camden Haven High School) and Archer Sacre (Barker College) competing in his Heron filled the podium placing on corrected time.
Special mention to Zhik who continue to partner with this iconic event as the naming right sponsor and has affiliated with NSW Combined High Schools Sport Association for the seventh consecutive year. Race organisers are very proud to have partnered with such a high profile sponsor in Zhik and value their continued support of youth sailing in Australia.
Racing will continue tomorrow with sailors anticipated to enjoy another great day of racing with similar conditions as forecast for Day 2 of the regatta.
Full results can be found here.