By Jonny Fullerton, Grand Prix Sailing

McDougall McConaghy 2016 International Moth Australian Championship in Perth, WA

Five days of frenetic foiling will begin on Monday 4th January as the McDougall McConaghy 2016 International Moth Australian Championship gets underway under the burgee of the South of Perth Yacht Club on the Swan River in Perth, WA.

Up to 15 races are scheduled on two race courses in Melville Waters on the azure waters of the Swan River with the Perth sky line as a backdrop.

Image by Rick Steuart of Perth Sailing Photography

55 competitors are entered in total. Sailors from Western Australia, NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania are joined by Internationals who have travelled from as far away as Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Great Britain and USA.

Moth designs range from Ian Sim’s original (non foiling) scow to the modern foiling scows, the current foiling versions and a fixed wing experimental design launched yesterday by Glen Oldfield which is drawing a lot of attention. (see https://www.facebook.com/2016-Australian-Moth-Championships for more details.)

Foiling Scow. Image by Rick Steuart of Perth Sailing Photography

Some of the favourites to take the Australian title include Josh McKnight from Sydney who was third in the 2015 Worlds in Sorrento, Kurtis Warner also from NSW, who won both practice races in Perth today, Mach 2 builder Andrew ‘Amac’ McDougall from Victoria and Rob Gough from Tasmania. Other strong contenders from NSW are Warren Sare and Joel Castle.

Strong local Western Australian sailors include Steven Thomas and Fang Warren and internationals to keep an eye on are the Italian brothers, Stefano and Gian Maria Ferrighi.

There are three female competitors, class secretary Emma Jane Spiers from Sydney, Wakako Tabata, an Olympic sailor from Japan and local WA sailor, Kirstin Norris.

Emma Jane Spiers. Image by Rick Steuart of Perth Sailing Photography

Two invitational practice races were sailed today (Sunday) in typical Perth conditions, hot sun, flat waters and a building late afternoon sea breeze ranging from 10 – 15 knots.

It was a busy course area with a lot of traffic and being a practice day it is hard to read into the results but Kurtis Warner took two bullets chased by Josh Mcknight scoring (2,6) and Warren Sare (9,2).

The championship gets underway on Monday with 3-4 races scheduled with a first start time of 1255 hrs local time. Racing takes place every day finishing on Friday 8 January.

Invitational practice race start. Image by Rick Steuart of Perth Sailing Photography

For full results and more info go to: sopyc.com.au
Facebook site: 2016 Australian Moth Championships

Sponsors & suppliers to the event include: McDougall McConaghy, Deck Hardware, Zhik, CST Composites, Knee Deep and Matso’s Brewery.