Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) has just completed hosting the 28th International 2.4 metre 2024/25 Australian Championship.
Staged over the Australia Day long weekend, the event saw 25 competitors travel from Melbourne, Canberra, Western Australia, Tasmania, and of course locally towing their little but impressively beautiful 2.4 metre “R” yachts (which are actually 4.16 metres).
The shape of the 2.4 metre “R” sailing boat resembles that of larger boats however adhere to the metre rule, such as the 12-metre boat that sailed at the America’s Cup and the Olympics.
First developed in Sweden at the beginning of the 1980s, several designs for the 2.4 metre “R” were initially developed, one of which was by Peter Norlin.
Norlin then created the MkII and MkIII, the latter proved versatile in all weather conditions, and it rapidly became the most commercially available 2.4 metre “R”.
All controls are displayed in front of the helmsperson, with each trim control within easy reach.
The sailor can steer using either hands or feet, with their weight close to the centre of gravity; therefore, the size and fitness level of the sailor have a negligible impact on speed.
In other words, the 2.4 metre “R” can be considered the most inclusive sailing boat available today, making all competitors virtually equal on the water regardless of their age, physical strength, or gender.
The great demands on the individual are entirely due to pure sailing skills with an emphasis on strategy, sail trim, and speed.
Thanks to its singular qualities, the 2.4 metre “R” quickly became one of the fastest-growing keelboat classes ever, attaining international status in 1992 when the annual World Championships began attracting large fleets yearly.
When sailing became a full-medal sport at the Paralympics in 2000, the Norlin MkIII was selected as the single-handed class.
These yachts look very much like the larger Olympic Etchells class, streamlined, deep keeled, with a main sail and a jib which, if the mast is raked somewhat forward, can almost function like a spinnaker.
The GLYC was honoured to have Lou Hutton, an Australian national race officer, probably the youngest and only woman to attain those credentials, to oversee the racing.
Her expertise and relaxed approach to the sailors and volunteers set the tone for a great championship experience.
The first day of competition on the Saturday saw the little boats bobbing around on Lake Victoria for almost an hour waiting for the wind to settle.
When the course of windward and returns could be set at 1400hrs, the wind chose to settle and stay allowing all three races to be completed without a course change.
It was also a lively wind and the sailors were delighted, the race course consisted of windward and leeward returns with a bottom gate, the windward mark, a rounding mark, and windward of the top mark, a sounding (sonic) buoy was placed should the visually impaired competitors have difficulty seeing the top mark.
They just needed to press a button in their yacht and the buoy would sound.
On the second day, Australia Day, once again the wind was steady and lively, and the three races proceeded successfully.
One little addition was while the 2.4 metre “R” boats bobbed around after their first race finished, the race officer, started GLYC’s annual Australian Day trophy race.
At this stage of the championship series on the penultimate day, one sailor stood out, Peter Russell, from YMCA Canberra Sailing Club, on Morna 7, who was first in every race.
Close behind was John Collingwood from Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC) sailing Super Joey, with association president Peter Coleman also from RBYC in third.
The final day arrived, out of breath of any breeze, so a postponement flag was hoisted while the start boat with the race officer went out to check out the race track in Lake Victoria.
The wind obliged and the fleet managed to get out for the last two races to complete the series.
Once again Peter Russell snagged the last two wins giving him a perfect eight victories (what is commonly referred to as a picket fence) and the Australian Championship for 2024/25.
Once most of the boats were pulled out and prepared for their journeys home, the presentations were held, with second place going to John Collingwood with Peter Coleman coming third in Australia lI.IV.
The first place trophy is a tall, impressive wooden trophy affectionately known as the “Asparagus Cup”, the trophy quite unusual sporting an old beat-up empty tin can of food on the top.
There is plenty of history behind this can: It was part of the provisions on Kay Cottee’s yacht, Blackmore’s First Lady, when she sailed single-handed around the world in 1988, earning her the distinction of being the first Australian woman sailor to complete the voyage successfully.
Cottee hated asparagus, so all these cans went for a jaunt around the world and on return were auctioned for charity at $1000 each and this particular can was one of them having a special heart for the 2.4 metre “R” class, with Cottee being the class Ambassador.
The class is new to GLYC, however the interest has built quickly, now having seven club members in these lovely boats in less than 12 months, the club gaining the right to host this successful event.
The GLYC has handed the baton over to Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in Perth for the 2025/26 championship at Easter in 2026.
