The Sharpie Nationals – an annual Australian championship for the Sharpie class, a three-person racing sailing dinghy – was held for the first time in Canberra this summer, and it was a triumph for local sailors.
Canberra crews from the same family won the national and junior championships, while locals also took third place.
The 78th Sharpie Nationals ran from 28 December to 3 January. Hosted by the YMCA Sailing Club, on Lake Burley Griffin, the Canberra event was meant to be held 12 months ago, but was postponed because of COVID-19.
Smoke, skippered by Michael Forster, and crewed by his brother Andy (head gardener at Floriade) and Simon Doherty, won first place.
“It feels pretty amazing,” Michael said. “I’ve never won a national championship before, and it’s still sinking in!”
The Forster brothers placed second a dozen years ago, in the 2008/09 Australian championships, held in NSW – but only 18 boats competed, and few from interstate.
This time, despite the pandemic, 31 boats competed, from every state and territory except WA and the NT (14 from the ACT) – including two previous national champions.
“It was really good to beat the competition from around Australia!” Michael said.
Points are accumulated over eight races; whoever has the lowest score, wins. Smoke came first in three races, and third in two more.
“We were the most consistent,” Michael said.
The second placed boat, Jason Heritage’s Maelstrom (SA), came first twice and second twice, but also had some lower results: an 11 and a 13. Smoke’s lowest place was fifth.
Local knowledge was also an advantage; the brothers grew up sailing on Lake Burley Griffin, and have sailed here for most of their lives.
“We know the intricacies of the lake,” Michael said.
Some interstate competitors had chaffed the Smoke crew, saying they would know what to do in the wind conditions.
“We didn’t necessarily know what to do,” Michael said, “but we played the percentages, and were in the right place more often than not, and sailed into the right position by the end of the race.”
Andy Forster’s son Robin (skipper) and daughter Naomi, and Michael’s son Josh won the junior championships in their boat Priority Road, coming 23rd overall in their first Sharpie Nationals.
Michael said they enjoyed the atmosphere of the event, and competing against boats from interstate. In the ACT, they normally sail with a fleet of half a dozen boats, so sailing with 31 boats was quite a jump.
“They met that challenge,” Michael said. Their best result was an eighth in one race – not a handicap, but over the line. “A pretty good effort, considering the fleet.”
Noah Taylor’s boat Bangin Sheets won third place, with three thirds and a second.
Michael Forster and his crew will defend their title at the next Australian championships, to be held in Hobart at the end of this year.
The younger generation will also compete; they have purchased a newer boat. “Hopefully, they’ll be able to go even faster!” Michael said.
Until then, Michael said, he and his family will keep enjoying the sport.
“We love sailing, getting out there and competing against other boats,” he said. “Being able to sail to your best and hopefully beat the other boats at the same time is what I really enjoy about sailing.”
Sailing, he says, is mentally challenging and physically taxing at times. Besides the competition, the weather is also a challenge; the wind conditions are always different, so no race is ever the same.
Michael thanked the interstate and local competitors. “We’re grateful that we were able to get it to occur, and that our interstate competitors were able to attend.”
Besides the competition, it was a lively social event, outside under marquees, catered by locals.
The Sharpie Championship event was sponsored by the ACT Government (via Events ACT), the Yachting Association of the ACT, Capital Brewing Co, Contentious Character Winery, the Canberra Yacht Club – Boat Club, Steve Walker Sails, Hill Sails One Design, and Down Under Sail.
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