Team sailing triumph

IT WAS way back in 1994 that Tasmania organised one of the first Schools Team Sailing Championships in Australia.

Team sailing is where three boats compete as a team and their individual results are added to find the final winning team. Races are short, sharp and exciting . The boats that finish second, third and fifth will beat three that finish first, fourth and sixth. It requires good sailing, cunning and a good knowledge of the rules.

For those early championships Yachting Tasmania bought a set of seven Puffin Pacers — a two-person dinghy well-suited to teenagers — and every few years has bought another set when the Australian Championships are held in Tasmania.

Private schools have historically dominated the championship, but this year Taroona High School has become the first public school to qualify as a Tasmanian entry sailing at the stronglyfought Tasmanian Schools Team Sailing Championships.

Taroona will now be one of four Tasmanian teams to contest the Australian Schools Teams Racing Championship in Victoria from July 11-15 at now available. Special facilities being developed would include a pump-out service, a dual fuel pontoon Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron.

The other state teams will be from Hutchins School, Friends and Fahan.

Taroona team manager Jennifer Potter said a set of Pacers was stored at Sandy Bay Sailing Club and inclusive membership arrangements had allowed Taroona students access to these boats, Sandy Bay’s facilities and Australian depot (diesel and petrol), haul-out equipment for vessels up to 18.3m (including catamarans) as well as Sailing’s Silver Card system.

“It is a win-win-win situation.” she said.

The team comprises Timmy Vincent (co-captain), Llovett Taylor-Smith (cocaptain) , Miley Fleming, Pallas Taylor-Smith, Lucia Gaspareni, Jonty Savory and Fred O’May. Oli Burnell is coach.

“The team conducted a fair providing greater manoeuvrability for boats between berth rows.

Being developed on land bit of fundraising and contributed quite a bit of the cost of travel, accommodation and team uniform themselves,” Ms Potter said.

She said the team was also grateful to Taroona High School for its strong support.

Taroona High has a long history of sailing, keeping a school training boat at Sandy Bay Sailing club since 1959. will be a cafe, chandlery and a new amenities building which will include shower and laundry facilities.

Anyone interested in berthing facilities at the marina can visit margatemarina.com.au