Shifty breeze & tight racing define NSW States

09 February 2026

The 2025-2026 Etchells NSW Championship kicked off at Gosford Sailing Club with a strong, international fleet of 27 boats tackling shifty and changeable conditions over three days of racing on windward/leeward courses. From the outset, several leading teams were in the mix: Racer CC crewed by Mark Thornburrow. Julian Plante, Malcolm Page & Mike Huang, set an early pace with a second and a race win on Day 1, while seasoned campaigners such as Jeanne-Claude Strong’s Flying High, Victoria’s Tango and Matilda, and local hopeful Lucy, skippered by Peter McNeill, all put in competitive performances in the variable breeze. Magpie, crewed by top sailors including James Mayo and Ben Lamb, was consistently among the top finishers early on, marking them as strong title contenders.

On Day 2 the light, fickle winds led to delayed starts and tight racing throughout the fleet, with Racer CC again taking the bullet but under pressure from other frontrunners. Local boat Pointless crewed by Peter Rivers, Brent Connor & David Poole, nosed out Tango for second in one race, while Flying High and Great White Hunter kept themselves well placed in the top positions. Even without race wins, Magpie's steady top-five finishes kept them firmly in the hunt for the podium, and other teams like Lucy continued to show strong speed and local knowledge against the larger class.

Flying High keeping Racer CC under pressure for the lead

By the final day, Racer CC’s remarkable consistency — four bullets and a runner-up finish — secured them the overall championship by a healthy margin, also earning the Grand Masters trophy. Magpie’s measured results saw them finish second overall, while Jeanne-Claude Strong’s Flying High crew claimed third and the Masters title. Just behind were Great White Hunter and other competitive entries that pushed the pace throughout. Queensland’s Mama says: Nothing Good Happens After Midnight took home the Corinthian honours after an impressive showing, and boats such as Tango and Lucy added depth to the results, highlighting the competitive nature of the fleet spanning Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.

News & Media

Thanks to journalist, Di Pearson, and Hippodrone for photos and video.

Results

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