2011 Minnow Nationals

The 2011 Australian Minnow Championships will be held at Safety Beach from 5th to 9th January.

For accommodation information please click on link below.

UPCOMING REGATTAS and EVENTS for Minnows

5th to 9th January 2011 Minnow Nationals Saftey Beach, Vic.

 For other events please see Yachting Victoria website at: http://www.vic.yachting.org.au/

Victorian OTB Major Events 2010-2011

Please see the link below for dates of all YV sanctioned major events for the forthcomimg period.

http://www.yachtingvictoria.com.au/default.asp?Page=47179 

Darwin Minnow National Championships 4th to 9th July 2010

Attention all Minnow families.  The Darwin Nationals are coming up and it is time to get organised!  The Darwin Nationals are an experience not to be missed.  A fantastic sailing club, beautiful venue, pleasant winds and stunning weather, also a great place for a winter holiday.

The MSA is now calling for expressions of interest to reserve a berth for your Minnow in the Darwin to container.  Please notify Brendon Edleston at edleston@flagtaff.com.au as soon as possible.

To see Notice of Race click on link below.

Minnows For Sale

If you are looking to buy or sell a Minnow, check out the For Sale link. Your next minnow buyer / seller could be waiting for you there!

New Rule changes - does your boat comply?

For up to date and amended rules for the Minnow class, please click on the link below.  Please read and ensure your Minnow complies with Class regulations. Please check especially that your centreboard complies (recently ammended rule).

New Rules of Measurement - Centreboards.

The MSA has introduced new rules of  measurement for centreboards.  Please click on the link below to access a detailed article which outlines these changes and new guidelines.

2009 Minnow Nationals

Dates have been confirmed for the 2009 Minnow Nationals being held at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron.  The event will run from Tues 6th January to Sunday 11th January 2009.  The NOR will be finalised and distributed to interstate associations soon.

2009 Australian Minnow Championships Results

For the final results in the 2009 Minnow Nationals at Blairgowrie please click on link below:

2009 Victorian Minnow Championships Results

It was fantastic turnout for the Minnow State Championships.

For Results please click on links below:

OPEN FLEET  http://Www.Sscbc.com.au/site/yachting/results/sscbc/2007/club/otbvics/series.htm

For overall results see "Minnow combined".

NOVICE FLEET   http://Www.Sscbc.com.au/site/yachting/results/sscbc/2007/club/novvics/series.htm

2009 State and National Championships Report

Our expert reporter gives a comprehensive summary, see link below.

Many thanks to Russell Bates for the great photos.

Results from YV Junior Regatta at Elwood April 18 and 19 2009

A great turn out of fourteen Minnows completed in this year OAMPS Vic Youth and Junior Regatta which was sailed in mainly light winds off the beach at Elwood Yacht Club.

Sam Hannah showed great consistent form carrying 9 heats of seconds and thirds to finish second overall to Jack Graves who won an incredible seven heats in the ten race series. 

Jack Felsenthal and Zac O’Connell both sailed well to finish just outside these top two.

Rupert Arter and Liam Edleston in new boats, Griffin and Phantom, showed that they will be at the top of the pile come the next Nationals.  Close behind Charlotte Llewellyn also in her new boat Living Dollsailing a consistent series.

Felix and Sylvie Saisch pulled off the great feat of finishing on equal parts after the 10 races.

Sylvie the older sibling winning on a count back, to keep her younger brother in his place, by a place!

Only one point behind Isabella Dixon could have made it a three way tie.  It goes to show that each place in each race is important in the final count, as I am sure all of these sailors could think of how they could have made up those extra few places.

Likewise Gemma Burns and Sarah Boyce tied on points with Gemma on top with count back and a best effort of 6^th in one heat.

Hugo Llewellyn and Scott Munday rounded out the field, although both missed more than three heats in the series.

It was a long two days which required great concentration in the light and testing conditions.  Well done to all.

For all results please see http://www.yachtingvictoria.com.au/default.asp?Page=41208

Minnow Memorabilia

The Minnow Association has had several enquiries recently from ex Minnow sailors and families looking for certain information and memorabilia. We would be particularly interested to hear from:

Anyone who may hold a copy or know the whereabouts of 1970's Super 8 Movie footage of Minnows sailing the Winter Series at Albert Park Lake;

Anyone who may have owned or passed on Minnows made by Ian Batenburg in Darwin with:       

Sail number 824, built 1987,  ? -went to Adelaide

Sail number 826, built 1988,  Wizzle-Ntice -went to Queensland

Sail number 865, built 1988,  Snappy Tom -went to Adelaide

 Please contact camilla.graves@bigpond.com if you can assist.

News from First Minnow Champions

In 1975 the inaugural Minnow Championship was held in Victoria. It was won by Michael Walters in Tortoise II.  The following year brother Paul Walters won the Victorian Junior Championship in Seaweed and then again in 1977 in Rockweed.  

Michael now lives in Switzerland and Paul teaches at an International School in Libya,  their progression from the Minnows is quite amazing.

Both boys sailed competitively until University,  when Michael caught the Orienteering bug.  He moved on to 24hr Rogaines at which he and his friend won the first World Championship at Beechworth in 1992. Michael now runs in Ultra Marathons each year including running the gruelling Mont-Blanc circuit of 160 kms with about 2000 other competitors.

Paul has a similarly amazing story.  He gave sailing away when he went to Uni but instead of running around mountains he climbs the high altitude peaks.  He scaled the north face of Everest in 2000 and has climbed many other 8000 metre peaks. Paul was at the top camp of K2 awaiting his opportunity to summit when that terrible disaster hit last year when many climbers perished. Thankfully Paul has the smell of the sea in his nostrils now and has been on some ocean racing boats in the Middle East and has signed on for an all-amateur boat to sail in this years Cowes week in the U.K..

All this seems a long way on from sailing Minnows. However there was something there in the Minnow experience that developed Michael and Paul's determination and helped them cope with their somewhat extreme activities. 

MINNOW'S BEAT OPTI'S AND SABOTS AT SAIL MORDI!

Victorian State Championship 2010 Report and Results

The Minnow State Championships were held at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron on 6 – 7 March 2010.  The weather for the weekend was challenging, with Saturday’s electrical storms preventing sailing.  Sunday presented some better weather and the race committee was able to hold 4 races, 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon.
 
In the Open Division Sam Hannah in Swift was 1st, Jack Graves in Ozone 2nd and Zac O’Connell sailing Zac- A-Tack placed 3rd.
 
In the Senior Open Division Jack Graves was 1st, Zach O’Connell 2nd and Gemma Burns in Blondes Away 3rd.
 
In the Junior Open Division, Sam Hannah came 1st, Keira Bates in Vegemite Rhinoceros 2nd and Jeremy Edleston in Phantom 3rd.
 
In the Novice Division, Jasper Pluim sailing Local Buoy placed 1st, Alex Bolton in Sea Snake was  2nd and Elliot Johnston in Ankst placed 3rd.
 
The Rex Fettell Trophy for outstanding effort over the regatta was awarded to Molly Ford sailing Bionic Blonde from Parkdale Yacht Club.
 
Well done all our competitors for persisting with some frustrating conditions and thank you to all parents for assisting with children in the event.
 
The Minnow Sailing Association thanks the staff and volunteers at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron for their assistance at the regatta, and Ronstan and the Fox family for their kind donations.
 
For full results please see http://blairgowrieys.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=68
 

Albert Park Racing Winter 2010

Please see flier on link below.

RESULTS of 2010 Minnow Nationals at Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club

Success for Victorians at the Nationals held at Lake Cootharaba, QLD on the 27th to 30th December 2009!  In good conditions with constant seabreezes ranging from 6 to 20 knots, 30 competitors battled out the 2010 championships, in  a very well organised regatta. 

Jack Graves in Ozone (SSCBC) became the new Australian Minnow Champion with straight wins.

Sam Hannah sailing Swift (SSCBC) was second overall and became the Australian Junior Minnow Champion.

Kye Evans in Kye the Spy 2 (LCSC) was third overall and second Junior in a fine performance.

Novice champion is Elyse Ainsworth sailing turtle.

For full results please click on the link http://results.lcsc.org.au/minnows/SGrp27.htm