DF 95 Queensland State Championship
Fantastic conditions for the 2023 Dragon Flite 95 Queensland State Championships hosted by Eagleby Radio Yacht Club at Eagleby, Queensland
The popularity of this new design has rapidly spread worldwide, with some 40,000 yachts being sold internationally and sailing enjoyed by sailors in many countries. The DF95 skippers/boat owners find that these designs have succeeded with a genuinely well-balanced and near-perfect handling radio-controlled yacht. The beauty of the Dragon Flite 95 is that it is a strict one-design class. The sailing does not become an arms race where money rules. The DF95 is a one-design class that has gained tremendous market acceptance in just a few years among the sailing fraternity as the large numbers of sailing grow both in Australia & globally. Hence, the future for DF95 looks extremely bright and assured.
The cool, consistent 5 to 10 km/h east to south breeze meant rig selection was easy … Yes, it was A rig, no changes....so competitors could spend time strategised, looking for the wind shift, with “main leech tension key to performance in the light conditions” ... competitors said as they shared settings to help each other.
Twenty boats registered for the event with three States and nine clubs represented from around Australia ……making the journey to the Sugar Cane fields at Eagleby … a great rural setting only 30 minutes south of Brisbane….The competition was intense, with Australian, State and international champions represented, with nine different winners. After the first one and half days of racing, four boats shared equal second place behind first place, Mike Jefferys #344
Notable performances over the weekend with 26 races are as follows.
Andrew Wilson #187 5 Heat Wins
Daniel Bergan #329 5 Heat Wins
Mark Love # 63 4 Heat Wins
Lester Gabriel #23 3 Heat Wins
Mike Jefferys, 2 Heat Wins
Allan Walker 2 Heat Wins
Mick Gentles 2 Heat Wins
Graham Cowling 2 Heat Wins
Steve Elkington 1 Heat Win
Big-name interstate competitor John Wyatt (who represented Australia in the DF95 Globals and sails out of Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron agreed “the racing, sportsman and organisation was first class “...
Racing was so close, with only 7 points separating second to fourth place.
Final Results
First, congratulate our overall winner, Mike Jefferys, who sailed consistently well and was a deserved winner in a very challenging, competitive, and closely contested event. In addition, we would also like to congratulate all competitors who took part in the championship, as you make the regatta possible.
Mike Jefferys (middle of picture) is from Springfield Lakes RYC and is also the Australian 2023 DF65 National Champion….Mike is also Australian and State Champion in big boats (Diamond and Olympic Soling class). Second Place went to a previous Sydney to Hobert winner, and a past DF95 State Champion, Allan Walker (left side) from Paradise RYC…. and only 2 points behind with the highest heat wins was Daniel Bergan (right side) from Paradise RYC…who is also State Champion in DF65 and Laser Fleets….great sailing.
None of these events happened without the efforts of the organising club and committee…the event was superbly organised by Eagleby’s Andrew Wilson (President) and Jimmy Mee (Secretary), Trevor Fisher (QRYA president) acted as race officer with Jimmy Mee’s assisting on Day 2 ….also helping was Jimmy’s Son and David, Ray, on the scoring and observing. Notably, the course was set brilliantly by Bruce (a well-known Eagleby sailor and Coordinator), who commented how enjoyable it was to watch the close racing with only points separating the top competitors.
Some racing videos may be viewed on the YouTube “DF65 Dragon Force Tuning Tips.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFP-Cr5kXzw
Tuning Tips from Mark Long #63
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yokYEZGOkw8&list=PLnVfmV16zvYwYGtICzyebrZojqTQZ5TW4
Pos | Name/Club | Sail No. | Nett | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mike Jefferys | AUS 344 | 73.0 | 102.0 |
2 | Allan Walker | AUS 26 | 88.0 | 132.0 |
3 | Daniel Bergan | AUS 329 | 90.0 | 130.0 |
4 | Andrew Wilson | AUS 187 | 95.0 | 137.0 |
5 | Mark Long | AUS 63 | 101.0 | 143.0 |
6 | Mick Gentles | AUS 254 | 113.0 | 167.0 |
7 | Lester Gabriel | AUS 23 | 115.0 | 169.0 |
8 | Graham Cowling | AUS 884 | 127.0 | 166.0 |
9 | Ian Gordoin | AUS 673 | 209.0 | 265.0 |
10 | Stephen Elkington | AUS 59 | 213.0 | 268.0 |
11 | Murray Walker | AUS 674 | 223.0 | 287.0 |
12 | Peter Newman | AUS 163 | 249.0 | 321.0 |
13 | John Wyatt | AUS 36 | 249.0 | 321.0 |
14 | John O'Regan | AUS 945 | 297.0 | 363.0 |
15 | Grant Lihou | AUS 917 | 301.0 | 373.0 |
16 | DavidBrundson | AUS 89 | 320.0 | 392.0 |
17 | Tony Fannin | AUS 17 | 362.0 | 434.0 |