Jefferys Claims QLD DF65 Title

Over the weekend 27 & 28th April Paradise Radio Yacht Club hosted the 2024 DF65 Queensland Championships held on their Emerald Lakes Course at the Gold Coast. This was a well supported and exciting weekend for the premier QLD DF65 sailing event of the year.

There were 35 entrants with 9 clubs represented including several interstate competitors. The event was held in typical Qld conditions, mainly fine, loads of sunshine and near perfect autumn weather with light to medium southerly breezes. Except for the last race of the weekend conditions changed dramatically with a sudden rain squall appearing. Winds increased rapidly up to 25 knots for a period and then dropping off to almost zero as the race started. This created some excitement amongst the fleet before the last race. After sailing for the last 2 days with A+rigs, making change, and the correct choice caught a few competitors out with their decisions, making the final race result an interesting outcome.

The event was organized and run with 3 divisions of competition Open, Masters, Grand Masters.

Congratulations to Mike Jefferys in first place reclaiming his open division Queensland title, a fine second place to Andrew Gibbs, followed by Daniel Bergan in third rounding out the podium. These sailors showed consistent results once again to follow up their fine performances at the recent Australian titles. Well done gentlemen and good luck to Andrew who is a member of the Australia team in the upcoming world titles in Sweden next month.

top 2closeupThe Masters division was won by the youthful Wayne Cowling from the Sunshine Coast Radio sailing Club. The most respected division in the DF class The Grand Master Division was won convincingly by the evergreen and spritely Bob McKinnon from Paradise Radio yacht Club. We look forward to having their competitive spirit and company at these events for many years to come.

The event was well managed by PRYC and its experienced team of volunteers. Their Club Commodore Rex Scott was in a dual roll over this weekend and acted as PRO for the event. His experience and authority ensured the event ran smoothly and was enjoyed by all involved.

What was most evident over the weekend was the friendly, competitive nature in which the sailing was conducted. With ample amounts of laughter and banter to be heard coming from the shore. There was great support shared between fellow competitors both on and off the water throughout the weekend. This is what best describes DF Sailing and makes it such an enjoyable class to compete within.

Thank you to all the competitors who took part and all the officials for their valued time which made for a very successful 2024 DF65 Qld title event.

Don Horton

QRYA

DF65 Class Coordinator

RESULTS

PosName/ClubSail No.
/Design
NettTotal
1Mike Jefferys
SPRINGFIELD LAKES RYC
AUS 52
27.047.0
2Andrew Gibbs
PARADISE RYC
AUS 514
32.055.0
3Daniel Bergan
PARADISE RYC
AUS 329
38.358.3
4John Wyatt
SYDNEY MARITIME MC
AUS 36
66.0109.0
5Ralph Luck
PARADISE RYC
AUS 446
73.095.0
6Dean Horton
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 60
76.0112.0
7Steven Findlay
ROYAL SYDNEY YS
AUS 750
88.0125.0
8Nick Taylor
SUNSHINE COAST RSC
AUS 871
90.0139.0
9Russell Gray
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 99
96.0134.0
10Grant Hudson
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 33
98.0139.0
11Roy Wallace
SPRINGFIELD LAKES RYC
AUS 423
117.0165.0
12Gary Earl
SPRINGFIELD LAKES RYC
AUS 21
120.0159.0
13Don Horton
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 53
125.0167.0
14Marty Wallace
SPRINGFIELD LAKES RYC
AUS 687
129.0201.0
15John Glease
LAKE MACQUARIE RYC
AUS 965
129.0175.0
16Neville Beavis
SPRINGFIELD LAKES RYC
AUS 811
131.0185.0
17Stephen Elkington
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 831
133.0184.0
18Edwin Luck
PARADISE RYC
AUS 445
151.0210.0
19Julian O'Brien
PARADISE RYC
AUS 26
171.0229.0
20John Daley
PARADISE RYC
AUS 43
190.0251.0
21Graham Cowling
PARADISE RYC
AUS 462
196.0268.0
22Warren Kerswill
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 993
225.0280.0
23Bob Good
WYNNUM MANLY RMYC
AUS 991
238.0291.0
24David Brunsdon
SPRINGFIELD LAKES RYC
AUS 81
245.0317.0
25David Kerr
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 846
248.0311.0
26Wayne Cowling
SUNSHINE COAST RSC
AUS 98
264.0336.0
27Bob McKinnon
PARADISE RYC
AUS 58
265.0337.0
28David Proctor
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 442
284.0356.0
29Mark Hardwick
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 367
285.0353.0
30Micheal Brown
PARADISE RYC
AUS 529
290.7362.7
31Dave McKinnon
PARADISE RYC
AUS 430
300.0372.0
32Geoffrey Morris
SUNSHINE COAST RSC
AUS 96
320.0392.0
33Sel McLennan
REDLANDS RSC
AUS 24
330.0402.0
34Ray Sweeney
PARADISE RYC
AUS 181
360.0432.0
35Grant Gillespie
PATTERSON LAKES RMYC
AUS 218
377.0449.0