2025-26 NSW and ACT Hartley TS16 State Championship
The 2025-26 NSW and ACT Hartley TS16 State Championships were held on the Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th April 2026 at the Saratoga Sailing Club.
10 boats entered the Championships during a time of fuel shortages and a late change of venue.
5 races were scheduled and thankfully all were completed. All races were sailed on an Olympic triangle course of 3 laps.
Friday 3rd April
Saw a moderate southerly change arrive on the central coast of NSW in the morning.
Race 1 was started in about 8-10 knots of southerly breeze.
Race 2 started with an increase with an increase in wind strength up to 18kts.
Saturday 4th April
Rain arrived during the night and persisted throughout the day.
Race 3 was held in the morning in approx. 7-10 kts of southerly wind and at times, heavy rain. The wind increased to up to 15 kts late in the race.
Race 4 started the afternoon session with about 7-10 kts again. During the race the wind more to the east, creating a “soldiers course’ with the wing mark effectively being the windward mark. By the end of the race the wind returned to the south restoring the original design of the course
Race 5 started in 12-15 kts with the wind holding true for most of the race.
In general, the wind tended to be a bit inconsistent in strength and direction. This meant that the good tactical decisions and teamwork were needed to have consistent results.
Eric Partland and crew Gary Wills sailing “Uncle Bob” managed to do this, regularly being at the front of the fleet, taking out the championship again. For the first 2 races, 85 year old Ron Johnston and Daniel Weber dominated on “Extremely Sinister”. However, for the next 3 races both Sinister [Peter and Gillian Wilson] and Ultimately Sinister [Paul and Ryan Foster] found some form to take the minor placings Outright.
Steve Brett and Glenn Stewart improved throughout the series to take first place in the Handicap division.
The association wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to the committee and members of the Saratoga SC for hosting the regatta at short notice and providing a high standard of course management and the usual friendly and efficient on shore services.
Thanks also to all competitors for making the effort to attend the championships. A feature of the regatta was the close nature of sailing particularly in the middle of the fleet.
Congratulations go to the place getters
Outright
1st – Eric Partland and Gary Wills- “Uncle Bob”
2nd – Peter and Gillian Wilson – “Sinister”
3rd – Paul and Ryan Foster – “Ultimately Sinister”
Handicap
1st – Steve Brett and Glenn Stewart – ‘PII’
2nd – David and Russell Johnston - “Lukira”
3rd – Andrew Penfold and Fiona Kotser – “ KIX”
Neil Johnson