Nick takes flight at world titles
18th against top tasar sailors

By CMDR Bruce Eddes

CMDR Linsley and FLTLT Grey in tasar 2482 at the start line of the world titles. Photo courtesy Canadian Tasar Association

FLTLT Nick Grey is pictured front row far right with the ADFSA team at the 2003 Tasar World Titles in Canada. Other team members are (back L-R) AB Jason King, CMDR Martin Linsley, LS Wayne Hale, John Erickson, CMDR Bruce Eddes; (front L-R) Sapper Dan Turner and CMDR Mark Barnes.

A FLIGHT Lieutenant from RAAF Base Williamtown formed a formidable part of the ADF Sailing Association (ADFSA) team that competed in this year's Tasar World Championships in Canada.

FLTLT Nick Grey, attached to the Headquarters Surveillance and Control Group, was team manager and competitor with the seven-member ADFSA team which joined forces with an Australian contingent of some 40 competitors that sent 20 tasars to Canada by shipping container.

Since 1984, ADFSA has been represented at the biennial Tasar World Championships, with preparations for the 2003 event having been ongoing for more than 12 months.

FLTLT Grey joined fellow ADF competitors Commanders Martin Linsley, Bruce Eddes and Mark Barnes, Leading Seaman Wayne Hale, Able Seaman Jason King, Sapper Daniel Turner and Mr John Erickson.

Farewelling a cold Australian Winter, the team spent a very long day travelling to Vancouver Island, crossing the International Date Line. Rear Commodore of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) and host of the team's visit Commander Bill Macdonald (ret'd) then took the team to its accommodation at the Canadian Forces Base, Esquimalt.

Racing against the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) proved both exciting and unusual with races held in strong breezes on Esquimalt Harbour.

The ADFSA team convincingly won the challenge match and brought home the inaugural 'Cock of the Walk' trophy.

The 2003 Ronstan Tasar Worlds was then hosted by the CFSA in conjunction with the Royal Victoria Yacht Club and held at Victoria on Vancouver Island.

The event attracted more than 60 boats from Canada, Australia, USA, UK, Holland and Japan.

Victoria's waters, home of the Orca killer whale, remain at about 10-degrees Celsius throughout the year. The experience of sailing in Canadian summer air temperatures of about 25 degrees with a backdrop of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains nestled behind Port Angeles on the US side of the Juan de Fuca Strait, was nothing short of surreal.

Capsize recoveries, however, were effected very quickly indeed!

Each country was represented by its national tasar champion and included Olympic medallists, former world tasar champions and five world champions from other classes.

A full program, comprising 12 short-medium length races, was completed during the six days of competition. Conditions were excellent, with winds varying between 5-24 knots and prevailing in the 8-15 knot range.

Windward-return courses were the norm, but were occasionally varied by the inclusion of triangles.

Tide-induced currents of up to two knots caught out many competitors, particularly the Australians, who lacked practice in such conditions.

Two-time Olympic medallist and America's Cup competitor Jonathan McKee, sailing with his wife Libby (herself an Olympic competitor in the 470 Class) won the event by a clear margin. The current Australian champions, Craig McPhee and Kevin Kellow from Adelaide gained fourth place overall.

The best of the ADFSA team, Martin Linsley with Nick Grey, and Wayne Hale with Dan Turner, managed very creditable 18th and 19th positions respectively.

The fleet included 19 married couples and eight parent/child crews. Competitors' occupational backgrounds ranged from brain surgeons and psychologists, to factory workers and school students. Ages ranged from over 70 years to the mid-teens.

The ADFSA team arrived home much enriched by the experience of ‘rubbing shoulders’ with world-class sailors and the culture of host nation Canada.

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