Baxter College David’s’ slay the Goliaths in the Victoria Harbour Schools Teams Regatta at Docklands

Samuel Watson, Thursday, 28 February 2008

Baxter College David’s’ slay the Goliaths in the

Victoria Harbour Schools Teams Regatta at Docklands

By Mike Sabey

After inflicting two defeats today on the overnight leaders Haileybury College, the diminutive three boat team of year 8 to 10 sailors from the Woodleigh School at Baxter have taken top points in the Victoria Harbour inter-school teams racing two day regatta.

Woodleigh College’s very young sailors mastered the mostly light and often variable conditions better than their much older, heavier and more experienced year 11 to 12 opponents at Docklands and emerged as a big chance to score a major upset at next April’s state finals.

The School’s very delighted co-ordinator Mark Dunstan said afterwards, "This type of regatta is all about team tactics, and our young students have practiced hard, got on very well and have confidence in each other and sailed very well as a team.
"Our three very enthusiastic skippers included Lloyd Collings (13, in Year 8) who will sail for Australia in the Optimists worlds in Turkey next June, his brother Stephen (Year 10) who was runner up in the Australian 4.7 Laser titles last January and Sam White (Year 8) who is the grandson of Dick White a former dinghy world champion."

Sponsored by Lend Lease’s Victoria Harbour and the City of Melbourne, the regatta is sailing’s equivalent to rowing’s prestigious Head of the River.

Results: Ten flights and 60 races were sailed

Woodleigh School – Baxter 9 wins 1 loss

Haileybury College #1 team 7 wins 3 loss

Christian College – Geelong 6 wins 4 losses

Melbourne High School – South Yarra 6 wins 4 losses

----------- Top four schools go through to the finals ---------------

St Michaels Grammar –St Kilda 6 wins 4 losses

Geelong Grammar 6 wins 4 losses

Rosebud College 5 wins 5 losses

Haileybury College #2 team 4 wins 6 losses

Toorak College – Mt Eliza 4 wins 6 losses

Sandringham College 4 wins 6 losses

Padua College – Mornington 3 wins 7 losses

The finalists will vie for the title of Head of Victoria Harbour and the right to represent the Big V at this year’s Australian Schools titles in Sydney next July.

From each qualifying round the top four schools automatically go into the finals. Yachting Victoria’s selectors at their discretion will then elect the four (4) next best performing teams to make up the 12 teams.

Selection trials will continue for the other 12 invited schools on Victoria Harbour at Docklands on
for the other 12 invited schools on Victoria Harbour at Docklands on

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March 2008

The final twelve teams will sail off to decide State Champion School

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 April 2008

for the other 12 invited schools on Victoria Harbour at Docklands on
More info:

www.yachtingvictoria.com.au Look under Events

Yachting Victoria: Yachting Victoria - Lou Hutton 0438 304 130

Yachting Victoria - Lou Hutton 0438 304 130
Media: Mike Sabey – Sabey & Associates Ph 03 9533 8030 Mob 0418 354 732
Mike Sabey – Sabey & Associates Ph 03 9533 8030 Mob 0418 354 732