Competitors line up at the start line for the National Blokart Championships at Waratah Bay. Photos: NECW
The North East Windsport Club (NEWC), located at Springhurst, brought home a swag of medals from the Australian National Blokart Championships held last weekend at Waratah Bay in South Gippsland.
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It was NEWC's turn to host the event and they decided on locating it at Waratah Bay because of the greater possibility of four days of windy weather. It was a mammoth logistical exercise: finding a venue, finding accommodation for 40 competitors, organising catering and then running races for eight divisions in four separate fleets.
The highlight was the unique trophies, created by the club for the event and built by the club's commodore, Ken Horne, with the help of the Wangaratta Men’s Shed. The club would also like to thank its sponsors; the Australian Blokart Association, Blokart International, the Victorian Government through their Sporting Club Grants, the South Gippsland Shire Council, a Bunnings donation and Bendigo Bank.
Thirty-nine competitors converged on Waratah Bay from all over Australia, and even one from New Zealand. NEWC had the biggest team with 13 competitors, seven from South Australian Blokart Club, six from Capricornia BC based in Yeppoon, Queensland, and four each from Victorian BC based in Melbourne, Central Queensland BC based in Mackay, and the South East Queensland BC, based in Brisbane.
Sailing conditions on Waratah Bay Beach were a little disappointing as the winds failed to build much to provide exciting racing. The winds were on-shore at about 8-12kts (13 - 20km/h) which meant only a simple "reaching" course could be set.
Nevertheless, there was lots of excitement at the start as sailors jockeyed for position to hit the start line dead on time then maintain enough speed to hold their positions, sometimes not too successfully.
NECW trophy winners Garry Percy, Peter Nelson, James Elder, Bob Cove and Andrew Davison. Absent, Garry Craig.
Races were timed using electronic transponders and sensing equipment so there could be no debate as to who jumped the start and who finished first. Karts were achieving speeds of up to 30 km/h at times, so mark roundings and overtaking had to be carefully judged.
There were a few incidents where that didn't work, but no harm done; just a plastic cone was sent skittling and the culprit consigned to a 360-degree penalty turn, which left them at the back of the fleet.
Blokarting is an exciting sport, invented in New Zealand, where sailors attempt to manoeuvre a three-wheeled kart with a 5.5 square-metre sail around a set course. As the wind picks up they can choose smaller sails, but not bigger.
The Production Middleweight fleet ready to start.
The sport is divided into two classes: Production (straight out of the factory) and Performance (where sailors can add performance enhancing improvements, such as a streamlined pod and carbon fibre masts).
Within those classes there are four weight divisions, so Ken Horne and the Wangaratta Men's Shed had to make 24 trophies.
For the full list of results and more information on how you can get involved, go to the North East Windsport Club website at www.newc.com.au
NEWC's medal haul
Andrew Davison, Beechworth - Silver, Prod/Lightweight
Garry Craig, Wangaratta - Gold, Prod/Middleweight
James Elder, Wandiligong - Silver, Prod/Middleweight
Peter Nelson, Albury - Bronze, Prod/Heavyweight
Bob Cove, Paynesville- Bronze, Prod/Super Heavyweight
