The annual Phil Johnston Memorial 14ft Catamaran Regatta, held at Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club, delivered another weekend of sensational racing on the waters of Lake Macquarie. Over 35 14ft catamarans took to the water in what can only be described as classic, tricky Mannering Park conditions.
The fleet was diverse, with Hobie 14s leading the pack as the largest class with 14 cat-rigged boats, followed by 11 Maricats in a mix of sloop and cat configurations. Eight Arrows, led by Frank O’Rourke, joined the action along with a couple of Paper Tigers rounding out the group. The first day offered up a mid-range sou’westerly with more holes than a doily, making for some truly tactical sailing. Paddy and MB exchanged blows all day, with the Butler boys coming ashore boasting two bullets and two seconds apiece.
Behind them, the racing was fierce, with Breaden, Fisher, Lucky-Dog, Hatto, Schmidty, and Jake locked in battles that saw them mere boat lengths from the Butlers at each finish. Lucky-Dog, in particular, looked poised for Sunday’s stronger winds. First-time competitors Courtney Smith, Emma Webb, and Sam Dalton braved the challenging conditions admirably, navigating the course with their boats intact—although their nerves might tell a different story!
Sunday brought a solid offshore sou’easterly that swept through the racecourse, raising the stakes with plenty of thrills and spills for the 14ft fleet. MB delivered a masterclass performance, claiming two bullets to start the day, followed by a second-place finish just behind a determined Paddy, and capped the day with another bullet to secure the title. MB not only triumphed in the 14s but also took top honors on yardstick, dethroning a gracious Frank O’Rourke from his number-one spot. Lucky-Dog sailed strong and steady to finish in third, with Jake de Rooy in fourth after besting Dazza Schmidt on countback.
Notably, Paul Pascall completed every race in his first open 14ft regatta, a feat in itself, while Michael Taylor took home the Phil Johnston Memorial Trophy for his persistence, grit, and sheer determination on the water.
With the regatta wrapped up, the fleet now looks ahead to the inaugural 14ft Regatta at Rosebud Yacht Club in Victoria, just a short distance from the Nationals venue at McCrae. Stay tuned for more action as the 14ft class gears up for what promises to be another fantastic event!
