Some exciting racing took place on the final day of the Sail Melbourne Regatta
2002 on Port Phillip Bay from the 14th-19th January, with titles hanging in
the balance in several classes, there was everything to sail for.

For the British sailboard competitors it was win one, lose one. RYA team GBR
sailor, Natasha Surges won the final race and the series to claim the Mistral
Oceanic Championship at the Sail Melbourne Regatta. Sturges, won the first three
races and sailed consistently throughout the series, which helped her clinch
the series. "It was a bonus to win this regatta but most importantly
I was using Sail Melbourne to try out a few different things. This will be great
preparation for the major European regatta’s this summer," commented
Sturges. Jessica Crisp, Australia’s entry for the Sydney Olympics, finished
2nd behind Sturges, after the two had swapped the lead throughout the series.
Sturges finished with 12 points, two points in front of Crisp, winning four
races in total to Crisp’s three wins. While Sturges and Crisp fought it out
for the top place, New Zealand’s Julie Worth also had a good series, winning
race 8 and sailing herself into top five places to finish 3rd with 24 points.

In the Men’s event RYA team GBR sailor Nick Dempsey finished third in the final
race to finish just three points behind the overall winner, Jon Paul Tobin of
New Zealand. Tobin had five wins, a second and a number of third places to outclass
the opposition, of which there was plenty, at Sandringham Yacht Club. He finished
the Championships with 13 points, three points ahead of Dempsey, who also sailed
consistently well with a number of top placings. Fellow Brit and GBR teammate,
Dom Tidey, finished the Championships in third place with 21 points, also staying
at the top end of the scoreboard for all but two races, one in which he started
prematurely and was therefore disqualified, which cost him dearly.

RYA Windsurfing Competition Coach, Barry Edgington commented, "these
are great results from the team but more importantly the down under regattas
has given them an opportunity to test speed and processes before the start of
the season proper. Working with Tash’s brother and part time squad coach, Nick
Sturges has added a new focus to the groups winter program. I am confident that
this the pre-season preparation will be the best so far."

Final results
Women Mistral
(10 races, 2 discards)
1, Natasha Sturges GBR (1,1,1,2,(3),2,(3),2,2,1) 12 pts
2, Jessica Crisp AUS (2,2,2,(3),1,1,1,(3),3,2) 14 pts
3, Julia Worth NZL ((5),4,3,5,2,3,2,1,4,(7)) 24 pts
Other team GBR
5, Bryony Shaw (4,(5),5,4,5,5,(8),5,5,4) 37 pts

Men Mistral
(10 races, 2 discards)
1, Jon Paul Tobin NZL ((3),3,1,1,1,1,3,1,2,(8)) 13 pts
2, Nick Dempsey GBR (2,2,2,2,2,(3),1,2,(9),3) 16 pts
3, Dom Tidey GBR (1,1,3,(7),(28),2,2,4,4,4) 21 pts
Other team GBR
8, Leo Mccallin (6,8,8,6,9,7,(11),8,5,(11)) 57 pts
14, P. Hugh Sims Williams (13,13,14,14,(17),13,(15),13,13,15) 108 pts