The young and extremely professional sailors have been seen on the bay for several days honing their skills for the challenge and teams from all over the state are represented.

The program started with an invitation race last Sunday in which 29 yachts competed.

Six local yachts are taking part in the event and the youngsters have been training earnestly all season. The local team sailed well, with four of their six boats in the first ten.

Heats will be sailed all week to establish the new state champion.

Saturday saw a reduced, but keen, fleet sail for the second race of the Naturaliste Series. Sharpies, cats and 125’s were represented as well as the two cruiser fleets.

The predominantly southerly wind juggled with fortunes with frequent and extreme fluctuations in strength and direction.

‘Twist and Shout’ (Doug Lawler, Gerald Brown, Sally Wynn and Robbie Dilollo) demonstrated a brilliant recovery by taking first place despite an event that left all four of them swimming desperately after their capsized yacht.

‘Ziggy Stardust’ (Mark and Alison Blizzard), finally made her mark, taking second place.

Kym Nisbit, Greg Stewart and Mal Hopkins brought ‘Bullit II’ home in third place on handicap while taking first on yardstick – on only their second outing in ‘Bullit II’.

Peter Fleming skippered his new S97 and was quite happy with his race. ‘Emily II’ (Charles Burking, Neil Hastwell and Ewan Parkinson) dominated B-division with some crafty sailing.

‘Matilda’ (John and Anne Staniforth-Smith, Luke and Tracy Taylor) took second and fastest.

Luke and Tracy will soon augment B-division by sailing their own yacht, along with Brent O’Brien in his Hartley T.S.