Local sailors become national champions

A local sailor and his eight-year-old crew have taken the title of Australia’s top Heron sailors after winning the 53^rd Heron National Championships last week.

Greg Harris, 40, and Kai Johnston, from Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club, battled against 61 boats from all over the country to win the 10-day regatta, held at Lake Macquarie last week.

It was a close finish with second placegetter, Paul Armstrong from DAC, only a few points behind the Narrabeen sailors.

"I credit a large part of this win to my fantastic crew, Kai Johnston, who only started crewing at the beginning of this season, but has become really professional at the tender age of eight,” said Harris.

“I have been on the cusp of winning this title for five or six years. It is with the assistance of our coach, Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club stalwart Rhys Llewellyn, and Kai, that we finally got mentally and physically prepared to take out the title. It's fantastic to win the championship for NLSC!"

Narrabeen hosted the second largest club contingent, with 12 local skippers and crew entered in the series.

Other placegetters from Narrabeen were Georgia Llewellyn (13), who was the second placed lady skipper and third placed junior skipper, and Ian Macgregor who was first unplaced NSW winner.

Note: Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club is a not-for-profit community organisation, with a big focus on attracting young children and families to the sport of sailing.

For more information or interviews, please call Greg Harris on 0405 153 267 or Rhys Llewellyn on 0414 507 072.