Eleven years after he last held the title, Wagga sailor Greg Williams has won a third Australian Paper Tiger Catamaran National Championship.
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Williams is on his way home from South Australia deeply satisfied after a brilliant week at the helm saw him return to the pinnacle.
After a second place last year, he reclaimed the title he had previously won in 2007 and 2008.
“Absolutely. I’m pretty happy,” Williams said.
“There was a lot of work and preparation put into this one, into the boat, my sailing and all sorts of aspects.
“No stone was left unturned so it was really good to get some results for all that effort.”
Some results indeed.
In the week-long event in moderate sailing conditions at Arno Bay, Williams – at the helm of Shadow Boxing – won six of the nine heats. He finished second twice and also had a third.
Under a scoring system in which each skipper’s best seven heats count, it was close to the perfect result and a comprehensive victory (11 points, over Luke Stout from McRae Yacht Club in Victoria).
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Williams, 37, will now have the honour of leading the Australian team at the Paper Tiger Interdominion Championships in New Zealand, at Easter.
That team will include his father Garry, himself a two-time national champion.
“Dad came sixth and the top 10 boats go to represent Australia,” Greg said.
“I’ll be captain of the team and we’ll sail against them in Napier. I’ve sailed in New Zealand a few times but never out of Napier so that will be good.”
Williams, after his second at nationals last year, was the best placed Australian at the 2018 Interdominion Championship, finishing fourth behind three Kiwi boats.
The Williams’ efforts at this year’s nationals led a strong Wagga contingent of Paper Tigers.
Finn Buckley, who finished 17th and father David (18th) were also in the top 20.
Martin Gregory wasn’t far behind them, finishing 21st.
“They all did well in the event, especially Finn, being a junior,” Greg said.
“I’m very proud to say I’m associated with them and the Wagga Sailing Club. Absolutely.”
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