Young talent time for Tassie’s next wave of champion sailors as Not The Nationals held on River Derwent

It’s not the national championships, but it’s the next best thing for Tasmania’s budding young sailors. SEE THE PICTURES>>

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IT was a sister act for the Read trio Martha, Esther and Faye on the Derwent on Saturday, sailing in the Australian championships replacement regatta, Not the Nationals.

Tasmania is a stronghold for young talent in dinghy sailing classes, but they were deprived of the chance to flex their muscles this summer when the Australian championships in Perth were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Not to worry.

The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania has put on a substitute regatta and humorously dubbed it Not the Nationals.

40+ photos: Not The Nationals 2021

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About 60 sailors, almost half of them girls, are competing in 11 classes across three days, with the final day of competition on Sunday afternoon.

Sisters competing in the Not The Nationals sailing event on the River Derwent, Martha, 12, Esther, 16 and Faye Read, 14. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The Read girls, who sail International Cadets, are the daughters of Hobart gun dinghy and keel boat sailor Frazer Read, who taught them everything he knows.

“He would probably say he has, but maybe not all that much,” Esther said.

“I love sailing, being out on the water and I love the atmosphere because all of my family and friends do it.”

Esther, 16, and Martha, 12, are a team aboard Jolt, while Faye, 14, crews on a boat called Nevermind.

Esther put out a call for girls to get along to the RYCT to try their hand at sailing.

“Definitely come and give it a go,” she said.

“I love it, it’s great and they will probably enjoy it too.”

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