News
Finn Drummond: Silver at the 470 Junior Worlds
Second place overall at the 2012 470 Junior Worlds, held at Takapuna Boating Club ,was New Zealand's James Turner (MBSC) and crew Finn Drummond (Wakatere) who got together specifically for this regatta.
The boys trained together for three weeks, James said"our expectations were to do well, but after the Pre-Worlds we had work to do!" When asked what he attributed their good results to, James considered that "we were more consistent that our rivals, all of our placings were good enough to keep". Of the Italian winners clear dominance of the regatta, Turner responded "they had a significant edge on everyone in every condition, they were also consistent rather than taking risks." Following this James jumps back in with his permanent crew, while Finn is looking at a multi hull path.For a full report & results go to the event website.
Sunburst Nationals at Wakatere
Above: Wakatere boats # 1462 “ Santa Maria” sailed by Andy Walker & Elizabeth Pitko & # 1679 “Good News” sailed by Bruce Yarnton & Rhonda Steele.Photo by Nigel Price
Results are posted on the RESULTS/NOR page
The 2012 Sunburst Nationals was sailed at Wakatere with a 7 race series over the 3 days of Anniversary weekend in conditions that were generally light to moderate with the exception of the afternoon of Day 2 when some solid SW wind with good gusts came along to test the fleet’s skill at staying upright.
Above: Nathan and William Long came third overall, and also won the Secondary Schools Trophy and the
under 19 yrs Youth Trophy.Photo by Christine Hansen
Mike and Su Long. .Photo by Christine Hansen
The last race on Monday morning was in light conditions that faded away to a drifter, but beforehand the competitors were entertained by the Prada AC 45 cat sailing around and amongst the fleet before the race start. Our race management team ably led by Oscar Paulich with Ted Frankham ran a well organised regatta with well set courses and happy sailors.
The fleet numbered 29 with 7 Sea Scout and Young Mariner boats included in this total, and we had 2 crews from Christchurch and 1 from Dunedin who borrowed local boats, but used their own sails.
The regatta was dominated by Worser Bay’s Brett Linton sailing with daughter Alice who had 5 wins and 2 seconds over the 7 race series. James Corbett and Harrison Switzer-Corbett of Wakatere came second with 2 race wins, a second, three thirds and a 4th placing, and this marks their return to the class after an absence of about 4 years.
Nathan and William Long came third overall, and also won the Secondary Schools Trophy and the under 19 yrs Youth Trophy.
Above and below: Brett Linton sailing with daughter Alice did battle with James and
Harrison Corbett..Photo by Christine Hansen
Wakatere sailors made 7 of the places in the top 10. Other Wakatere people to feature include Bruce Yarnton & Rhonda Steele – 8th overall - who won the Wakatere Cup for 1st on handicap and the Muritai One Ton Cup for first crew with a combined age of greater than 100 years. Andy Walker & Elizabeth Pitko – 4th overall - won the husband & wife /partner category.
The Master, Grand Master & Veteran’s categories went to Worser Bay skippers – Brett Linton, Alastair Campbell and Andrew Patterson respectively
Kevin Whitehead and Jane Hawkins living life on the edge. .Photo by Christine Hansen
A busy team led by Karen Yarnton organised a series of BBQ’s after racing each day, and both the locals and out of town visitors looked to be enjoying the club facilities, making full use of the front deck that was sheltered in the predominantly SW breezes.” - Report by Nigel Price
Young & Old Wakatere sailors excell at the Laser Radial Nat's
"Second overall in the Laser Radial after a close battle with Winther was Logan Dunning-Beck from Wakatere Boating Club and in third and first in the Youth division was Matthew Kempkers also from Wakatere." - from YNZ Briefings
Also competing int he Laser Radial Open fleet were James Roberts who placed 6th, Sam Schofield 10th and Mahia Pepper 14th. In the Master Standard fleet was Karl Nicholson who placed 17th; and in the Master Radial 3rd place went to Pete Thomas and 4th to Mike Keeton.
Good results for young Optimist sailor
At the Australian Opti Nationals, James Grover–Grey placed 27th in an Open fleet of 118 - a good result for a 12 year old in his first season in the Open fleet, it was windy and with such a large fleet too! Event website: http://www.rqys.com.au/index.php/2012-optimist-australian-championship/
Kempkers and Schofield at the Australian Youth Nationals
Wakatere sailors Matthew Kempkers and Sam Schofield have recently competed in the Australian Youth Championship sailing in the Laser Radial Class. Matthew has come away with third place on countback from Kohimarama YC's Andrew McKenzie; in first place was Australian sailor Mark Spearman. Sam Schofield placed ninth overall in the 44 boat fleet which featured seven NZL sailors in the top 11 places - a very encouraging sign For full results on the even website click here.
Kempkers and Schofield will be vying for the Laser Radial position in the 2012 YNZ Youth team which will compete at the ISAF Youth Worlds taking place around July this year.
Learn to Sail courses in progress for this 'summer'
January 2012 Learn to Sail group with coach Charlie. Photos Terry Nicholas
Wakatere have 32 children taking part in our Learn To Sail (LTS) courses over the next three weeks. Sailors are using a combination of Water Wise Optimists and Yachting New Zealand's Sailing... Have-A- Go! pods, alongside five current Wakatere sailors doing a double-handed course which is a great new initiative for the club.
Sailing... Have-A- Go! is owned and operated by YNZ from funds donated by the Lion Foundation and Team NZ trust. There are three pods in NZ which visit Yacht clubs with connected schools around the country, especially those without a Water Wise connection, giving children a taste of sailing. The pods are comprised of six Optis, two Topaz Taz double-handed boats and one Weta trimaran, plus RIB's, wetsuits, clothing and waterguns!
Some of the LTS children will also experiencet the double-handed boats, allowing the current Opti sailors to jump in the Optis and offer tips to the LTS children...all good fun and perhaps we can have this combo again sometime!
New Zealand Optimist team at the Worlds, Napier
The 2012 Optimist World Championshipwhich was sailed on the waters of Napier have come to a close. The New Zealand Optimist team, selected out of the Nationals sailed at Wakatere BC over Easter 2011, included club member Markus Somerville (left) along with frequent visitors Leonard Takahashi-Fry, Isaac McHardie, William McKenzie and Nathaniel Deverell.
The North Island New Zealand summer of 2011-2012 has been unusual, overcaste skies, rain and either too much wind or not enough - and the Hawkes Bay has been no exception. Despite this NZIODA, together with Napier YC, have succeeded in putting together a series of 11 races out of a possible 15 along with two days of teams racing.
New Zealand Nationals winner Takahashi-Fry came had the top placing within the team in 10th place; Somerville 19th with four races in the top ten; McHardie 46th; Deverell 85th and McKenzie 101st. Well done to the winner of the regatta Kimberly Lim of Singapore; second Bart Lambriex of Holland and third Javier Arribas of Peru. Full results and daily reports on the event website.
Paul Snow-Hansen with Jason Saunders selected for the Olympics
Paul and Jason place second at the Australian 470 Nationals, 2011. Photo Karen Goldwater
Wakatere's Paul Snow-Hansen with Jason Saunders of Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club have been selected to represent New Zealand in the men's 470 Class for the 2012 Olympics. Paul and Jason recently placed 8th in a fleet of 80 boats at the ISAF 470 World Championship in Perth, Australia, where all Olympic classes held their Championships as part of a selection process. Competition was particularly tough as sailors competed to qualify their country to compete at the Olympics, and for many it was their individual Olympic selection regatta.
Paul and Jason would like to thank Wakatere for their support over the years. Paul began sailing at Wakatere at the age of 9 and has regularly represented the club winning the Optimist Nationals 2005 in Taipa, a member of the Optimist Worlds team 2003, 2004 and 2005, placing first in the Tauranga and Tanner Cup, the 420 Nationals, and gaining selection for the YNZ Youth team in the 29er and 420. Paul placed second in the Optimist World Championship in Equador, 2005, and won silver at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Canada, 2007.
Starling Matchracing Trials - high five for Matthew Hughes
At the Starling Matchracing Trials for the North Harbour region, held at Wakatere Boating Club this weekend, the final round came down to Rory McCutcheon of Wakatere up against Matthew Hughes of Murrays Bay. Matthew came out on top and goes through to contest the National title to be held later this season.
Above: Runner up, Rory McCutcheon, Wakatere Boating Club
WBC final weekend before Christmas
Saturday 17th Dec
Youth sleepover: 24 hours of fun afloat and ashore for junior club members from 12.00 Saturday until 12.00 Sunday.
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Sunday 18th Dec
Youth sleepover: The sleepover goes ahead wet or fine - mopping the floors and keeping sleeping bags dry must have been a challenge and we won't even talk about how much sleep anyone might have got. But, it's always fun isn't it?
Snow-Hansen/Saunders 8th at the Perth World Championships
Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders (TYPBC) have qualified New Zealand for a place at the 2012 Olympics in the Men's 470 Class. An 8th overall placing in the 80 strong fleet took them through to the medal race when a finish of 7th retained their overall placing. This is a personal best for the young sailors who have been in the class for two and a half years.
Also racing in this fleet were son and father combination Mike Snow-Hansen and Derek Snow who finished 70th; and in the Olympic Finn Class was Wakatere's Brad Douglas who placed 57th in the 72 strong fleet.
This week the Laser men's fleet, the 470 women's fleet, the 49ers and men's RS:X fleet are racing with New Zealanders looking to qualify the country and possibly gain personal selection to attend the Olympics - and particularly featuring an exciting show down between reigning Olympic champion Tom Ashley and in-form JP Tobin.
Wakatere Junior Classes Regatta, 10 December 2011
Despite gnarly weather, the Wakatere Boating Club’s Junior Regatta was well attended. Rough conditions on the beach had parents in the water helping boats and boards to launch, but once clear of the shore conditions were great for those who like a fresh northerly and a choppy sea state.The one day regatta featured fleets of 29 Optimist Green Fleet, 34 Optimist Open, a lone P Class, 21 Starling, and 5 Bic Techno. RESULTS CLICK HERE.
In the Optimist Open Wakaterel sailors Airi Kawana and Jonathon Weston took out first and second, while James Wilson of Murrays Bay placed third. In the Green fleet Brock Browne, Saffron Nixon and William Shapland filled the first three spots; Jackson Keon represented the P Class fleet while the North Harbour Tanner Cup trials were taking place elsewhere; Jack Simpson of Wakatere placed first in the Starlings, with Ryan Dixon of Howick second and Rory McCutcheon of Wakatere in third, fourth overall and first girl was Ellie Copeland of Wakatere; five brave techno boards tackled the difficult conditions with Charlotte de L'Isle coming out on top.
If anyone has photos from the regatta please send up to 5 which could be inserted into this artlcle, or for a larger number, advised how to load onto our club Picasa gallery. snowhansen@internet.co.nz
Please note the main club email address for information is changing from michels@clear.net.nz to michels@orcon.net.nz next week so try both addresses if you have any questions.
Grant Beck, YNZ Sailor of the Year
Big congratulations go to Grant Beck - this years YNZ "Sailor of the Year". It was worth attending the 2011 Excellence Awards dinner just to see the look of absolute surprise on Grant's face.
This was a hugely popular choice by YNZ. Grant is New Zealand's most successful Olympic Coach ever - seven Olympic medals in a 25 year career, three of which have been gold. This record must be significant in the wider international Olympic movement. The awards speech also paid a well earned tribute to Anthea who has supported Grant through many campaigns at Olympic, America's Cup and international level. Many sailors in our club have also had the benefit of Grant's input and encouragement. Grant and Anthea also put in a huge effort in other areas - Anthea as a committee member for many years and in developing windsurfing. And I saw Grant fitting our club windsurfing locker with storage racks over the winter..... his status has recently been raised to the level of "Sir" within the Club.
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Congratulations also to Ted Frankham who was awarded a YNZ Service Award for 50 years of service to yachting. We were very fortunate when Ted turned up about six years ago and has quietly and competently gone about organising and starting Sunday afternoon racing. Ted's quiet authority and passion for sailing is greatly appreciated by our club, so it was great to see him collect this award with his family present.
Chris Steele and Charlie Baillie-Strong were also nominated for Coach of the Year and were finalists. Sailors coached by Chris and Charlie have had some outstanding results in the past year and our club is so fortunate to have such accomplished coaches.
Here is a media release for YNZ which has all the details.
http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/NewsletterDetail.aspx?NewsletterID=534
Well done guys, a great night for YNZ and Wakatere Boating Club!
Philip Rzepecky, Commodore
Bob Smith reports on the OK Dinghy Rum Bucket
The first event of the 2011-2012 NZOK Tour was the third annual Rum Bucket Championship, which took place over Labour Weekend at Wakatere Boating Club in Auckland. With the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and France scheduled to take place on Sunday evening following the conclusion of the Rum Bucket, there was also much to be fought for in the waters of the Rangitoto Channel. Like the All Blacks, the Auckland sailors had a monkey which needed removing from their backs: both previous Rum Buckets had been won by a sailor from Worser Bay Boating Club in Wellington. Would a home sailor finally win the Bucket? Read on...
WBC Twilight racing
Racing from the first evening of Twilight racing are posted on the RESULTS/NOR > CLUB RESULTS page.
Wakatere sailors perform well at the Stacks Winter Champs
The annual Winter Champs regatta took place at Murrays Bay SC this weekend in blustery spring conditions. Off shore southerlies were gusting from 5 - 15 knots, and coming over the cliffs they created a puffy game of snakes and ladders. Numbers seemed down a little on previous years but the club was still humming with an enthusiastic assembly of sailors and supporting family.
Wakatere was well represented across the wide range of classes and Jack Simpson (left) performed particularly well in the Starling which had one of the bigger fleets, the results don't show the final race or points but it looks like Jack had quite an impressive margin.
Paul Snow-Hansen with Jason Saunders placed first in the 470 Class, no results up for this fleet; Markus Somerville placed third in the Optimist Open fleet, and Tim Adair 4th in a fleet of 74, also climbing up the ranks were Aidan Nicholas, Airi Kawana and Jonathon Weston; Hamish Dunning-Beck placed 2nd in the RSX 8.5; Wakatere also had a good showing in the Laser Radial fleet - at this stage the results aren't posted, we will update this at a later date; in the Opti Green fleet three Wakatere sailors placed in the top 10. For full results click here
Opening Day at Wakatere 2011-2012 season
It was a fine sailing day and club members turned out in force to begin the new season. Commodore Phil Rzepecky welcomed guests and members and then introduced Olympic gold medalist Tom Ashley who spoke about his ambitions as a young sailor; patron George Gair reminded young sailors to appreciate both the wonderful facility we all enjoy on Narrow Neck Beach and the help they receive from their parents. To conclude formalities, incoming Club President Judy Salthouse (above) spoke about the history of Wakatere (fast canoe) Boating Club which is so closely linked to her family. Judy has succeeded her brother Don Brooke in the role, and is the first woman to hold this position.
An afternoon of sailing was then enjoyed by approximately 70 boats, with the race officer Ted Frankham, and ever present helper Sue Long, operating out of the War Memorial Tower on the beach front (left).
Conditions were just a little choppy with a moderate northerly breeze and the tide still making its presence felt despite racing being so close into shore. Results from racing will be posted later this week.
Shore Manager Alan Thompson and club stalwart Neil Coleman(below) were comfortably positioned to keep an eye on proceedings. For more photos of Opening Day, click here.
Richard Gladwell was also on hand with his camera - photos of Opening day at Wakatere BC, in particular the young board sailors, feature on Sail-World.com: http://www.sail-world.com/NZ/Opening-Day-Images:-Getting-into-the-new-season/89438
Club sailing results
Paul Turner is taking care of Club results once again this year and we will have them posted on the main menu to the left- RESULTS/NOR /club results. Paul updates season points each week after racing, and Club regattas as they occur. It's a great way to keep on eye on your club rivals, be it on handicap or over the line. The results cover all classes.
Club members - Register your sail number
We have a great new EASY system up and running for sail number registration - online. Clicking on the link below takes you to a page entitled “Registration for Recording Race Results @ WBC”. All details will be uploaded into the Sailwave results program for the season.
http://www.wakatere.org.nz/cms/index.php?option=com_seminar&Itemid=109
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Click here for more photos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/
From the Commodore
I would like to say a very big thank you to all of you who turned up on Sunday for our pre-season working bee. It was a great turn out and a truly outstanding effort. It is occasions like this which show how passionate we all are about our club and what a great sense of community we have.
I have been Commodore since our AGM last June. For those who don't know me I joined the club in 1992 and have been on the committee since 1999, including a period as club secretary. I know there is a lot of planning which goes into each sailing season and it’s a huge team effort and we are truly lucky to have so many helpful and competent club members to take on the various tasks. We run on enthusiastic volunteer contribution, and everyone has a part to play.
Our club does not have an “off season” and there has been continuous sailing activity throughout the winter for many .... more
P Class
The P Class was designed in 1923 by Harry Highet and it is, without doubt, the most enduring of all junior classes. It is sometimes said that if you can sail a P Class you can sail anything. It is certainly true that the success which New Zealand has had in international youth and virtually every famous New Zealand yachtsman, including Sir Peter Blake, Russell Coutts and Dean Barker, is due in part ...more
If you have a P Class already or are looking to move into the Class, please indicate your interest in joining with others or feel free to ask any questions to our P Class representative, John Adair on 445 1047 or adairjt@gmail.com
IMPORTANT Opening Day will be Sunday October 9th.
This is a week later than previously listed. Opening Day will be Sunday October 9th.
Oct 9th is more in line with our season start in preceding years and will avoid a clash with the Devonport Classic on the earlier date. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Mike Drummond at the A Class Worlds, Aarhus Denmark
Mike Drummond has recently competed at the A Class Catamaran World Championship where he placed 9/96. The top five places were taken out by the Australians - for more information on the world championships, results and a great looking website visit: http://2011ronstanacatworlds.sailing-aarhus.dk/
Starling Sailors
Are you interested in sailing your Starling along with the other Starling sailors at Wakatere?
Are you keen to get some coaching from top coaches?
Are you new to the class and keen to know more about it?
Would you like to have a trial sail in a Starling to see if it is the boat for you?
A small group has been sailing throughout the winter and we would like to welcome any new sailors and invite them to join us for the Spring/Summer programme.
Starting late September we will have organised weekly coaching and racing opportunities, probably on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. And there will be a group sail on Saturday afternoons and racing on Sunday. There are also some great opportunities to go to regattas at other clubs.
Please contact Peter Mayo for more info: email peter@room8.co.nz - mobile 021 986 199
Emilie Kissin
Emilie Kissin, a life long friend of the Wakatere Boating Club, sadly passed away on Sunday 21 August. At the age of 99 she had been involved in and around the club for the last 60 years. Her husband, Joe Kissin, was a keen member of Wakatere and in his later years was appointed club patron. Emilie always enjoyed hearing about the success of our young sailors. She will be sadly missed. The club passes on their sympathy to her son Ian.
Wakatere sailors competing world wide in the Laser
Pete Thomas is currently competing in the World Laser Master Radial Champs in st St Francis Y, San Francisco, USA, and after 5 out of a programmed 12 races is placed 5th overall. Click here for the link to the event website results. http://www.sailingresults.net/sa/results/overall.aspx?ID=17.5.1
James Roberts and Mathew Kempers have recently competed at the Laser Youth Worlds in La Rochelle, France - click this link for results.http://www.srr-sailing.com/wp content/uploads/2011/07/final_laser_men_s10.htm
Alistair Deaves in the OK Dinghy
The phrase "it's never normally like this" has never been more aptly used than for the venue of the 2011 OK Dinghy World Championship. With a strong reputation for rain and cold weather, Largs in Scotland produced unusual conditions with mainly light to moderate winds, sunny and with temperatures often in the mid 20s. Of the ten sheduled races only six were held as there was often not enough wind to start a race. A 14th and 13th on day one gave me a good start and I more...For the official version: Please see attached the final report.
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| OK Worlds, Race 2, first reach |
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| After crossing the finish line in first place with a large lead, Photo credit: Neil Goodhead |
Hamish Dunning-Beck You Tube video at the Techno Worlds, San Francisco
ISAF Youth Worlds Report from Logan & Jack, 29er skiff, Croatia
The sailing conditions at this year’s Youth Worlds in Zadar were some of the best I have ever sailed in.(Logan). Warm, clean water and a wide range of wind strengths made for really competitive sailing in a fleet of 23 boats. We were really pleased with our speed upwind but found we didn’t have enough experience sailing downwind in a quality fleet. The sailing was very close, with only seconds separating the top 10 boats at mark roundings and finishes.
Although our 6th place wasn’t as good as we had hoped for, it was a creditable performance in a high quality fleet. Thanks must go to the coaches in Zadar and to our families and Wakatere Boating Club for helping get us there.
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Logan Dunning Beck and Jack Simpson
Wakatere sailors competing all over the world
Update from Alistair Deaves
A strange event by anyones standards, the UK Nationals were decided on only one day of racing. Three good races on Tuesday in 14-16 knots were followed by two days of shifty and patchy winds where even sailing was difficult and setting a course near impossible.
One day we sailed to the start area on a 25 knot screaming reach only for the wind to die halfway out and then spend five hours puffing in from every direction imaginable. The last day of scheduled racing brought hardly any wind and the Race Officer kept everyone ashore until finally bowing it up at 3pm. Nick Craig (GBR) won from Greg Wilcox(NZL) while I managed a respectable 8th place.
We now have two days of measurement with the Worlds practice race on Sunday and the first points races on Monday. Hopefully we have better conditions, although talking to the locals doesn't provide much hope. The race area lies in an area where the wind is funneled down via five or six valleys so can provide very odd sailing conditions. Photos on fotoboat.com More info on The Scottish Sailing Institute website.
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Alistair
Hamish Dunning-Beck has left for San Francisco to compete in the Techno Worlds, from 19-24 July, along with a group of young board sailors from Auckland,Tauranga and Christchurch Kate Ellingham is traveling with the team as coach. http://www.techno293worldchampionship.org/
Update from the Youth Worlds in Croatia: In the SL16 multihull, Tomer Simhony and Ellie Copeland topped the New Zealand team's results and finished in fifth place after a ninth place in the one race sailed on the final day. Jack Simpson and Logan Dinning-Beck turned in the next best performance of the team finishing the regatta in sixth place in the 29er skiff.
Update from Alistair in Europe with the OK dinghies: "...The journey here was a bit difficult. The flight from Hong Kong to Frankfurt had engine problems and they decided that the plane wouldn't make it to Europe and...." to read the full report click here
James Roberts and Matthew Kempkers are attending the Laser Radial Youth Worlds Championship in France from 16 - 23 July. http://www.srr-sailing.com/2011-laser-world-championships/
Markus Somerville, Isaac McHardie and Leonard Takahashi Fry are currently competing in the Pre-Optiworlds 2012 Club Naútico de Santo Domingo with Chris Steele accompanying the group as coach. After 8 races Markus is placed 4th, Isaac 7th and Leonard 15th - to follow their results go to http://www.optiworlds2012.org/results/races.html
and for blog commentary http://nzlworldsteam.blogspot.com/2011/07/race-day-1.html?spref=fb
Alistair Deaves is off to Europe next week to campaign his OK Dinghy. To follow the regattas he will be competing in click the event links:
Warnemunde Week, Germany, 8-10 July http://www.warnemuender-woche.com/index.phtml?La=2
British National Championships, Largs Scotland. 19th - 20th July and World Championships, Largs, Scotland. 24th - 29th July - links on the OK Dinghy Assn website: http://www.okdia.de/
Jack Simpson / Logan Dunning-Beck, 29er team; Ellie Copeland, multi-hull crew; James Munro, 420 skipper; all at the ISAF Youth Worlds. Saturday 9th July marks the start of racing at this prestigious youth regatta which has attracted a total of 349 sailors from 52 countries to the city of Zadar, in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. http://www.isafyouthworlds.com/editions/2011/index.php
Wakatere at the Toyota Optimist Nationals
Congratulations Leonard Takahashi-Fry, MBSC, for winning the 2011 Toyota Optimist Nationals; Isaac McHardie of Tauranga/Hamilton for placing second and Markus Somerville of Wakatere for coming third. For full results go to the Results/NOR page.
Open fleet - 203 boats, 25 Wakatere sailors
Congratulations also to the Wakatere sailors for their great regatta performance, from making Worlds team selection through to achieving personal bests: Markus Somerville for his 3rd placing overall; Tim Adair for placing 7th and Sam Barnett 17th, both of whom have made selection to travel to an international event; Aidan Nicholas finishing with the top placing of those who sailed in the Open fleet at a Nationals for the first time; Jonathon Weston braving the Open fleet and placing first 11th year old; and Rory McCutcheon being awarded the Sportsmanship trophy by the judges.
Many of our Opti sailors achieved well beyond all expectations - those in the Open fleet who finished a race in the top ten were Markus Somerville, Tim Adair, Sam Barnett, Sam Wallis, Aidan Nicholas, Max Hayman, Jonathon Weston and Airi Kawana. Conditions were difficult at times, the wind kept changing in strength during races, the tide was ripping, it was wet and cold so well done to all sailors who took part.
Green fleet - 106 boats, 29 Wakatere sailors
Well done also to James Grover-Grey with a 3rd place in the Green fleet; first girl and 6th overall was Jessica Berry; Jonathan Nicholas, Joe Pearson, Chamonix Stuart, Nelson Greenwood, Jonathon Barnett, Sophie Andrews, William Clough and Ben Whittington finished a race in the top ten. "The thing that stood out the most for me was how comfortable all of our sailors were on the water, how they represented the club with pride, and how much some improved during the week (especially in the Green fleet)." - Terry Nicholas
We must thank all those who contributed their time and effort to make it such a success - those on the water, in the race office, in the cafe, on the help desk, running prize-givings, registration, logistics, hauling supporter's crafts in and out of the water each day, gathering sponsorship and prizes, providing live tv coverage, serving at the bar, erecting tents and anything else that was needed, holding the team together and communications leading up to the event, looking after our club sailors, tee shirts, signage - an awesome team effort. Secondly we would like to thank those who helped sponsor the event - we couldn't do it without your support.
Optimist Pre-Nationals gallery
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Racing was abandoned at 3 pm due to lack of wind - for more photos click here
Optimist Pre-Nationals Day 1
Sailors were helped ashore by a hardy group of helpers - click here
Team-work at the end of the days racing click here for more
Archived 2010-2011 news click here