Report from Paul Snow-Hansen and Blair Tuke

Silver medal, 29er double handed representatives for the NZL Sailing Trust Youth Team 2007

"Thank you" for your support of Paul and Blair during their USA Nationals regatta, and the ISAF Youth Worlds.

Following selection in April, the boys trained 2 or 3 times a week after work/school on their own in all sorts of winter weather - initially to learn how to sail the new skiff, and then to hone their boat handling skills, in the process the necessary intuitive communication between a relatively new sailing combination developed. Most weekends the boy's and girl's crew received coaching through Yachting New Zealand, so, along with this regular coaching and a number of NZL Yachting Trust Youth team clinics, they felt as prepared as they could be in three short months.

Good timing and good luck allowed Paul and Blair to visit Santa Cruz, California, for the US 29er Nationals one week prior to, and en route, to the Youth Worlds - a perfect regatta to line up against other 29ers for the first time. Conditions varied from very light to about 20 knots over three days, the boys improved as the regatta progressed and they finished 5th in the 23 boat fleet. The local Californians were happy to help, offer advice to the green kiwis and were keen to talk about the America's Cup. Other interesting locals were the bellowing sea lions on the course, otters near the harbour entrance, pelicans overhead..... and the historic "Big Dipper", a wooden roller coaster at the nearby Boardwalk, was a good diversion after sailing.

So, onwards to meet up with the rest of the youth team in Canada. The regatta began well with a 1st and 2nd placing, followed by a 10th - this confidence booster placed them in 2nd overall. Conditions were moderate but very shifty.

Day two was very windy, the final race was called off when thunder storms loomed, and, as reported by the event media service:

The top of the table for the boys 29er class remains unchanged after the two races held today for this exciting two-man dinghy. Denmark's Henrik Sagaard and Soren Kristensen have extended their lead to 12 points over pre-race favourite New Zealand's Paul Snow-Hansen and Blair Tuke.

Day three went well for the New Zealand boys, they recorded two 3^rd's and a 2^nd, beat the Danish pair in every race and closed the gap to within 2 points. Winds were light at the beginning of racing and built to around 15 knots through the day.

Day four of racing followed a rest day. Light winds returned adding to the wide range of conditions which test the ability of a sailor to be consistent across the board.

Paul Snow-Hansen and Blair Tuke also retain second place in the boy's 29er fleet after sailing three races on day four of the regatta. They were 8th, 5th and 6th in those races and have a comfortable 26 point margin over third place. Sagaard and Kristensen of Denmark are seven points ahead and hold the lead.

Day five would be the decider between the Danish and New Zealand boys - but a combination of light fickle winds and impending thunderstorms saw racing cancelled for the day – very frustrating when the possibility of taking gold is so close and the number of opportunity slipping away with only one race remaining on the final day. However, organisers were wary of lightning strikes and wind would have made the day a lottery anyway.

The final race was very windy, first and second positions couldn't alter but the boys went out for a blast anyway in the 20 – 30 knot winds. Unfortunately a batten in Paul and Blair's sail came part way out and after a mammoth task re-inserting it they were 3 minutes late starting. After sailing part way up the beat they decided to call it a day and return to shore to get the showers first, they couldn't improve their own position and the race wouldn't alter the New Zealand team's third placing overall.

Both Blair and Paul consider they've had a very successful campaign, it's been a steep learning curve but the boys have enjoyed the ride - lots of speed, thrills and spills. Traveling to the States was a highlight and Santa Cruz is on the list of places they'd like to re-visit. The team experience in Canada was very positive and coming home with a silver medal makes them extremely proud.

In the near future Paul has a 470 campaign aimed at attending the 2008 470 Worlds in Melbourne this coming January – he is also attending Takapuna Grammar and has year 12 exams coming up. Blair is having a short break from sailing after which he would like to return to sailing skiffs, in the meantime Blair will continue his apprenticeship as an electrician.