Issue date
2016 Tanner Cup is over.
Sailed predominantly in airs under 10 knots in the waters off Waitangi the victory went to Robbie McCutcheon (WYC) 2016 Tanner Cup winner, sailing for Wanganui/Manawatu.
Measurement on Saturday saw a few adjustments needed. Thank you again Oldsie for making the trip north from Timaru and being on hand to help with the required work. Thanks also to the measurers from Tauranga for their dedication to keeping the P Class the top class that it is.
Three races on Sunday in a shifty south-westerly saw plenty of position changes. The first race saw three boats lead all the way round, Campbell, Francesco and Josh - until after the last mark they all headed off to the right. The following boats all taking a short hitch to the left, finding a stronger vein of pressure and leaving the front three wallowing.
Robbie McCutcheon made the best of the left hand breeze and steamed through the fleet to win.
In race two Campbell led beginning to end for a win, and Francesco did the same in race three.
At the end of day one, Robbie led with a 1, 7, 3. But with Robbie on 11 points, the next five sailors Oliver Cowley (12pts), Lachlan Dillon (12pts), James Sheldon (12pts), Campbell Stanton (15pts), Francesco Kayrouz (15pts), were all within one good shift of the overall lead.
Day two on Monday was forecast to start with the dying sou-west, before swinging to the east at 11am. First race started on time at 10am and was always hit and miss whether it would meet the time limits.
They made the first mark with five minutes to spare, and Race Officer Paddy Sim decided to shorten the race at the end of the second beat. It became a park up against the outgoing tide. Some thought they could see the sea breeze coming so went left, risking being dragged away by the tide even more.
For a while it looked like they may have made the right call. But then way out on the right, Campbell was sneaking along the shoreline out of the tide. As the breeze freed a little he was able to lee bow the tide and crabbed straight out to the finish line, finally getting a sniff of the new sea breeze to sneak over the line for the gun.
The rest of the fleet meanwhile were in the new breeze and quickly reached in from the left in quick succession.
Races five, six and seven were in a much more consistent 8-10 knot easterly. Race six Campbell led all the way, only to be passed by Robbie 50m from the finish. The stage was set for a winner takes all final race. Campbell led on 13pts, Robbie one back on 14pts, James Sheldon (18) and Josh Berry (20).
Robbie was on a roll, and led from the start, matching Campbell’s every move. It was a four way battle all the way round the course, in the end Robbie taking his 2nd gun in a row, followed by Francesco, Josh and Campbell. This gave Josh a super consistent second day, with a 2, 3, 3, 3.
Congratulations Robbie McCutcheon (WYC) 2016 Tanner Cup winner, sailing for Wanganui/Manawatu.
Campbell Stanton (RNZYS) second, winning the Gisborne Cup, sailing for Auckland.
Josh Berry (GYC) third, winning the Otago Cup, sailing for Poverty Bay.
Francesco Kayrouz (WBC) fourth, sailing for North Harbour.
Oliver Cowley fifth (QCYC), sailing for Marlborough
Photos from day one here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.940510142650852.1073741845.193590124009528&type=3
The Cups will be awarded at the Tauranga Cup prize-giving on Friday.
Full results here http://boiyachtclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Sailwave-results-for-Tanner-Cup-2016-at-Bay-of-Islands-Yacht-Club-20161.pdf
