Issue date
At the 470 Nationals we had nine boats from Tauranga, Manly, Auckland and Kerikeri taking part.
Kerikeri Cruising Club was a wonderful host club with a small core of friendly helpers. Water and cell phone coverage was short, and we didn't have access to internet, but that was more than compensated for by kiwi's running around on the lawn, dolphins playing around the boats and having sailing celebrity Torben Grael in our midst.
After a shorter delay today (Sunday), racing started in a dying north westerly - in the first race the fleet only managed a windward leeward before the race had to be shortened. Snow-Hansen and Willcox believed they were over the line and came back to restart but they managed a good come back to win the race.
Once the wind stabilised from the west the race committee did a great job getting in another two races. Lardies and Stevenson fought it out with Turner and Carl to finish the series one point apart in second and third respectively. Turner and Evans won the second race of the day, Lardies and Stevenson the third.
Amongst the supporters who attended the event were legendary Torben and Adrea Grael. We were very privileged to have Torben present the sailors with their awards, and to give a few words of encouragement to the gathered 470 and 420 sailors "enjoy your sailing as there can only be one winner".
We would like to thank the organisers of the event, and also Mackay Boats who donated a rudder, boom and spinnaker pole as prizes, and also North Sails NZ who donated tee shirts and gear bags.
First overall - Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox
Second overall - James Turner and Carl Evans
Third overall - Francisco Lardies and Luke Stevenson
Top junior crew and 4th overall - Gareth Moore and Vicky Francis
Top masters crew and 6th overall - Richard and John Power
Report and images by the 470 Class Association. See the 470 Class website for more.
