Issue date
Adam Minoprio and his team of BlackMatch Racing have taken out the 2013 New Zealand National Keelboat Championship after two days of racing on the Waitamata Harbour.
Racing was conducted by Royal Akarana Yacht Club and this year five elite teams registered to race in the prestige event, with the big guns of the New Zealand and International sailing scene making up the teams.
Ten races were completed over two days with the only delay on Sunday morning. The Race Committee managed to get one race away before being forced to postpone for an hour while the breeze picked up and settled.
Minoprio said that his teams win didn’t come easy.
“David Wood and the Killer Racing team really gave us a hard time. They were leading after day one and we had to fight back hard to secure the lead.
“It was incredibly tight racing and the conditions were tricky, but it was a great weekend overall,” said Minoprio.
There were four protests over the course of the weekend none of which affected the results.
The National Keelboat Championship has been running for 22 years and attracts the best sailors from around New Zealand and beyond. Adam Minoprio will be added to the honours board that includes names such as Russell Coutts, Rod Davis, Ray Davies, Grant Turnbull and Dean Barker, just to mention a few.
Full results can be found on the Royal Akarana Yacht Club website – www.rayc.co.nz/national-keelboat-championship
Teams included…
Team: BlackMatch Racing
Club: RNZYS
Skipper: Adam Minoprio
2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, Camper ETNZ 2009 World Match Racing Champions
Crew:
Chris Main
Tom Powrie
Richard Bicknell
Jake Stanley-Harris
Shane Kirkman
Team: Team Yachteze
Club: BBYC
Skipper: Chris Funnell
Competed in numerous races/regattas including Dunlop Interpacific, Farr 1020, Young 88, Stewart 34′s and Lipton Cup races as skipper and crew. More recently been trimmer for Georgia Racing competing in Bay of Islands regattas, IRC Nationals, BMW Auckland regattas, Coastal Classics, Hamilton Island Race Week, Geelong Race Week, Sydney Rolex.
Crew:
Grant Turnbull
Ant Crossnan
Grant McKinnon
Aaron Reynolds-Lovegrove
Richard Watson
Team: Team B Racing
Club: RNZYS
Skipper: Matthew Bouzaid
Began sailing around age 7 at Wakatere Boating Club in Devonport along with sailing holidays over the years on family keelers – Stewart 34, Farr 10.20 & 12.20. Recent achievements: Elliott 7 Club Marine Summer Series 2011 – 1st
Crew:
Andrew Barron
Peter Sumich
Paul Sumich
Fredrik Green
David Cosgrove
Team: Killer Racing
Club: RNZYS
Skipper: David Wood
Sailing all my life
Crew:
Ash Hammond
Sam Bell
Logan Fraser
Tom Kearny
Dan Pooley
Team: Tirade Racing
Club: RNZYS
Skipper: Stefan Goldwater
Y88 Owner Driver Nationals- 1st, BMW Y88 2008- 1st, Keel Boat Nationals 2010- 1st, BMW 1st Division 2011- 1st
Crew:
Laurie Jury
Phil Robertson
Alaister Gair
Pete Waters
Matt Kelway
Photos by Suellen Hurling
