Bronze Medallist set to provide stiff competition in Yachting Developments New Zealand Match Racing Championships

The Yachting Developments New Zealand Match Racing Nationals will be kicking off on Thursday 13^th October where 20 of the world’s top skippers will be racing for the title of NZ’s top match racing team.

Make sure you get down to the RNZYS on Sunday 16^th October to watch the finals. PJ Montgomery, the voice of yachting will be commentating and broadcasting live within a 1km radius of RNZYS on 102.4 FM.

The RNZYS members bar will be open to the public for viewing, and racing will be right up close to the sea wall giving viewers a chance to see these top sailors in action.

Favourites for the coveted title include defending champion Chris Steele who is currently ranked 8^th in the world, but he will have his work cut out for him this year.

Other teams to watch will be Sam Meech who is fresh off of his Olympic bronze medallist success in the 2016 Games. This will be Meech’s first time competing in International Match Racing and will be facing off against other professional sailors such as David Chapman and Evan Walker from Australia,

Graeme Sutherland and his rock star team of Mike Bullot, Dave Hazard and Tim Snedden. 

Also joining us for the first time is Malaysian sailor Jeremy Koo and his Sime Darby racing team who have recently climbed to 14^th in the world match racing rankings.

Skipper list                             Country                    World Ranking        Yacht Club

1.         Chris Steele                            NZL                   8^th                              RNZYS

2.         Jeremy Koo                           MAL                  14^th                            RSYC

3.         George Anyon                    NZL                   39^th                            RNZYS

4.         Evan Walker                          AUS                   79^th                            CYCA

5.         Oakley Marsh                       NZL                   169^th                          RPNYC

6.         Mathew Hughes                  NZL                   193^rd                          RNZYS

7.         David Chapman                 AUS                   331^st                          RSYS

8.         Alan Quere                           FRA                   432^nd                         CNC

9.         Sam Meech                          NZL                   Un ranked               TYPBC

10.      David Wood                         NZL                   Un ranked               MCC

11.      Robert Hielkema                  NZL                   Un ranked               BOIYC

12.      Patrick Haybittle                   NZL                   Un ranked               RNZYS

13.      Graeme Sutherland            CAN                 Un ranked               RNZYS

14.      Celia Willison                         NZL                   Un ranked               RNZYS

15.      Erica Dawson                       NZL                   Un ranked               MBSC

16.      Frankie Dair                           USA                   Un ranked               KKCC

17.      Henry Haslett                         NZL                   Un ranked               WBC

18.      Matthew Steven                  NZL                   Unranked                RPNYC

19.      Tom Fyfe                                NZL                   Un ranked               MBSC

20.      Brian Trubovich                    NZL                   Un ranked               RNZYS

The event will be raced in the Squadrons fleet of Elliott 7 metre keel boats, built by event sponsor Yachting Developments in 2010. It is Fantastic to have the backing of Yachting Developments as we continue the proud history of match racing in New Zealand.