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The rebuild of the domestic 420 fleet gathered momentum at the weekend with the national championships at Takapuna Boating Club - and according to Yachting New Zealand coach Jenny Armstrong, the early signs are promising.
The class nationals was the second major regatta in as many weeks for the double-handed dinghy, following the 2025 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland regatta hosted by Torbay Sailing Club.
Cam Brown and Oli Stone claimed the title impressively, securing seven wins in 12 races in shifty, gusty conditions to take the overall title by five points ahead of Tessa Clinton and Amelia Higson.
Clinton and Higson had dominated the fleet to win the Sail Auckland title the previous week, with Brown and Stone withdrawing late in the competition.
Both crews are relatively new pairings. Brown, who represented the NZL Sailing Foundation youth team in the boys’ 420 with Alex Norman at last year’s World Sailing youth world championships on Lake Garda, teamed up with P Class prodigy Stone earlier this year.
Clinton, at 16 already a veteran of two youth world championships, joined forces with accomplished Starling sailor Higson this season.
"The regatta was raced in challenging southerly," Armstrong said. "Cam and Oli adapted best and came out on top, but Tessa and Amelia pushed them closely, while Thomas [Jurczyluk] and Oliver [Wyeth] also picked up a win."
Leading the charge from the South Island were Christchurch crew Saxon Foggo and Sam Nicholl, who finished third overall.
Armstrong and other coaches led twice-daily briefings with the 420 group - discussing weather, currents and daily priorities before racing, and reviewing the day's racing once competitors got off the water.
"It was another successful and enjoyable weekend, with sailors and parents all willing to help each other," Armstrong said.
"That’s one of the many great things about sailing the 420 - it's a fantastic boat to sail in a friendly environment, and we want to encourage everyone to join us."
Full results here.
