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Wairoa Yacht Club hosted the Wairoa River Regatta and East Coast Championships last weekend with great weather and wind for both days of the event.
Junior training officer Jill Metz-Mayhead said it was one of the biggest regattas since their 50th in 2008.
The regatta attracted plenty of entries from around the region with sailors travelling from Port Ohope Yacht Club, Gisborne Yacht Club and Napier Sailing Club with a big contingent of Optimist entries from Gisborne to join the fleet of new local sailors on the Wairoa River.
“The Wairoa River is so good to learn on,” says Metz-Mayhead, “with parents able to follow progress from the river banks.”
“Some came last year and some were new to sailing. Most parents and sailors camped at the Yacht Club, producing at great social atmosphere.”
“It’s neat for our kids to mix and compete,” Metz-Mayhead reports.
Gisborne Yacht Club’s learn to sail coach, Rod McCulloch says it is the best place to learn; “it has got nothing scary, flat water and you can get your land marks easily. You gain familiarity to build confidence and the sailing concepts,” he says.
Lasers made up the bulk of the senior fleet, and even an old plank Idle Along, in pristine condition, turned a few heads and had some of the older sailors reminiscing.
Local yachties did well in the regatta with several placing, and three taking the top places in the East Coast Championship run consecutively.
Alex Mayhead won the East Coast Laser open and his sister Anneke the East Coast P Class race. Dominic Pomfret- Hardie won the East Coast Optimist green race.
Port Ohope Yacht Club will hold the next regatta on the 2-3 February and then Gisborne Yacht Club on 16-17 March.
