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For decades, Macleans College were a dominant force in College sailing, but in more recent years the school failed to field a team at all. Yesterday the Maclenas College team, who were 19th at last year’s nationals, won the gold fleet of the Auckland Teams Racing Regional Qualifier and the prestigious Auckland Cup.
Pictured from Left to right, Macleans College Teams Race Sailing Team: Logan Andressen, Daniel McAndrew, Vincent Lark, Hamish Hey (YNZ RSO), Tamryn Lindsay, Daniel Andressen, Sean Hepworth. Front Row Sam James
The resurgence has built over the past two years, after Northern Region RSO Hamish Hey visited the school (along with others) in a bid to increase college participation in sailing and to encourage participation in sailing and assist BBYC and RAYC with building business for their Sailing Academies.
“It’s a busy week for college sailing,” says Hamish Hey, “the Silver fleet in the Auckland Cup starts today at BBYC, and the Central North Island and Northern North Island Regionals start tomorrow.”
“By the weekend the seeding for the Nationals to be held at Algies Bay in the last week of April will be sorted, and 12 new schools will have had their first taste of racing in the Northern Region alone.”
The short and extremely tactical nature of teams racing appeals to the teenage group and Hamish credits it with not only improving sailors skills, but bringing many new sailors to the sport, or re-capturing those that have drifted off at a younger age, and come back with a renewed passion. Evidence of this can be seen in four of the Macleans College squad, who two years ago were not actively sailing, and now have starlings and sail every weekend from local clubs.
Hamish continues; “A big thank you to all the volunteers who have helped make these event happen during work time. I know firsthand how much fun the kids are having. I’ve seen it first hand while umpiring at the Auckland Cup and Central North Island regattas this week.”
If you would like to get a sailing team started at your school and join the fun, contact Hamish for more information. See the YNZ staff contact page for contact details.
