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Seb Menzies and Blake McGlashan negotiated the contrasting conditions over the weekend best to win the Kohimarama 420 class regatta.
Only one race was possible for the eight boats on the Saturday, skillfully won by Robbie McCutcheon and Sam Street, as gusts of 38 knots battered Bean Rock and put an end to racing.
Similar conditions were forecast for the second day but unexpected lighter winds caught many of the sailors off guard with their boat tuning. Three races were completed before the regatta concluded with a Mark Foy start - each crew was given a start time based on their standing.
This saw Sydney Cunliffe and Rebecca Hume take line honours but they were almost hunted down by McCutcheon and Street who worked their way through the fleet to take second after starting last on handicap.
Sofia Higgott and Lizzie Shapland were the top girl's crew and third overall, finishing ahead of Cunliffe and Hume with Sasha Barrett-Garnier and Emily Davidson in third.
"It's great to see a class bring all their sailors together and allow the new teams to meet and get to know the more experienced sailors," Yachting New Zealand youth coach Matt Thomas said. "It was also a fantastic opportunity for the young sailors to learn from coaches like Polly Powrie."
Seb Menzies and Blake McGlashan, left, were the top combination overall and Lizzie Shapland and Sofia Higgot were the first female crew.
The Kohimarama Yacht Club organised a 420 regatta as a way to help promote the class and bring new sailors up to speed.
Menzies and McGlashan, who were the top New Zealand crew at March's 420 national championships in Christchurch, are preparing for July's youth sailing world championships in the United States.
The Kohimarama Yacht Club would like to thank Derek Scott of North Sails, Polly Powrie (on water coach) and Jason Morgan (race officer) for supporting these young sailors in growing their sailing skills. The next fleet racing for 420s is the Auckland Junior Winter Sprints at Kohimarama Yacht Club on June 16.
Kohimarama 420 class regatta standings
Girls
1st: Sofia Higgott / Lizzie Shapland
2nd: Sydney Cunliffe / Rebecca Hume
3rd: Sasha Barrett-Garnier / Emily Davidson
Overall
1st: Seb Menzies / Blake McGlashan
2nd: Robbie McCutcheon / Sam Street
3rd: Sofia Higgott / Lizzie Shapland
