Issue date
With the Inter Marina MRX Sailing Challenge just finished we now have the chance to recap on the season just been, get on with our winter maintenance and begin planning for 2014 / 2015 – which is already filling up.
We’ve had another great season with a lot of happy sailors.
Thanks to our Patron Kim McDell and his fellow fleet founders for making all this possible!
Here are some of the highlights – Hall of Fame - from the summer just been.
Plumbing Industry Charitable Trust Regatta, 17th October
This year we had plenty of wind for another successful Plumbing Industry Charitable Trust Regatta in support of 0800 Whats Up, Foundation for Youth Development and The Parenting Place - well done guys & gals! The MRX Fleet are proud to support your worthy endeavours! First place went to Ray Ferner’s Rinnai Reapers, followed by Metrix Marauders, Plumbing World Tauranga Terrors, Marley Mariners, Caroma Kickers, Rheemed etc …………………………….
Chopper Cup, 19th November
All 11 MRX’s were out to support the Chopper Cup regatta fundraiser for the Auckland Westpac Helicopter. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke helmed two of the MRX’s but in the end it was Phil Douglas’s NZ Brick Distributors on Hall Spars who led home teams in no particular order from Fisher & Paykel, Monier Roofs, Gerard Roofs, ITM, James Hardy, Mico Wakefield, Plumbing World and Placemakers.
Well done to Rob Bassett & GJ Gardners for their organization.
Women’s Squadron Tuesday Night Series
We have a resurgence of women’s sailing in the MRX fleet with three competitive crews led by Karleen Dixon, Sarah Dunn and Joy Adams all battling for MRX supremacy. They have some classy crews including Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie lending a hand. Final positions were decided on the last night with Karleen Dixon finished on top just in front of Sarah Macky.
Auckland Grammar Fund Raiser, 26th November
The Auckland Grammar School Fundraising regatta was a new event this year for the fleet this year. The weather for the day was pretty fresh so it was fortunate that most crews had a good sprinkling of past and present elite sailors. Prestart favorite Tom Dodson & crew on North Sails put up a good show but had to be satisfied with second in the end – one design is a great leveler!
MRX Fleet Patron’s Christmas Rum Race, 13th December
Each month over summer we have a Full Fleet Rum Race where all those involved with the MRX Fleet are welcome to take part. We have a separate start and provide for celebration drinks on the dock afterwards. Our December Full Fleet Rum Race celebrates the foresight of our Patrons, John Street and Kim McDell. This year it was fittingly won by Jack Hansen and Phil Douglas and crew.
Christmas Banquet, 13th December
After the Patron’s Christmas Rum race there is the “compulsory” Christmas dinner at the Squadron. This year with the Quarterdeck booked for a function we moved to the Members Lounge for our celebrations. The food was great. And we were extremely well looked after by Joe Goddard and his team - a great night was had by all – and no speeches!
MRX Owners Phil Robertson & Garth Ellingham win Monsoon Cup
Congratulations to Phil Robertson, Garth Ellingham and their Waka Racing crew on winning the final event, (the Monsoon Cup), on the World Match Racing Circuit last year. Winning the Monsoon Cup lifted Phil Robertson to third overall in the Tour behind Canfield and Williams. “We're stoked,” said the 26-year-old. “It’s been a real long time time coming”.
KPMG Fleet Day, 25th February
KPMG’s annual corporate fleet day is always well received by business leaders from across Auckland. And it’s a great excuse for KPMG’s sailors to get out on the water! This year the crews enjoyed a brisk Southerly breeze, getting round the course in record time. Havanah Mar’s team led the field with John Kensington and Jan Dawson’s crews battled it out for second and third. The BBQ dinner in the Dinghy Locker rounded the day off nicely.
CBRE Corporate Business House Series, 11th & 18th February and 4th & 25th March
CBRE’s business house sailing series runs over 4 Tuesday afternoons in February March with a mixture of harbour courses and windward leewards. Double points on the last day spices up the action. This year CBRE won on count back from Goodman, Kiwi, (last years winner), and Chapman Trip. Thank you to Ponsonby Cruising Club for hosting us after the racing.
NZ Open Keel Boat Championships, 1st & 2nd March
A talented fleet assembled for this key regatta. Phil Robertson and crew, including Simon Daubney on trim, showed the benefit of their recent Monsoon Cup win to peg past winner, Andrew Wills back and come through to take the title. Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox took the opportunity to try their hand in keelboats and sailed consistently to take 3rd overall. Great racing was had by all.
The Pacific Keel Boat Challenge / Auckland Regatta, 21st to 23rd March
Congratulations to Matt Bouzaid, Andrew Baron and crew on winning our division in the Auckland Regatta and hence winning our Owners Champs and Pacific Keel Boat Challenge. The win came after a close fought battle with the Hall Spars team, with everything depending on who beat who in the last race. Third overall was Jean Louis crew from Cercle Nautique Calédonien.
MRX Fleet Championships, 21st to 23rd March
Opposite - Matt Bouzaid and his crew immediately after their win. This year we combined our fleet championships with the Auckland regatta. A new innovation was the invitation to local youth yacht clubs to enter teams of graduate youth sailors and their talented parents. Kohimarama Yacht Club took the bait and with the help of Phil Douglas finished a creditable 4th in the regatta. We look forward to continuing this initiative.
Squadron Wednesday Night Series
Phil Douglas, (Touch of Gloss), and his crew were the clear winners this year and showed the midas touch on a number of occasions – including finding another convenient buoy to round when Rough Rock went missing. Yours truly on Hall Spars chased hard but the breaks did not come our way this summer. Melinda Henshaw and her Millennium MRX crew followed. Our Monday night Sprint series was also well attended with David, (Killer), Wood taking the overall honours.
NZ Women’s Keel Boat Championships, 5th & 6th April
The NZ Women's Keel Boat Championship was sailed in perfect conditions this year – at last – previous years the women have endured 25 to 30kn breezes! After 10 races over the 2 days Kylie Jameson's crew were deserved winners, chased hard by last years winner, Karleen Dixon. Both Kylie and Karleen are previous winners. Melinda Henshaw was third. Her crew steadily improved as the regatta went on.
NZ Marine Industry Sailing Challenge, 8th May
After being over the line at the start, Ray Davies and his Ovlov Marine / Volvo Penta crew showed all their skill in the light air to lead the 9 boat fleet home and win the NZ Marine Industry Sailing Challenge. In hot pursuit were Touch of Gloss, North Sails, Brin Wilson Boatbuilders, and Yachting Developments. Newby, Boating NZ, won the race to the bar – they had a deadline to meet!
Inter Marina Sailing Challenge, 15th May
This year the race was oversubscribed with several regular entrants missing out – all credit to Kevin Lidgard and his Westhaven team. On the water Tauranga Bridge Marina showed the Aucklanders how it’s done, leading from start to finish. Chaffers Marina, won the award for travelling the longest distance to compete coming all the way from Wellington to test their luck. The race was followed with a Hawaiian theme BBQ prize giving at Ponsonby Cruising Club. Awesome Day!
Thank you to our sponsors for your support!
If you would like to participate in MRX Fleet events, to organize a client relationship / team building regatta or have any suggestions or queries please contact us.
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Good Sailing,
Tom Macky
MRX Yachting Limited
