Results and wrap-up: 2014 Finn National Championship

On the back of an almighty tussle between NZL Sailing Team’s Josh Junior and Andrew Murdoch at 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland in which Murdoch prevailed, another gigantic tussle of the “Iron Men” of New Zealand Sailing was keenly anticipated last weekend when the Maraetai Beach Sailing Club hosted the Finn Nationals. However it wasn’t to be for Murdoch.

Murdoch battled bravely with an upset tummy bug (child inflicted), and was visibly pale and lacked energy, fading as each race and day progressed. After the first two days of racing, when he finally started to overcome the bug, the gap to the top of the leader board was too big to gain any ground toward. His score card of 2,2,4,2,3,4,3,2,1 testament of the tight three way battle this regatta became. The title was in the hands of his NZL Sailing Team – team mate, training partner and arch rival  – Josh  Junior.

Junior started like he meant business. In the stiffer 20-25 knot easterly of day one he was dominant, winning all three races. He stretched that further during day two with another two race wins and a second in the shifty 8-12 knot south westerly.

Day three however was almost his undoing with a 7^th in race 7 and 8^th in race 9, causing some excitement for the Spaniard Rafa Trugilo ahead of the final tally. It was however Murdoch’s win in the final race that finally shut the door on Trugilo’s title aspirations, and saw Murdoch remain on the podium in 3^rd just four points adrift of Junior and two of Trugilo. Junior’s win is a testament to his strong start and consistency throughout the regatta and the buffer that provided when the conditions got tricky, finishing with a tally of 1,1,1,1,1,2,7,1,8.

There was some exciting racing for the spectators; the gybing duel and virtual match race that evolved between Junior and Murdoch as they fought for race 8 was a delight to watch. Race 7 also provided some delight as veteran Alan Dawson lead at the end of the first lap, with the podium finishers all well buried in the middle of the fleet.  The tight racing in the 16 boat fleet was reflected by that fact that every starter finished race despite tight ten minute time limit.

For Junior it was a sweet victory. Despite his outstanding efforts as a young sailor, at 24 years of age this is his first national title, and perhaps a glimpse of what may come in Rio in two years time. However given the tight battle being played out by Murdoch and Junior for selection, it is bound to be one of the hardest decisions the Olympic selection committee will have to make.

Maraetai Beach Sailing Club lived up to its friendly reputation as host club with a great team of volunteers to run a near perfect racing program. Only the 180 degree wind shift in the final race was cause for giving the Race Officer – YNZ’s Northern Region RSO – Hamish Hey a polite ribbing at the prize giving.