Issue date
George Gautrey and his crew of Callum Pritchard, Dan McDowall and Jono Francis representing Hutt International Boys School from Heretaunga in Upper Hutt, take the lead on day one of the HARKEN Schools Regatta. With a total of 11 points overall the H.I.B.S Boys had an impressive 4 wins and 2 second places after a fantastic day on the water. Gautrey commented “It was a very good day; we started off well but had a few problems, then brought it together for the rest of the day.”
All teams sailed the first three races with coaches on board from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme. The coaches sit on the stern of each boat and assist the teams with general coaching and set up of the Elliott 7’s, as many of the competitors have never sailed them before.
Racing began in a shifty 8 knots of breeze for the first two races and then a more consistent 15 knots northerly filled in. The shifty winds proved testing for the crews but Training Manager Guy Pilkington noticed a big improvement throughout the day; “We always expect a gentle start to this regatta, given that most crews have not sailed these boats before, but these guys are all great sailors and improve really quickly”.
Second overall for the day is the KeriKeri High School team of Harris Bindon, Steffen Schoellmann, Ned Dalbeth-Hudson and Nik Black. Bindon commented “It’s my first time helming an Elliott 7, but it went well and the team worked well together.”
Ex-KeriKeri resident and YTP Member Jay Prestt was onboard as coach, who commented “In the first race we got held out to the left and had to sail the whole first beat on a knock, but the boys came back to win the next race”.
In 3rd place overall is the Kings College team helmed by Rahul Makam and Angus McKenzie, with two current youth training Programme members JJ Marie and Leo Pagani. The team are 2nd equal with KeriKeri High School but 3rd on countback because of KeriKeri’s first place in Race 2.
Just one point behind KeriKeri and Kings College is last year’s winner St.Kentigern College helmed by Tom Morton.
The Race Management lead by Gerald Flynn were really pleased to complete seven good races, “Tomorrow we expect a slow start with light airs forecast in the morning, so it was important to get the seven races in today. We hope to get racing started by 10.30am and another 3 races then finish the regatta with Prizegiving and a BBQ at 3pm. “
Points table (after 7 races)
1. Hutt International Boys School - George Gautrey 11 points
2. KeriKeri High School – Harris Bindon 32 points
3. King’s College – Rahul Makam 32 points
4. St. Kentigern College – Tom Morton 33 points
5. Mahurangi College – Angus Adamson 35 points
6. Auckland Grammar – Sam Simpson 35 points
7. Long Bay College – Joe Buckley 43 points
8. Canterbury Combined Schools Team – Jess Sullivan 49 points
9. Westlake Boys High School – Sam Wallis 55 points
10. Rangitoto College – Cameron Moss 62 points
For further information please check our website www.rnzys.org.nz / Youth Programme and our Facebook page.
Images by RNZYS Media.
