Issue date
Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson have won the 29er National Championship sailed at Murrays Bay Sailing Club from January 18 to 20.
Images by John Adair
“It was a fantastic regatta with some great sailing and a huge improvement in performance from the newer sailors,” reports Kim Admore, Regional Support Officer. “This class is one to watch with a lot of young sailors who are likely to be in the 29er for a few years. Congratulations to Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson for taken the regatta out with results of 9 firsts and a 2nd after drops of a 2nd and a 3rd. This is going to be a hard record to beat.”
An impressive fleet of 15 boats turned up with sailors originating from no less than eleven clubs from around New Zealand and one crew from Australia.
The first day offered challenging conditions for some of the newer teams with the breeze consistently in the 20 knot range and the odd puff of 30 knots.
Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson (701) dominated the first days racing with a 3,1,1,1, and the 3 was due to a bit of a mix up at the finish. Australians George Stent and Benjamin Robinson (1871 AUS) kept the Kiwis honest with a 1,4,2,2 performance. Some of the new teams struggled in the fresh conditions with six boats not making the finish on the last race.
Day two, the forecast predicted lighter conditions for the day. The first race got away after a few hiccups with 60 degree wind shifts and a general recall in the 5-8 knots of breeze. After a change of course at the bottom gate the breeze kicked in and the fleet made it a pretty quick race finishing in a little over 20 minutes. Markus and Jack (701) again showed their dominance even in the lighter conditions.
The second race of the day the breeze was in the over 10 knot range but still shifting around a bit and warranting another course change at the gate. Markus and Jack came through again, Cole and Trent Rippey (418) in second and the Aussie boys Stewart and Bejamin back up there with the increasing breeze.
The last race of the day was a cracker with the top four boats finishing within meters of each other. Isaac McHardie and Micah Wilkinson (112) led the race convincingly until the last 20 meters when they were pipped by Marcus and Jack and the Aussie boys coming in on starboard at a keener angle and executing tidy gybes to take 1st and 2nd respectively, Isaac and Micah 3rd and Cole and Trent 4th
Day three, with a drizzly sky and a forecast predicting 30 knots by noon, the fleet left the beach. The Race Committee found an area with a nice steady breeze and got the first race away in 10-15 knots knots.
Markus and Jack were firing again with their 8th bullet for the series. Race 10 with the breeze increasing to an average of 20 knots the Aussie boys George and Benjamin had a good one to win their second race of the series.
Race 11 almost mirrored the final result for the championships.
The final race the wheels fell off a bit for Markus and Jack (3), the Aussie boys broke a foot strap and went swimming to finish (5) and the Rippey boys Cole and Trent managed a bullet to end a very consistent regatta with a third placing over all.
