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Two training regattas were held recently as the team sailing season kicks into gear.
Photo: Susana Buckton.
The Parua Bay Team Sailing Spring Regatta was run by the Sail Northland Charitable Trust in conjunction with the New Zealand Team Sailing Association and the Whangarei Cruising Club, and a second regatta was hosted by the Lake Taupo Yacht Club.
Spring Regattas are traditionally training regattas and kick start the team sailing season, leading up to national championshipss in April. It is a good time to catch up with old friends and rivals and to meet new teams.
Seven teams competed in Whangare over three days from October 11-13.
Racing was cancelled on the first day due to strong winds, but there were some excellent land-based training sessions run by Sharon Ferris, Derry Godbert and Alan Clarkson.
The weather conditions ranged from 25 knots on the first day through to five knots on the last and four round robins were completed. Thanks to Gay Noyer for being the race officer and Ross Sutherland for laying the course.
Results:
1. Whangarei Boys
2. Mahurangi
3. Glendowie
4. Whangarei Girls
5. Wentworth
6. Kerikeri Blue
7. Kerikeri Red
The first day’s high winds at the Lake Taupo Yacht Club allowed for only 90 minutes of sailing, with the rest of the time spent in the classroom.
The second day was beautiful, with perfect conditions, and the sailors had fleet races, learned on-water tactics and how to sail the boats. There were a few crew learning to skipper and new 420 sailors learning to crew. There were perfect conditions for the third day.
Results:
1. 1st Cambridge/Waiheke combined
2. 2nd Taupo
3. 3rd Tauranga
4. 4th New Plymouth
5. 5th Hamilton Combined
6. 6th Napier/Taupo Combined
Feedback on the weekend was really positive and, as long as the sailors want to do it again and with the same awesome support from parents, organiser Susana Buckton will continue to make this a yearly training clinic at this time every year.
Coaches, Tim and Angus, were awesome and the sailors learned plenty.
Nelson also held the start-of-season team sailing courses over both weeks of the school holidays.
