Shaw dominates Paper Tiger International event again

by Rowdy Leatham on 5 Apr 2013
Dave Shaw has dominated the 2013 Swire Shipping International Paper Tiger Catamaran Championships held over Easter weekend (28 March – 1st April) in a repeat of the 2012 event.

Four race wins on day one set up Shaw, before a second and a ninth place (after an impressive cartwheel down the first reach) on the final day left Shaw (Nelson, NZ) 3 points ahead of second placed Bryan Anderson (Australia) with Scott Barker (Wellington, NZ) sailing a strong regatta to finish third overall (despite breaking his mast in the final race of the regatta), Ryan 'Rowdy' Leatham (Wellington, NZ) was 1 point behind Barker and rueing all of those 'what-if' moments that could have got him on the podium. Bruce Rose rounded out the top five a further 3 points back.

The event was hosted by the Muritai Yacht Club, nestled on the Eastern Shores of Wellington. The venue provided challenging but enjoyable racing with Wellington living up to its WINDY reputation.

Another record fleet of 50 of the best Paper Tiger Skippers from Australia and New Zealand fought to win the ultimate prize in the class, with Shaw winning and becoming the first New Zealander ever to take the individual title back to back.

The fleet comprised the national teams and invited skippers, based on firm criteria of performance in national and state championships.

The Australia vs New Zealand teams challenge which is regarded as an important reason for the success of the Paper Tiger class over its four decade history was fiercely competitive with the New Zealand Team determined to get the Trophy back after losing it by the smallest of margins in Melbourne, Australia last year. The New Zealanders were very happy with their performance taking the Teams Trophy by 152 points (399 v 551).

The junior title was a fierce battle between Nathan Percy (Napier, NZ), defending International Junior Champion Dylan Taylor (New Plymouth, NZ), past International Junior Champion Jamie Hatch (New Plymouth, NZ), Jacob McDonald (Australia) and Josh Thorp (Australia). After six tight races Taylor came out 5 point ahead of Thorpe to win his second International Junior title and finish 19th overall.

The regatta is the first time in the history of the event that New Zealand has managed to take out the Teams Trophy, Individual Title and Junior Title in the one event!

Full results can be found by www.myc.org.nz!clicking_here