Toyota Optimist NZ Nationals - Kiwi breaks into top three after Day 3

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com on 27 Mar 2016 Australian sailors still lead the Toyota New Zealand Optimist Nationals after the conclusion of eight of the nine races set down for the Qualifying round.

While sailors from the Woollahra Sailing Club on Sydney Harbour were showing the Kiwis around the Waitemata Harbour yesterday, Henry Wilson (NZL, Murrays Bay SC) broke back today on the third day of racing for the series, with a string of second places placing him into the tight group at the top of the points table.

Racing on the first day was not possible due to light winds, and officials have played catch-up on the remaining three days of the Qualifying series, which concluded today.

Racing was conducted in a building SSW-SW breeze with the top four overall returning consistent results for the day, Wilson was the most consistent scoring three second places. The regatta which has attracted a fleet of 258 entries is being sailed from the Kohimarama YC on the southern shore of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.

Overall series leader Archie Copley (AUS) scored a win in the first race of the qualifying series sailed this morning, a third in the second and a fourth, his discard in the third race of the day. Lachie Brewer (AUS) turned in a similar scorecard. With Ryan Littlechild (AUS) winning his first and third races of the day, but placing 8th in the second, which he has to count due to a ninth place scored in Race 5 of the Qualifiers.

The lead group have broken to a ten point margin over the fifth placed competitor, and second New Zealander, Gavin Ninnes (French Bay/Kohimarama YC).

The Australian rout of the New Zealand Nationals continues. There are only three New Zealand sailors in the top ten of the 177 boat fleet, with a second Murrays Bay sailor, Campbell Stanton sitting in 8th place overall.

Top female sailor is Ashleigh Swadling (Royal Queensland SC), with Greta Pilkington (Murrays Bay SC) the top NZ female sailor.

Fortunately there are no Australians competing in the Green fleet which has a close contest underway between Lucas Day and Lucy Leith (both from Murrays Bay SC on Auckland's North Shore), with just one point separating the two. In third place is Nick Shi (Kohimarama YC) 18pts behind.

For full Overall Results after eight of the scheduled nine races in the Qualifying Series click here