Dawson and Mannering lead Toyota NZ Optimist Championships - Day 4

by NZ Optimist Association and Sail-World on 13 Apr 2009
At the conclusion of racing today - with 11 races sailed in the Open fleet, two girls, Erica Dawson and Naomi Mannering, are tied at the top of the fleet on 34pts. This is believed to be the first time, in New Zealand, that two girls have led the points table in the Optimist class. Plus there are four Australian Optimist sailors in the top ten overall.

Racing today was staged in wins of up to 25kts and was abandoned in the middle of the afternoon. Oscar Rorvic from Tauranga, the winner of the Tanner and Tauranga Cups, score back to back wins, today, but is well down the points table thanks to some disappointing places in the light airs

Unfortunately the Metservice forecast today proved to be correct and with winds up to 35 knots on the course racing was abandoned for the day at around 1400hrs. The daily log for today's racing reads:

13:26 The leaders in flight 2 of race 11 have just finished with Ryan Amlehn just beating Naomi Mannering followed by Mahia Pepper, Mark Spearman, Douglas Campbell, Ragna Agerup, and Lloyd Collings rounding out a good race for the Australians. Then there was Erica Dawson, Olivia MacKay and Keth Inglis

13:17 Boats are finishing flight one of race 11. First was Oscar Rorvik, then James Parsons, Paris Stowell, Jack Collinson, James Oliver, Taylor Burn, Trent Rippey, and Liam Closely

12:57 Flight one of Race 11 is rounding the top mark in about 28 knots of wind. Oscar Rorvik is leading from James Parsons, Jack Collinson, James Oliver, and Taylor Burn. In these breezes Optis are spectacular on the reach. Conditions are very tough and its impressive to see how these kids are sticking at it.

12:32 The boats are now setting for the start of race 11 in a steady northerly breeze of 20 knots gusting 25.

12:07 Flight 2 of Race 10 is now finishing. First was Oscar Rorvic from Tauranga from Taylor Burn who is cementing his place today in the top 5.

For full reports see: www.optimistnationals.org.nz

For the Open fleet results www.optimistnationals.org.nz/images/results/open/prov_open_r11_v1.pdf!click_here

For the Green fleet results www.optimistnationals.org.nz/images/results/green/green_prov_r5_v1.pdf!click_here