Please select your home edition
Edition
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

NZ wins 2011 Schools Teams sailing Interdominions in Port Lincoln, AUS

by Richard Burling on 18 Oct 2011
Interdominion Schools Team racing Richard Burling

New Zealand’s top three Teams Sailing schools, Kerikeri, St Kentigerns and Tauranga Boys flew to Australia last Tuesday for the Interdominions.

Two annual Teams racing trophies were up for grabs – the Interdominions for top country overall and also a trophy for the top individual school.

Port Lincoln was an hour’s flight from Adelaide across the Australian Bight – a fishing and grain town of about 14,000 people.

The locals were very aware of the ship Rena on Astrolabe reef as they have large ships in all the time taking grain away.

Fattening fish in farms was common with the most interesting being Tuna – head out to sea, net 15kg Blue Finn tuna, tow net very slowly back in for 4 days, feed the fish in cages and sell for $30k each once big enough!

What a great venue for teams sailing – Friendly helpful people, Yacht club looking over a sheltered sandy bay and wind.

The council had even dug a small channel right up to the boat ramp so you didn’t have to take the boats far to launch. Could you imagine that at Algies Bay or Kohimarama.


The first two days were set aside for training – getting used to the Pacer yachts that they would be racing. The Pacer is a little bit like a Sunburst with thin gunnels to hike off meaning using hiking trousers for protection of legs.

We were greeted by two beautiful under 10 knot days, just perfect for familiarisation of the boats. Best days since last summer we were told.

Judging by the angle on the trees by the marina it suggested quite a windy venue from the SW.

Day 1
There was just enough wind at midday to leave the beach but it didn’t settle sufficiently till 3pm allowing just 19 races to be completed.

Local school St Joseph’s was on top ½ a point in front of NZ’s St Kentigerns College. Kerikeri was on fire against the Australian schools while Tauranga only won 1 of their first 5 races.

Interest to note that St Josephs team was made up of 5 girls and 2 guys with 2 girls skippering all the time. So nice to see our sport is not gender specific – reminds me of when Mahurangi College was so strong a couple of years ago with girl skippers.

Day 2
Rain and excessive wind were heard during the night. Only 2 races were held at 10am before the wind started gusting over 25 knots and the sailors were sent ashore.

Finally around 2pm racing was back underway. Some great boat handling skills were demonstrated with crews enjoying the still 20+ knot winds.

The on-water boat changes ran smoothly alongside a large 80 tonne fishing boat.

Copious amounts of food were consumed keeping the sailors energy and minds focused - getting off the water after 6pm

Round robins 2 and 3 of 7 were now completed. St Josephs had just 1 loss all day to extend their top school lead, Kerikeri was next with the other schools bunched together. Tauranga was making progress winning 4 of 5 in the last round robin. Top country overall was just in NZ’s favour.

Final Day 3
A 9am start with good breeze and sunshine saw very close Teams racing all day.

Two more rounds were completed before the final race cut off.

Kerikeri was still the most consistent NZ school especially against the Australian schools.
Tauranga managed to win 4 of 5 in round robin 4 but faded in the last round robin winning just 1 race from 5.

St Kents never really captured their first days form but kept getting enough wins against the Australian schools to keep NZ in the hunt for overall top country.

... Finally it came down to the last race of the day for top country overall, Kerikeri vs St Michaels (Australian schools champions from Adelaide)

To add to the drama a new sea breeze came in just before the start sequence – 20 minutes later a new course was set and they were off.

Kerikeri dominated this race for New Zealand to retain the Interdominion Schools Teams sailing Trophy.

A great lead-in for the All Blacks vs Australia semi final which we watched while eating dinner at the prize giving function.

Congratulations also to St Josephs for being the top individual school. Kerikeri second , St Michael’s third on count back from Tauranga (4th), St Kentigerns fifth , Shenton (Perth) sixth .

The NZ teams were...
Kerikeri High School... O’Shea Butler, Klaus Ohlendorf, Matthew Bindon, Alex Bryning, Harris Bindon, Shae Donahoe, James Ayr, Sam Brierely.

Tauranga Boys College... Nick Gunn, Ben Caundle, Trent Rippey, Berrick Fitzsimons, Ben Warren, Dylan McKinlay and Josh McConnell.

St Kentigern College ... George Brasell, George Anyon, Alex Munro, Harry Craigie, Jamie Faulconbridge, Theo Lawson, Jessica Allen

Richard Burling – Tauranga Boys College coach.

Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastNavico AUS Zeus3S FOOTER

Related Articles

Queensland Yachting Survey 2025 Feedback
The results are in, gathering valuable insights directly from the sailing community Following this year's Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, a group of passionate and experienced individuals from the sailing community gathered to discuss the current state of yachting in Queensland.
Posted today at 5:18 am
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects!
Posted on 10 Jul
America's Cup: Luna Rossa to sail for Naples club.
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest the next America's Cup as the team of a Naples club. Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest its seventh America's Cup as the team of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples, as club that is new to the America's Cup.
Posted on 10 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 3
Big breeze in the morning, calm in the afternoon The third day of racing at the 2025 Moth World Championship kicked off early, with the first warning signal for the Blue fleet scheduled for 8:30 AM. Due to strong northerly winds, however, the fleet's departure was postponed to 9:00.
Posted on 10 Jul
Introducing the Micro Gateway from Cyclops Marine
Live load data, simplified - smaller, smarter, even more connected At Cyclops Marine, we're driven by the pursuit of precision, performance, and progress. As the marine industry continues to embrace digital transformation, our technology is evolving rapidly.
Posted on 10 Jul
Everything to know about The Ocean Race Europe
One month to go to the race start in Kiel One month out from the start of the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe seven mixed-gender crews made up of sailors from across 13 nations are in the throes of their final preparations for the Race start in Kiel, Germany.
Posted on 10 Jul
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
An exceptional fleet of grand classics are preparing An exceptional fleet of grand classics led by the legendary three-masted schooner Atlantic, a strong showing from the Wally yachts among the numerous Maxis, and the arrival of the new Magic Carpet e are all signs...
Posted on 10 Jul