3.7 Class NZ National Championship - Day 3
by Chris Mitchell on 10 Mar 2015
#375 David Cook (Titahi Bay BC) #13 Carey Shelley (Richmond YC) Serena Sanchez
Day 3 of the 3.7 Class National Championship ended Monday at the Bay of Islands Yacht Club, Waitangi. Finally, the lighter winds arrived but in fact there was no wind at all.
The race officer Kim Admore kept the fleet on shore until about 11am until a light but promising easterly breeze built, the fleet assembled, course set and started. But in the five minute countdown, the breeze crumped and went right. There was mayhem on the start line, but eventually everyone got off/through/over on port. Then in a cruel twist of fate, that world famous, (in his own lunch box), America’s Cup engineer, Chris Mitchell was charging to the top mark with 100m to go on stbd when the race was abandoned due to the time limit.
The only boat to get around the top mark. Then there was no wind for the next hour or two but breezes from every direction of the compass; coming and going. The time limit saving untold misery. Finally racing was abandoned with no further races completed.
Yesterday’s Day 2 results were made the final results; six races with one discard. Mark O’Brien (HYC) winning five races straight and using his second placing in race six as his discard, this is his fourth national championship win and he was clearly dominant.
In second place was Derek Snow (Wakatere) the defending 2014 champion and sailing very consistently, a bit unlucky in places and his lighter weight not suited to breezes 25 knots and over. Derek also won the Veteran’s Cup.
In third place was Hamish Hall-Smith (French Bay), only 16 years old and now too big to fit in a Starling. He scored a number of good places and we think his win in Race six may well be the young person to ever win a race at the nationals. Hamish also won the U21 Cup.
Luke Heslewood #369 (Manly SC) won the Handicap Trophy, Holly Hamlin #123 (Manly) was first Lady. Mike Jones #188 (Manly) fifth won the Veteran Medal (45-55yrs). John Elliott (HYC) sixth won the great grand veteran medal 65yrs+. Finally, ‘can of the contest’ went to Ollie Hawkley #315 (Manly) 4th whose demise was considered the most spectacular and costly of so very many.
The series was a lot of fun, it was great to have 23 yachts on the starting line and the class is in very good heart. Many thanks to race officer Kim Admore, and the BoIYC; Des, Susan and the whole team.
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