Current World Champions win both 49er and 49erFX National titles

by Sail-World on 13 Jan 2014
Current World Champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er) and Molly Meech and Alex Maloney (49erFX) not unexpectedly won the National titles in the respective classes in a joint regatta sailed on Auckland's inner Waitemata Harbour.

Another bracket of seven races (two windward leeward laps) and a harbour race completed the program on Day 2 of the NZ 49er and 49er FX nationals.

The forecast was suggesting more West in the wind than on Saturday, building from 8 to 11 knots.

Flattish water in Mechanics Bay, just to the west of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, was again perfect for the fast and furious 12-15 minute races.

The odd skip of misty rain bent the wind a little initially in the afternoon with the other bonus being puffs up over 20 knots to complete the whole range of conditions over the weekend.

Spectator viewing was fantastic from Tamaki Drive alongside the course while the cruising boats coming home from the weekend had a great view of the harbour race.

Racing was again very tight at the top with regular lead changes.

Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski, Silver Medalists at the 2013 49er World Championships won four of the sixteen races sailed and finished just eight points behind Burling and Tuke on the final scorecard.

Younger guys Logan Dunning-Beck and Jack Simpson battled with Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock all weekend regularly pressuring the more established crews. Goodwin and Bullock had some equipment issues on both days, taking the edge off their results, and dropping them back to fourth overall behind Dunning-Beck and Simpson.

In the Womens 49erFX, a regular 49er hull, with a slightly reduced rig, Maloney and Meech won 15 of the 16 races sailed and dominated the three boat fleet. Second placed crew Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland in the FX kept Maloney and Meech honest in the lighter winds, and had some extremely close racing with the Japanese girls when the breeze was up.

Race 14 was particular rewarding for Burling and Tuke – having returned to the start line where they believed they had started prematurely, the battle was on not to get 'chicked' - ('chicked' within the group meaning being beaten by the girls sailing with the slightly smaller FX rig).

Maloney and Meech led at the first three marks. Yes, they were also in front of current guys 49er World Silver medallists Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski, with Burling and Tuke around four boat lengths behind on the final downwind leg to the finish. With the wind around 15 knots the guys slowly wound the girls in to just get mark room on the finishing boat but not quite laying the finish boat – simultaneous jibes through the finish line had the guys winning by around 50cm.

The regatta finished with a harbour race blast down to 'Northern Leading Light' and a work back home to the finish boat.

Huge thanks to Ian Clouston (Race Officer) giving up his weekend to run excellent races, also Yachting NZ for their support.

The next two regatta are the North Islands at Murrays Bay followed by Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, 1-4 Feb.