Elliott 5.9 Nationals - Consistency wins title for Rough + Reddy

by Sail-World.com NZL on 10 Nov 2015 Rough + Reddy (Craig Satterwaite, Richard 'Bart' Bearda and Carl Evans) have won the 2015 Elliott 5.9 Nationals sailed off Omaha Beach, an hour north of Auckland.

In second place was the defending National Champion, Stratis sailed by Mike Sanderson of the Doyle Sails loft.

Satterwaite won through consistent sailing in the light to moderate conditions, as the northern part of New Zealand copped its first taste of a hot summer. With eight top three placings from 12 races, including three race wins, Rough + Reddy had an 11 point margin over Stratis, which also had a consistent series with seven top three places and two wins. Stu Clarke skippered the third placed boat to two wins and finished just four points behind Volvo Ocean Race winner, Sanderson.

Sponsored by NZ Rigging and Ronstan, the series organised by the Sandspit Yacht Club, attracted a fleet of 15 boats. Satterwaite becomes the fourth winner of the national title in four years. The series is known for being punctuated by top sailors and sail lofts. This year North Sails came out on top, with Doyle Sails being used on the runner up.

The class has purchased a full set of racing marks, with the assistance of NZ Rigging, Manson Marine, Boatspray Limited, Leach Stainless Fabrications, Colormania and Doyle Sails.

They were used for the first time at the 2015 Nationals and proved easy to use, and to see on the course (see the regatta photos and videos for evidence of that). The class has two additional $500 sponsorship opportunities remaining for any organisations who are interested in some exposure for their brand.