Harken Schools Regatta 2012 Champions St.Kentigern College

by Sara Tucker on 12 Mar 2012
What a difference a drop makes! In a nail biting finish to the Harken Schools Fleet Racing Regatta, between the two St.Kentigern College and KeriKeri High Schools teams, the final results were a tie for first place and only 1 point difference between the top six crews.

Michelle Tait and her crew of Jake Tyndall, Jess Allen & Joseph Kearney were the winners on countback and the 2012 Harken Schools Regatta champions.

Second overall on countback was the KeriKeri High School team helmed by James Ayr and 1 point behind them was the other St. Kentigern College team helmed by George Brasell and then 1 point behind them was the other KeriKeri High School team helmed by Sam Brierly.

Racing began this morning with the Silver Fleet heading out onto the water. They completed their three races with the Kristin School team taking the lead with 1 second and 2 firsts, making them the overall winners of the Silver Fleet.

The remaining ten teams, now the Gold Fleet, were then out onto the water for their five races. With stronger wind conditions today, and a bit of rain too, it was a lot tougher day on the water.

George Brasell and his St.Kentigern College team had the best day on the water today with 2 firsts and a fourth being their worst race.
The Kings College team helmed by Jack Collinson picked up two firsts and the Canterbury Schools team grabbed a win in the final race of the series.

The final results were not posted and at prizegiving it was anyone’s guess who would be the winner! As Coach of the Youth Training Programme, Guy Pilkington read out the results there was not a sound in the room!
The winners were announced and the results revealed and it was all down to the difference of a drop!

All the teams commented on having a great time on the water and lots of fun in the Elliott 7’s.

Coach Pilkington thanked the Race Committee for a fantastic two days of racing and members of the RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme for their coaching and on-water umpiring.
Pilkington also added 'Next year we want twenty teams so make sure you sign up now!'

The Harken Schools Regatta, now in its sixth year, has traditionally been open to only ten school teams. However this year due to a tremendous response from schools the event was expanded to accommodate all who registered their interest.

The Harken Schools Regatta was established in 2007 by the then Youth Training Committee to promote the RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme to schools in the wider Auckland region. However it has now expanded to teams from KeriKeri High School, Hamilton and Canterbury.

Final Results
1st St. Kentigern College Michelle Tait 24 points
2nd KeriKeri High School James Ayr 24
3rd St. Kentigern College George Brasell 25
4th KeriKeri High School Sam Brierly 26
5th Canterbury Schools Team Jay Harris 27
6th Kings College Jack Collinson 28
7th Westlake Girls High School Holly Hamlin 44
8th Rangitoto College Liam Closey 50
9th Westlake Boys High School Sam Schofield 52
10th Hillcrest High School Issac McHardy 58
11th Kristin School Will Cobb
12th Glendowie College Scott Webber 30
13th Long Bay College Joe Buckley 32
14th Wentworth College Matthew Hughes 31