Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

National Youth Match-Racing title to Burling brothers and Blair Tuke

by Event Media on 6 Sep 2009
Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and Scott Burling SW

From last Thursday to Sunday 6th September the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (Wellington) once again hosted the New Zealand Youth Match Racing National Championships.

Matthew Steven was back to defend his crown with Matthew Clough and Josh Porebski as crew. He wasn’t going to have it all his own way as Peter Burling (helm) and Blair Tuke (having a week out from their 49er Olympic campaign) with Peter's brother Scott were having a tilt at the title. If that wasn't enough Matthew had to keep an eye on his squad mates from Wellington with Josh Junior (winner 2 years ago and current world university games match-race champion, finished 11th at the laser worlds last week) with crew Michael Cook and Chris Jones entering a team

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron sent a team led by William Tiller who is on form having won the Governor's Cup in the United States earlier this year with crew Jono Spurdle and Chris Staub . The South Island was represented by Harry Thurston and his team from Canterbury.

The inclusion of women's match racing in the Olympics has seen three girls step up to the plate as skippers this year. Naomi Mannering from Napier, Michele Lochhead from New Plymouth and Sarah Berry from Wellington all led teams in this year's regatta.

As expected the racing initially between the top teams was close – William Tiller was top after the first round robin, while Josh Junior ended up top qualifier once the 2 qualifying round robins were completed, losing only once to Matt Steven and once to Harry Thurston, Burling was second qualifier. Berry was the top girls skipper.

As is done in Match-Racing, Josh being top qualifier was able to choose his opponent for the semi final … he picked William having already beaten him both times in qualifying leaving Peter Burling and Matt Steven to fight out the other semi. The semis were sailed late Saturday afternoon in beautiful conditions (10-12 knots). William Tiller won 2-0 over Josh Junior while Peter Burling prevailed 2-0 over Matt Steven.

The best of 5 final was programmed for Sunday morning – after waiting for the wind to fill in, again a beautiful match-racing breeze of around 8 knots obliged. William won the first race while Peter bounced back to win the next 3 races to win the NZ title. Josh was 3rd beating Matt 2-1.

Representing Tauranga, for Peter Burling (18) this was his first chance to helm in matchracing since winning the Starling match-racing twice (2005 and 2006). Blair Tuke was stepping onto an Elliot 6 for the first time while Scott Burling is on the RNZYS youth match-racing program sailing Elliot 6s each week in Auckland.

To link to regatta site http://www.rpnyc.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=586&Itemid=215!click_here
CollinsonCo 728x90 BOTTOMU-DECK 2023 - No.3 728x90 BOTTOMBoatseekr_LeaderBoard_122 - BOTTOM

Related Articles

Rolex Fastnet: Steady conditions expected
Competitiors are expected to start in a 12-14kt Westerly and assisted by the easterly tide. Predictwind's metrologist Arnaud Monges expects the Rolex Fastnet Race to get underway in a 12-14kts WSW breeze, with a building current from an easterly direction. Using weather routing we have predicted finish times for the Ultims and AC25 yachts.
Posted today at 1:05 am
Rolex Fastnet Race/Admirals' Cup: Big questions
"So far we've under performed as a boat in the Admirals' Cup. We're looking to put that right." The defending Rolex Fastnet champion, Caro (NZL) faces some big questions given their performances to date in the Admirals' Cup. However the Botin 52 has a reputation for scoring strongly in longer offshore racing - will they repeat in 2205?
Posted on 25 Jul
Canada's entry into the iconic Rolex Fastnet Race
Team Be Water Positive returns to settle unfinished business Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive will line up this weekend for the centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, one of the most iconic offshore races in the world.
Posted on 25 Jul
Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam Day 7
Sarah-Quita Offringa survives Super Final scare to earn 16th Freestyle world title Sarah-Quita Offringa survives Super Final scare to earn 16th Freestyle world title and 27th overall, while Yentel Caers powers to victory in Men's.
Posted on 25 Jul
Vaikobi V-DRY-X Team Kit
We speak to Pat Langley and Bart Milczarczyk V-DRY-X is a major launch for the Australian technical clothing brand Vaikobi, launching into the yacht racing team market with high performance outer layer clothing specifically designed to be customised with the branding and colours of that team.
Posted on 25 Jul
Admiral's Cup Tom Hicks Thursday Photo Gallery
He is always ready to capture Solent action Tom Hicks is always ready to capture Solent action, and the Admiral's Cup naturally delivered. These shots are from Thursday 24th July 2025.
Posted on 25 Jul
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4 Photo Gallery
A snapshot of the day by Mark Jardine It was a case of grabbing the wind and sunshine while it lasted on Day 4 of the 2025 WASZP Games, and each of the fleets got a bit of racing in before the rain started to fall and the breeze died away.
Posted on 25 Jul
Admiral's Cup Inshore Racing Day 3
Youth, grit and glory define inshore battle The final day of inshore racing at the 2025 Admiral's Cup delivered high drama, high stakes and no shortage of action, especially at race starts. Three intense races pushed crews to the limit and completed the six-race inshore series.
Posted on 25 Jul
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4
The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing, with the northerly breeze hanging in the early forecast before giving way to a westerly build.
Posted on 25 Jul
Admiral's Cup Paul Wyeth Thursday Photo Gallery
The battle points ahead of the Fastnet race intense The six-race inshore series has now been completed with an unstable northerly, swinging to the west later. The starts were particularly intense as the teams battled for points ahead of the Fastnet, and Paul Wyeth was on hand to capture the action.
Posted on 25 Jul