Secondary Schools Sailing- Light winds delay racing - Upsets aplenty

by Hamish Hey on 3 May 2013 Light winds forced a delayed start and early finish to day four of the Secondary Schools Teams Racing Nationals. When racing finally got underway it was all action for Round Robin 3.

All teams in the Gold Fleet have completed 4 races and it is KeriKeri and Mahurangi that lead the way with 4 wins each, Marlborough Boys and Tauranga share 3 wins. In a change of form both Lindsfarne and Westlake Boys are both struggling with the one win, whilst newcomers to the gold fleet from Wednesday’s repo charge Napier girls have scored a vital win over Kings College.

With four races sailed in the Silver Fleet. Three teams share the lead with three wins, Christchurch Boys, Glendowie and St Kentigerns. Five teams have two wins each with only Nayland College yet to score a win. Racing in every race in this fleet is incredibly tight and certainly provides a good challenge for the umpires with plenty of action at the mark roundings.

Round three has produced a few surprises in the Bronze Fleet. New comers KeriKeri Girls scored their first two wins over St Cuthberts (3 wins) and the local Tauhara College (4 wins, 2 losses). New Plymouth Girls who were gutted with their demotion to Silver Yesterday have showed their class winning all eight of their races and have completed racing.

Whangarei Boys hold second place on the points table (5 wins) have also completed the round and with a handful of races to be sailed only Tauhara College can catch them. The third instalment of the local derby Taupoi Nui a Tia v Tauhara will be a fiercely fought affair.

Light winds are forecast again today for the lake which may cause a delay to proceedings and force race officials to make some difficult decisions in respect of completing round robin three and running a finals series for the top six and top girls teams.

For a full results table visit the NZTSA web site: http://teamnz.myblog.net.nz