Targeting 30 boats for 30 years of Young 88 Nationals
by Mike Leyland on 22 Mar 2012
Young 88 Sprint Racing - 8 December 2011 Richard Gladwell
www.photosport.co.nz
The highly anticipated national gathering of the Young 88 Fleet will again see the class regulars battle it out against some of the world’s best on the race course to claim one of New Zealand’s biggest keel boat prizes and to celebrate 30 successful years.
The owners association have set themselves an ambitious goal to get 30 boats on the start line on April 14/15 2012 to mark the 30th anniversary and surpass the record of 29 entries in the 1990’s.
Young 88 National Championships always attracts a high quality fleet of over twenty of New Zealand’s most popular one design keel boat with the honours board reading like a who’s who of New Zealand yachting.
'The Harken Young 88 Nationals always attracts ‘rock stars’ like Americas Cup crews, the best of the sail makers and Y88’s own 2011 BMW World Sailing Cup winner Grant Turnbull.' Class president Grant Crawford said.
'We are also challenging other class champs, youth crews. The Aussie 88’s and women’s crews to take us on at our own game and are willing to help new boats and crews get themselves sorted. The committee can source charters if required.'
The 2012 regatta will once again be run by an internationally qualified race management team from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron including on the water umpires to keep this very competitive fleet on the right side of the race rules.
Racing will be held on the waters north of Rangitoto and will start at 1000hrs on Saturday and Sunday 14-15 April, with a prize giving to be held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on Sunday evening.
Follow the class online www.young88.org.nz or www.facebook.com/youngeightyeight
The Young 88, about 30 feet in length and with a fractional rig, is a popular multipurpose boat that offers speed and agility for racing, with space and comfort for cruising. The first mould was built by Roger Land in the 1980s, and since then 158 have been built. Of these, 77 are still in the Auckland area, 9 in Northland, 13 in the rest of the North Island, 19 in the South Island, and 38 have been exported.
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