2015 UK 29er Nationals - next up the Worlds
by David Gunn on 9 Aug 2015
Flying the flag David Gunn
The New Zealand 29er Fleet was well represented at the recent UK Nationals with a team of five boats from Murrays Bay Sailing Club making the trip to Pwhelli in North Wales.
126 Boats including a large number of international sailors in town for the forthcoming 29er Worlds Championships lined up on the start line in three flights.
Following two days of qualifying where the fleet sailed nine races. James Wilson and Oscar Gunn qualified first, Jackson Keon and Nick Egnot-Johnson qualified Third, Tam Lindsay and William McKenzie qualified fifth, Tom Fyfe and Josh Handa qualified 25th and Greta and Kate Stewart qualified first in the Silver fleet just missing the Gold Fleet.
Weather conditions over qualifying were perfect for the New Zealand crews with breeze of 15 to 20 kts that saw some of the lighter crews struggling.
Going into the last day of Finals racing Wilson/Gunn were still holding first with Keon/Egnot Johnson third. The final day saw a change of conditions with breeze form four to six knots and some big shifts. The final result saw Keon/Egnot-Johnson take the win, the Australian team of John Cooley and Simon Hoffman take second, Lindsay/McKenzie third with Wilson/Gunn forth.
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Great results with three Kiwi crews from Murrays Bay Sailing Club in the top four.
Fyfe/Handa finished in 26th and the Stewart sisters took third place in the Silver fleet. Again a good result given they struggled in the big breezes during qualifying. At 108 kg combined they are one of the lighter crews at the regatta.
The team has been resting up over the last few days and is ready for the World Championships that start on the ninth August. The Welsh hospitality has been amazing and the team has been enjoying their stay here in North Wales.
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