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Sail-World.com : Toyota Optimist Nationals: Five wins pull Australia up the leaderboard

Toyota Optimist Nationals: Five wins pull Australia up the leaderboard

'2012 Toyota Optimist Nationals, New Plymouth' Click Here to view large photo

Another happy day dawns at the 2012 Toyota Optimist Nationals, and it's manic at the Ozone Coffee Roasters keeping the black gold flowing, even making the odd thermos and loads of yummy hot chocolates for the kids and mums.

Day 4 of the Regatta sees the Open Fleet split into three groups, Gold, Silver and Bronze. The cut-offs for these fleets was obviously based on DNA with Emma Hyde from Murrays Bay at 55th making the cut-off for Gold and her younger brother Tom being at the Silver cut-off at 110th.

2012 Toyota Optimist Nationals, New Plymouth -

The Roving reporter caught up with James Grogan’s mum Mandy from Black Rock Yacht Club Melbourne early this morning, and speaking on behalf of the sailors from over the ditch, Mandy says what a fantastic Regatta this is and how thrilled they are with everyone doing so well in such a range of conditions. Special mention to Alistair Young from Perth who has had five bullets and now lays seventh overall.

The sailors set out in light winds from everywhere accompanied by a 1m swell that grew considerably over the day.
In the Green Fleet, Alice Overend (Queen Charlotte) took out the first race and William Martel (Paremata) the second but Oliver Cowley (Queen Charlotte) maintains the overall lead. The Green Fleet have two races tomorrow to complete their regatta.

2012 Toyota Optimist Nationals, New Plymouth -

The Open Fleet had to contend with liquid Himalayas by late afternoon with a south westerly on one flank and a south easterly on the other until they merged. Not only did Amelia Masters from Kohimarama take flying lessons out the front of her opti, but Judges Hana Maquire and Jamie Sutherland also got a ducking right before the start of the last race. Jamie would like to point out that Dri-bags do not work when completely submerged – yes, that was the end of his iPhone. (S-W: Get a driPhone - they'll work to 6 metres!)

As a consequence of the above incidents and many capsizes, Race Officer Gerald Martin says that the breeze limit for sailors will be set at 25knots but for judges it will be 18knots!

The results for today’s Open Gold Fleet with three races today saw Murrays Bay’s Leonard Takahashi-Fry on 14 points maintain his strong grip on the title with one day to go. He is followed by William McKenzie, (Kohimarama) on 22, Isaac McHardie (Hamilton) 27, Timothy Adair (Murrays Bay) 30, and Kim Buchanan (Charteris Bay) fifth on 33 points.

2012 Toyota Optimist Nationals, New Plymouth -

The Open Silver Fleet only managed two races with Thomas Morton (Kohimarama) first overall on 29, Xanthe Copeland (Worser Bay) on 35, Scott McKenzie (Kohimarama) 40, Sam Bacon (Wakatere) 43, and Harry Milne (Worser Bay) fifth on 48.

The strong afternoon winds were tough on the Open Bronze Fleet who only had one race today. Thomas Fyfe (Murrays Bay) is first overall on 30 points, Josh van Bergen (New Plymouth) second on 34, Zac Littlewood (South Perth) 39 points, Finley Gordon (Napier) 42, and Will Lightbody (New Plymouth) fifth on 44.

The Toyota film crew will be present tomorrow so girls remember your lippy and waterproof mascara!

For the latest results click here

2012 Toyota Optimist Nationals, New Plymouth - Click Here to view large photo

by Ginger Rogers

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8:18 AM Thu 12 Apr 2012GMT

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