Tauranga Cup- Wakatere's Kate Stewart becomes the second female winner

by Event Media on 11 Jan 2014 Wakatare Boating Club's Kate Stewart has won the Tauranga Cup 2014 in a very close contest that saw only one point between the top three.

Second was Jackson Keon and third was Cole Rippey. Just one point separated each of the top three placegetters.

Kate Stewart is the first female to win the Tauranga Cup since Olympic Silver Medalist Leslie Egnot in 1979. Olympic Gold Medalist Jo Aleh (2002) and Erika Dawson (2010) have won the Tanner Cup (initially Inter-Port) now sailed for Inter-Provincial competition in the P-Class.

Race information follows as posted on the www.yacht.org.nz website.

Final results can be viewed by clicking here

Images can be viewed by clicking here

Race 10 and Race 11

We are currently under postponement until 12 noon when we hope the seabreeze will have come in. Racing is due to be underway by 1pm all going well. Top of the leaderboard overnight is Cole Rippey followed by Kate Stewart - tied on points, with Jackson Keon in close pursuit. There is everything to sail for today!

Gorgeous Tauranga day here and the sailors have now left the beach for a 1.15pm start. Two races scheduled. NW wind direction of around 10-12 knots, and an incoming tide. Racing will be underway soon.

Race 10 got started in a North westerly and an incoming tide which proved to be difficult for the sailors, sending them over the start line in what turned out to be three attempted starts, two under Z and I flag. Some penalties resulted. Finally they got underway and at the top mark it was 989,closely followed by 722,15 and 69. The rest of the fleet was the closest together that I think we have seen them this regatta. The bottom mark saw 989 Cole Rippey still just in front with the signal being given that the course was altered as they set off on the next up wind. This beat saw the fleet spread out more and at the top mark the lead had changed with Kate Stewart rounding first, followed by Henry Haslett and then Cole Rippey. We were so absorbed in the battle for the lead that we hadn't noticed the Harry Highet setting the finish line at the bottom mark where the race came to its conclusion. Henry Haslett crossed the line in first (his first bullet this regatta) , Jackson Keon in second, Kate Stewart third and Cole Rippey fourth.

So with hearts in mouths knowing that only one point seprated the top three we watched an uneventful start to Race 11. Harry Corston 472 from Christchurch shot off and rounded the top mark in first place but with the big guns right behind him - Jackson, Kate Stewart, Cole all vying for his lead! 472 clung valiantly on to his front position, despite initially appearing from here to start to go the wrong way. Harry Milne in 900 was also having a good race and right up there among the top group. By the next top mark rounding though it was Cole, Jackson, Kate Stewart - they never give up! at the final bottom mark rounding there was lots of pacing about by parents and spectators as we tried to see who was in the lead and with the race course some distance away towards Pilot Bay we were straining to see the angles and know who was actually in the lead until finally it was Jackson Keon who crossed the line first!

DAY 3 Tauranga Cup 10 Jan 2014

Another hot sunny day as the fleet waited for the sea breeze to kick in. Out for a 1pm start . The breeze is building as the fleet took off. Greta Stewart (Kates younger sister) was the surprise leader at the first mark. She was followed by Cole Roppey and Kate Sheldon. The seabreeze has now built to 15 knots and the experianced skippers have started to come through. By the end of the second beat it is Kate Stewart from Cole Rippey, then Henry Haslet and Xanthe Copeland. The fleet has spread out as they come around the bottom mark for the last time. The first three boats cleared out. Cole Rippey took the race from Kate Stewart then Jackson Keon. The next 5 boats finished so closely together that we will have to wait for the results before we can give places. The whole fleet finshed the hours long race in 7 mins.

Race 8; the seabreeze has kicked in to give a 15kn NW. Great start by the fleet with the usual three out the front. Kate Stewart has taken the lead with Cole and Jackson Keon chasing her down the reach.. There is one point between 1st and 3rd going into this race. There has been a change up the next beat as the chasing boats get a break. First is Kate Sheldon then Kate Stewart , Jackson Keon and Cole Rippey are chased closley by Karensa Jennings. Karensa had an awesome downwind to overtake Cole and Jackson for third at the last mark. Very tight final beat with the front four boats staying in close contact. Hard to pick from here but it looks like Kate Stewart, Kate Sheldon, Jackson Keon from Cole RIppey and Karensa Jennings .

Race 9. Thebreezer has built to 18 knots. Cole rippey has ripped up the first beat and has a 45 sec lead at the first mark. Kate Stewart and Jackson Keon are chasing hard..At the end of the last down wind Cole has a lead of 45 secs still. Kate Stewart and Jackson Keon are close for 2nd and 3rd. The breeze has moderated to 12 to 15 knots. Karensa Jennings is holding in for 4th. They stayed in this order to the finish.


DAY 2 Tauranga Cup 9 Jan 2014

The fleet has been sent out for three races back to back. 4 was started in a 12 to 15 knot westerly. Karensa Jennngs lead the fleet for the first beat. Jackson Keon came through on the second beat for a great win. Karensa held on for second with Kate Sheldon third.

Race 5 and Cole Rippey has taken a great lead in the 15 to 18 knot WSW blowing. Kate Stewart and Kate Sheldon chasing hard. The breeze is kicking in. This lead to several of the fronted to run.t group having a swim near the bottom mark. A cracker final beat sailed in 20knots of Westerly .with Cole Rippey continuing to lead the fleet. Jackson Keon has also had a great beat to hold out Kate Sheldon for third place. Kate Stewart then Matt Whylie have come through to hold out Karensa Jennings.

Race 6 has started in a light Southerly. First to the Windward mark was Cole Rippey followed by Mat Whylie and Kate Stewart and Jackson Keon. A long second beat as the wind went light and shifty. Kate Stewart had a great beat and went around the winward mark 1 minute ahead of Cole in Second with Jackson Keon third. Some new players then follwed with Xanthe Copeland, Greta Stewart and Samantha Stock as the next three boats. WOW more drama on the final beat. The wind died and the tide starded to run. It is a 3 K finish. Kate Stewart, then Karensa Jennings then Kate Sheldon and Xanthe Copeland fourth..


Day1 Tauranga Cup 8 Jan2014.

RACE 3 A great race starting in 20 knots of westerly. Cole Rippey 989 Kate Stewart 55 and Jackson Keon 722 were all close together at the first mark. As the wind built some more there were some spectatacular downwind sailing activities including the 50m swim. Cole then extended on the next two laps. First home Cole Rippey, then Jackson Keon second Kate Stewart Third. Some great sailing in windy conditions.

RACE 2 General Recall as the breeze started to build into 12 to 15 knot Westerly. A clear start for the secind start as the fleet heads around and unchanged course. A close first beat Tom Fyfe 15 lead the fleet around the first mark. Kate Stewaart then HArry Corston Cole Rippey and Karensa Jennings following. At the end of the of the second beat there has been some changes. The wind is at 272 at around 15 Knots. Cole Rippey 989 now leads the fleet from Jackson Keon , Tom Fyfe then Kate Stewart and Karesna Jenning. Lots of very close racing back through the fleet. Race 2 has just finished. Cole Rippet has had a great sail up the last beat to win the race. HArd to pick fron the beach but Kate Stewart and Jackson Keon crossed the line for 2nd and 3rd. Karesna Jenninngs 4th Kate Shelod 5th. Close racing as the fleet heads in for lunch.

RACE 1 A light Westerly has greeted the fleet as the 40 entries hit the water. Three boats took a first beat lead with Kate Stewart 55 Matt Whylie 308 and Karensa Jennings 330 showiing the fleet how to sail with the incoming tide. There was an OCS signalled and no returning boats... The wind has settled into 10 knots of westerly. A few shift saw KAte retain the lead but Jackson Keon 722 come through with Harry Corston 69 chasing the fleet. Harry Corston 472 hanging in for fourth. The fleet has just started the final beat. 11.15am

The fleet has just finished. KAte Stewart gave a great demonstartion of sainling from the front to win the first race. Jackson Keon was second with Harry Corston 3rd. Henry Haslet held in for a fourth. Full results at the end of the day.


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