RNZYS Youth Team top IRC and PHRF at Jack Tar Auckland Cup

by YTP Media on 24 Mar 2014 What a regatta it has been for the Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme team onboard the XP-44 ‘Lawless’.

The team sailed extremely well and at the end of the three day Jack Tar Auckland Regatta achieving first on IRC, first on PHRF, first on Regatta Handicap and third on Line in Division B.

The event, the largest keelboat regatta in Auckland, attracted 77 boats with ‘Lawless’ and her young team entered into the predominant ‘Open B’ division with a total of 12 boats including such designs as Beneteau, Elliott, Ker, Ross, Cookson and more.

The Friday fun harbour race did not count for overall points and with a dying evening breeze in the Auckland harbour no boats were able to complete the course within the time limit.

Windward/Leewards racing on Saturday and two races were completed in very light conditions that slowly built from 5 to 7 knots. These conditions led to challenging races with the shifts proving the key to success. The ‘Lawless’ team had the boat going fast upwind and led around the weather mark multiple times. The downwind legs where a bit different with the lighter boats being able to catch up. Race 1 result was third line, second IRC and Race 2 a fourth line, first IRC.

Sunday, the final day, had a similar forecast of no wind, low-lying cloud and long waits predicted for all courses. A light 4 to 6 knots filled in around midday and for the first race the fleet struggled to get off the line, the team sailed well upwind to grab another fourth on line. The breeze then built to around 11 knots and coming off the line in Race 2 the team picked a really good lane and lead around the top mark.

The Elliott 35 Super Sport ‘Crusader’ sailed by predominately Youth Programme graduates, just managed to get infront around the bottom mark, the team worked really hard on the second beat and lead around the top mark again and finished first on line. The race committee rolled straight into the next race with the best breeze all weekend. It was another close start and a good first beat, with both crew and boat loving the increase in pressure! The team lead around the top mark again and were just passed on the final run to take second on line.

Overall the regatta went really well for the Youth Training Programme team on board the X-Yacht ‘Lawless’. The team finished first overall on IRC, first on PHRF, first on Regatta/General Handicap and third on Line. 'We are really pleased with our results. We always wanted a podium finish and the team worked really hard to get there. We are all so grateful for awesome experience'.

The young team loved sailing the boat and are very thankful to owner Laurie Needham and brother Terry Needham (X-Yacht NZ Agent / All Boat Brokerage Ltd) for allowing us to campaign the boat. 'It’s a great boat and we have really enjoyed our time on-board' commented trimmer Connor Mashlan.

Special thanks to Chris Dickson, Joey Allen and YTP Graduate James Dagg for mentoring and coaching the team prior to the event. Their knowledge about everything yachting has been great and has definitely been put to good use helping the Youth Team out.

Our thanks to Graduate Gavin Brady for setting up this opportunity, with the foresight that this experience was going to be much more than just sailing in an event and good team building.

Coach Guy Pilkington was onboard as Tactician for the event; 'It has just been the best experience, I have thoroughly enjoyed it and I know the team certainly has. The support for this young team has been amazing, the boat was just great and I think this young team did a seriously good job!'

The team would also like to thank Craig Park of Orams Marine in Westhaven for donating her pre-regatta lift and clean.

All 39 current members of the RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme were sailing in the Jack Tar Auckland Regatta. Graeme Dagg’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ in Division C had a full youth team, our Vice-Commodore Andy Anderson had YTP members onboard ‘Surething’, also entered into Division B. With more members across all divisions onboard ‘Mayhem’; ‘Higher Ground’; ‘Tigre’; ‘Django’, ‘Wired’, ‘Undercover’and ‘Vamos’.

'This event was always in our calendar at the beginning of the year, we would either all sail our fleet of Elliott 7’s or all sail in the regatta – the team chose to all sail in the regatta and have really got behind it – it’s great to see' commented Pilkington.

Full results and event information can be found on the Jack Tar Auckland Regatta event website – www.aucklandregatta.co.nz

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme is much more than a sail training programme!

'The best youth training programme in the world.'
Grant Dalton – Managing Director, Emirates Team New Zealand.

Limited spaces are available for the 2014/2015 season, apply now only at www.rnzys.org.nz / Youth Programme for further information or for any enquiries please contact YTP Graduate Sara Tucker stucker@rnzys.org.nz 09 360 6800.