Sunburst Nationals- Brown makes it two years in a row

by Nigel Price on 15 Feb 2015 The 2015 Harcourts sponsored Sunburst Nationals were held at the Muritai Yacht Club, Eastbourne, over Waitangi weekend – February 6-8.

There were 32 starters in the main fleet and 6 Sea Scout boats in their non spinnaker equipped fleet.

On the first day of racing a big Southerly was forecast to hit. At the briefing at 9.30am on Friday, the racing was called off for the day, which was a sensible call, as the wind was steadily increasing at that stage, and by lunchtime it was 30+ knots. The 2014 champ Andrew Brown ran a tuning and boat setup session on the ramp soon after the races had been called off. He explained what he did to set 'Vagrant' up and the reasons why. This was attended by about 50 people and was very well received. Andrew has been doing these sessions during winter with the Wakatere fleet over the last 2 seasons and it is great to see that he has always been willing to share knowledge, now amongst a wider audience than just at his home club.

The call was made to start racing on the Saturday at 9.00am and to do 5 races that day. The sailors arrived bright and early and they were greeted with a lovely 18 knot southerly, but that slowly died away during the morning’s racing.
The first 3 races were won by Andrew & Cameron Brown with the top all female team of Polly Wright & Penny Linton also having a good start to the regatta with a second, fourth and a sixth. Jane Calvert sailing with her son Ben Stirling, also had a consistent morning along with Nick & Flinn Olson and Scott & Jack Beavis. Surprise entrants, and eventual winners of the 'Husband & wife ' category- Matthew Stevens & Sophie James sailed some great races in the dying breeze with a second and a third in Race 2 and race 3.

The fleet was sent in for a well deserved lunch while waiting for the wind, which by now had turned 180 degrees, to build from the North.

Once back on the water the fleet was greeted to a shifty 16 knot northerly breeze, that built to 25 knots by the end of the second race of the afternoon. Scott & Jack Beavis won the first afternoon race followed closely by Nick & Flinn Olson with Cameron & Andrew Brown in third place and Matthew & Sophie in fourth.

In the second race of the afternoon, Matthew & Sophie found a clean pair of heels upwind to win that race and to sit them in second equal overall at the end of the day tied with Nick & Flinn Olson. In this last race Nick & Flinn capsized in the breezy conditions, but still managed to finish the race in fourth place.

On the Sunday racing was due to start at 9.00am and with a weather forecast that suggested strengthening wind, the race committee knew they would only squeeze in 1 or maybe 2 races.

The race started promptly at 9.00am with 23 knots from the north which produced large waves to hinder getting off the beach. It built to 25-26 knots by the end of the race and this strong wind produced some great waves to surf downwind on. The top three boats broke away from the rest of the fleet and a ding dong battle ensued between them. On the final downwind leg, Andrew & Cameron Brown surged through for their fourth race win in the regatta, Nick Olson came second and Matthew Steven third. Phillip Governale & Andrew Patterson improved significantly from their early races in the regatta to get a great fourth placing in this last race. This was the only race run on the Sunday so in the end there were 6 races completed with 5 to count.

Ken Burt and his Muritai Race Committee team did an awesome job in getting 6 races completed out of the 8 races scheduled during the 2 days that were sailed. Most of these were run in very trying conditions for both the competitors and the Race Officials. Two crews from Otago and one from Canterbury made the effort to trail their boats up from the South Island. Class Chairman Roy Roker congratulated the Muritai club on running a superb regatta. The organising committee did an excellent job onshore and everyone was made to feel welcome, and nothing was too difficult to sort out.
Thank you to sponsors Harcourts Eastbourne, Seaview Sails & Rigging, Pak N Save Petone, Linton Sails, Burnsco Marine, Resene Paints, and Pro Emb Co.

Next year the 2016 Sunburst Nationals are scheduled to be held in Canterbury.

The top 5 placings were : ( 6 races sailed, 1 discard )
1st : Andrew & Cameron Brown, - Wakatere - 6 points,
2nd : Mathew Steven & Sophie James – Worser Bay -13 points,
3rd :Nick & Flinn Olson – Wakatere - 14 points,
4th : Scott & Jack Beavis – Wakatere -18 points,
5th : Polly Wright & Penny Linton - Worser Bay - 22 points.

The Sea Scouts section ( all non spinnaker ) was won by Andre & Marcus Van Dam from the Paremata Sea Scouts.

As is usual in the Sunburst Class there are Trophies and categories for many things :
Wilson & Horton Cup –(1st Overall ) – Andrew & Cameron Brown (Wakatere )
Brooke Trophy – (2nd Overall ) - Mathew Steven & Sophie James ( Worser Bay)
Wakatere Trophy for first on Handicap : - Mark & Jenny Ryan ( Muritai YC )
Kettlewell Cup – Under 19 Youth trophy – Polly Wright & Penny Linton (Worser Bay )
Secondary School Trophy – Polly Wright & Penny Linton
( Wellington East Girl’s College )
Muritai One Ton Cup – ( first with a combined age of more than 100 years )
- Alastair Campbell & George Willcock ( Worser Bay )
Bouzaid Cup - Jane Hawkins
Master ( helm > 40yrs ) - Jane Calvert ( Worser Bay )
Grand Master ( helm > 50 yrs ) - Alastair Campbell ( Worser Bay )
Veteran ( helm >60 years ) - Wal Louden ( Muritai )
1st Parent & Child Crew - Andrew & Cameron Brown ( Wakatere )
1st Husband & Wife ( or equivalent ) – Mathew Steven & Sophie James ( Worser Bay )
1st all female Crew - Polly Wright & Penny Linton ( Worser Bay )
Wakatere Boating Club won the top club prize.

There were 3 new categories added this year :
Lightweights ( combined crew weight < 110kgs ) : Andrew & Cameron Brown
Middleweights ( combined crew weight 110-140kgs) : Nick & Flinn Olson
Heavyweights ( combined crew weight >140 kgs ) : Mathew Steven & Sophie James
These 3 crews came respectively first, third and second overall on Line.

In summary, Andrew & Cameron Brown did a great job defending their title winning 4 out of the 6 races sailed, counting a second place and discarding a third place.

Mathew Steven & Sophie James had one race win and came second overall, just heading off Nick & Flinn Olson, who were a few points clear of Scott & Jack Beavis, the winners of race 4.

A full list of placings will be posted on the Sunburst Association website www.sunburst.org.nz