Schools Sailing - Kerikeri regain Team Sailing title

by Gay Noyer on 4 May 2016 After only placing second at last year’s event, behind Auckland Grammar School, the Kerikeri High School Open team has won the Maersk Zealand Trophy at the National Secondary Schools Team Sailing Championships, recently held at Algies Bay, Warkworth.

Steady consistent racing saw them place second in all round robins, which gave them top position on the Regatta Points table.

Kristin School is to be congratulated on placing second, at just their third National event.

After a dazzling start in round robin 1, Wentworth struggled in heavier winds in round robin 2, but came back strongly to be unbeaten in round robin 3, giving them the bronze medal. Well respected team sailing expert, Reuben Corbett, deserves to be extremely pleased, having coached both Kerikeri and Wentworth.

The Jim and Margaret Park Trophy for the top girls team was again won by Napier Girls High School, who placed ninth overall. Diocesan School for Girls was second girls’ team and New Plymouth Girls’ High School third. These three girls’ teams, along with the three top opens teams, will hopefully be available to defend the top position at the Interdoms to be held in New Zealand at the end of September.

31 teams entered this year’s event, including an all-girls team from the Cook Islands, who did exceptionally well finishing 18th overall and fourth girls’ team.

The teams had been seeded into three fleets, generally based on the results at regional events. Ross Sutherland had done a great job with this, as there were no changes in positions after the gold-silver repechages, but teams did alter following the first silver-bronze repechages. As there were many teams at this standard changes were always probable.
Full race results and reports available on www.nzteamsailing.co.nz.