Young Guns win Waiwera Infinity Etchells Nationals

by Lindsay Kennedy on 30 Mar 2006 Alastair Gair, Dave Ridley, Derek Scott and Carl Peters convincingly won the 2006 Waiwera Infinity Water Etchells Nationals sailed off Gulf Harbour last weekend.

An encouraging fleet of 21 boats completed for the title with tight racing amongst the quality fleet. A feature that has emerged this season has been the gravitation to the class of some of New Zealand's top young sailors, both from centre board and Squadron youth scheme. It was encouraging that our young sailors were able to show their skills in one of the world's most complete one design classes.

The message is now out that the Etchells is the hot class!

Alastair Gair, Andrew Wills, Simon Minoprio, Adam Minoprio, Mike Bassett and Scott Kennedy and their crews shared their youthful talents.

Barry Thom, Grant Turnbull and Cameron Thorpe showed the flag for the oldies with 2nd, 3rd and 4th overall.

For the event sponsor, John St Clair Brown, summed up the rivalry between the crews, at prizegiving, with the comment that ‘the oldies had the new boats and new sails but their old boats and old sails were sailed by the young guns - only to get thrashed by them!!’

The Nationals were part of trials for a New Zealand team to compete at the Worlds in Perth later this year. A strong contingent is expected to compete from New Zealand with some crews intending to compete in the Australian Winter Nationals at Mooloolaba in June.

Alastair Gair, and his crew, completed a successful month with winning the Auckland Champs a fortnight before. Simon Minoprio was 2nd with Rob Bassett 3rd.

Results:
Nationals
1st Alastair Gair, Dave Ridley, Derek Scott, Carl Peters
2nd Barry Thom, Grant Lynch, Rick Wells
3rd Grant Turnbull, Doug Eades, Geoff Martlew

Auckland Champs
1st Alastair Gair, Dave Ridley, Derek Scott, Carl Peters
2nd Simon Minoprio, Ryan Houston, Matt Stuart
3rd Rob Bassett, Alan Gwyer, Mike Bassett