Good fleet expected for Zephyrs at Murrays Bay
by Sail-World on 26 Apr 2006
Class designer, Des Townson, sails the original Zephyr in the Sail-Past at the 2006 Nationals Zephyr Owners Association
The Auckland Zephyr Championships will be sailed this weekend at Murrays Bay Sailing Club.
Entries will be taken on the day so numbers are a little difficult to predict, but a fleet of over 20 boats is likely. Eighty Zephyrs contested the Nationals earlier this year at Milford.
The series comprises up to seven races, with four being staged on Saturday and three on Sunday.
Tim Snedden will be defending his 2005 title with strong competition expected from Colin Maddren (#253 Ebb Tide Express), who was econd last year and sixth in the recent Nationals. Another serious contender will be seven times National Champion Murray Sargisson (#82 Gazelle) who placed third last year and fifth in the Nationals.
Others who will probably give Snedden a good run include: Bob Allen (#188 Wizard) three times past winner; Alan Retter (#1 Zephyr) four times past winner and seventh in the Nationals; and class newcomer but well known keelboat racer Richard Wilson (#502 Merlot) eighth in the Nationals.
Unfortunately Murray's Bay sailor, Steve Pyatt (#212 Lush) who finished second in the Nationals in his first season, will not be competing as he is overseas on business.
The Des Townson designed Zephyr class is in its fiftieth year of sailing, and has experienced a real resurgence of interest lately mainly from sailors in the Masters group. Over 75% of the competitors in the 2006 Nationals were older than 50 years, and the regatta was one of the largest one design fleets sailed in New Zealand.
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