Otago Starling Match Racing Trials

by Bill Gee on 30 Oct 2006
The Otago Starling Match Racing Trials were hosted by Vauxhall Yacht Club.

Conditions on the Upper Harbour were rather unpleasant with a 20 ~ 35 knot northerly breeze blowing. Conditions around the harbour at 8.30 am were not much better.

With the consent of the sailors the venue was shifted to Lake Waihola (40 k south of Dunedin) where conditions were much more favourable. With an overcast sky, sailing started at 11.00 am in a nice 10 knot northerly building to 15 knots during the day and dying off later in the evening to 3 knots and brilliant sunshine.

The results of the round robin of 7 flights:

Thomas Gee won 6
Ben Hawker won 4
James Harrex won 4
John Gamble won 2
Alex Morris won 2
Ben Carrick won 2
Chris Harris won 1

Alex Morris won the sail off to be the fourth sailor in the semi final.

The semi final of 3 flights was sailed:

Thomas Gee won 2
James Harrex won 2
Ben Hawker won 1
Alex Morris won 1


The final (best of three matches) was sailed in light conditions 3 ~ 5 knots and saw Thomas Gee win two matches against James Harrex to win the Trophy.