Triple 8 wins 2007 Young 88 National Championships

by Sara Roberts, Royal NZ Yacht Squadron on 3 Apr 2007
The Young 88 Championships were held over the weekend and raced out in the ‘America’s Cup’ course area off Auckland’s East Coast Bays. The eight race series attracted a fleet of 20 boats.

'It’s a long motor out each morning' – the crews all commented – 'but the best & fairest area to race in!'

Roger Pagani and his crew of Terry Smith and five Squadron Youth Training Programme Graduates, Graeme Sutherland, Laurie Jury, Nick Bastow, Dave Miller and Sam Bell were clear winners of the championship, 5 points in front of the next boat.

But even Pagani commented that the team were 'nervous' about racing on Sunday with some fantastic sailing by Matt Carran ‘First Class’ and Chris Maddock ‘88% Proof’ who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The Triple 8 team finished the regatta with 5 firsts, 1 second, 1 seventh and 1 ninth. The 9th was after hitting the committee boat at the start doing a turn & clawing their way back, through the fleet. So considering the start anyone would be happy with a 9th in a 20 boat fleet.

Pagani also wins the Tanaka Cup awarded to the first owner driver.

1st overall on handicap went to Andrew Fraser ‘Undercover’ who also finished 4th on line.

The Race Committee team lead by Ross Markwick found the conditions 'frustrating' but completed 4 long windward/leewards each day. Markwick commented at the prizegiving that the last start was the best he had ever seen in his 8 year’s of running the championships.

Class President Ross Masters gave special thanks to Hamish Dawson for completing all the boat checks and the on water judges Tony Webb & Carl Webster who helped keep the racing very fair. They certainly did their job because there was only one protest received & that was from the Race Committee after one yacht was protested for not carrying their washboards and storm jib which is a class rule & Cat 4 requirement.

The Young 88 National Championships have been hosted by the Squadron since 1999 and are held in April each year.

With an enthusiastic, dedicated committee & a plethora of fantastic sailors & supporters the Young 88 fleet is arguably the best one-design keelboat class in NZ.

Final Results 2007 Young 88 National Championships

Line:
1st Triple 8, Roger Pagani
2nd First Class, Matt Carran
3rd 88% Proof, Chris Maddock

Handicap:
1st Undercover, Andrew Fraser
2nd Heartlight, James Docking
3rd Young Radical, Michael Leyland

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