NZ Youth 29ers at US Nationals

by Christine Hansen on 8 Jul 2007
2007 NZL Yachting Trust Youth team 29er sailors Paul Snow-Hansen and Blair Tuke, and Emma and Sarah Berry are competing in the US 29er Nationals at Santa Cruz in California.

The first day was very light by Monterey Bay standards, with 8 knots, sloppy waves and patchy wind. The Berry sisters coped well with the conditions to come in with consistent placings. Snow-Hansen and Tuke started well with a 5th but generally struggled to keep their boat going in the light.

Day two saw the typical sea mist being burnt off by the time racing started at 1pm and a stiff 18 - 22 knot westerly come down the coast. The cold water which originates in Alaska built up into bit of a swell with a wind blown chop, making exciting conditions for the fleet of 23 skiffis.

The Berry sisters had good speed and rounded the top mark in the top ten in all four races today, however their relative lack of experience in a 29er, surfaced in the challenging conditions resulting in some capsizes which took them out of the running.

Snow-Hansen and Blair found their feet and enjoyed the conditions placing 4th after leading at the first mark.

During the second race things were going well until a keeler leisurely sailed through the course at the bottom mark taking out Snow-Hansen and Tuke, however they with good speed they recovered and came in eigth.

The wind strength reached it's peak of 22knots during race three, Snow-Hansen and Tuke gained throughout the race and also benefited from another competitors capsize and they came through in 2nd place.

During the 4th and final race of the day conditions eased a little, the male youth representatives gained throughout the race. After rounding the bottom mark in 7th they went a little right of the top group and benefitted from a small shift which took them into first place. After sailing the final down wind leg conservatively they held their lead and crossed the line in first place.

Snow-Hansen and Tuke are now in 6th place overall, - there are another three races to go on Sunday and conditions are forecast to be heavier.