New Zealand Trailer Yacht Championships

by Ron Quennell, NZTYA Publicity Officer on 24 Jan 2002 This year's A division New Zealand Trailer Yacht Champion team is that
of Lindsay Bell of Tauranga who won the event on his home water in
mid-January with his Ross 780, Mystery Achievement.

Only one point separated him over six races from Auckland-based
Supergroove, skippered by Jonathan Gravit. Third was Tight Fit, an
Elliott 5.9 sailed by Tony Poolman of the Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht
Squadron, Lake Rotoiti.

The championships were held over three days in winds ranging from 30
knots to less than 3 knots on a windward-leeward course just outside
Tauranga harbour.

B division went to a 22 ft. one-off design, Flush Poker, modified and
skippered by another Tauranga sailor Archie West. Buzz Off, a Farr 7.5
sailed by Graeme Burton of Tauranga was second, followed by another
Tauranga boat, Xeleon, a Noelex 25 skippered by Gary Denniston.

C division was won by a Taupo Farr 6000, Kotuku, skippered by Graham
Robinson. Second, four points back was Thumbalina, a Taupo Aquarius 22
sailed by Steve Walls, with another Taupo Aquarius, Gauntlet owned by
Mike Coupe third.

The championships attracted only 24 boats, which NZ Trailer Yacht
Association secretary Alan Morton commented made it a mockery.

With some 400 trailer yacht members of the association in the North
Island, he said, the NZTYA may have to re-examine its options for the
championships.