20 top crews announced for Club Marine Keelboats

by Tash Paget, Royal Akarana YC on 11 Nov 2008
The Club Marine New Zealand National Keelboat Championships kick off Wednesday 12 November with the Practice Day, Weigh In, Registration, Briefings and the Official Launch of the Platu 25 Fleet.

There are 10 boats in the water ready to race, and the forecast looks promising.

The Royal Akarana Yacht Club is hosting the 2008 Club Marine New Zealand National Keelboat Championships which will be contested by a who’s who of New Zealand yachting. Amongst the 20 skippers and their teams selected for the event are several America's Cup stars, Olympians and several top international dinghy and keelboat sailors.

Importantly this week sees a new era in the long history of this prestigious event - the event has been extended back to a four day programme, culminating in a 10-team final series for the title on Sunday.

A fleet of brand new International One-design Platu 25 keelboats is being launched by RAYC on the eve of the first race.

The Platu 25 has gained a strong international following and was selected by RAYC after consideration of several candidate designs.

RAYC Event Chairman Simon Manning made particular mention of the importance of this new fleet for the regatta; 'the new fleet is a great achievement by all involved – firstly RAYC who had the courage to set up the scheme, then the 11 boat owners who have, and I must make particular mention of Past RAYC Commodore Richard McAlister without whose vision and encouragement we would not have been able to launch the fleet today. We were overwhelmed by the numbers of teams keen to enter this year and selecting the final 20 crews was quite challenging.'

The forecast for later this week is for light to moderate winds which will suit all of the crews and mean a closely fought event. Host club RAYC again has three strong contenders representing the club with Erle Williams, Rod Dawson and Cris Brodie.

The regatta kicks off on Wednesday morning with a practice sessions for all crews, most of whom are heading out for their first sail in a Platu 25. The Official Launch of the Platu 25, Auckland NZ fleet will follow later in the evening.

Dream Boats have provided a houseboat for crews to await their turn to race, family and friends to watch from and for media to report on the racing in comfort.

On Friday evening after racing, Emirates Team New Zealand will make an informal presentation about their new TP52 campaign, the recently announced Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and an update on the America’s Cup. This will take place in the RAYC clubrooms and will be followed by a BBQ Buffet Dinner.

Tickets for Friday’s dinner and Sunday’s Prize Giving Dinner are available for purchase at the RAYC office.

All Regatta Information including Entry Lists, Boat Draws and Results will all be on www.rayc.org.nz and also displayed in the Yacht Club.

For more information contact Tash@rayc.org.nz

2008 Club Marine New Zealand National Keelboat Championships - 12 – 16 November, 2008

Entry and Crew List

1. Defending Champion
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Skipper: Roger Pagani

Roger is from Auckland, NZ and a member of RNZYS. He owns a Young 88 called Triple 8 and has won the 2006 and 2007 Young 88 Nationals. Roger represented the Young 88 Association in the 2007 National Keelboat Championships and won the regatta. He will defend the title this year with the same crew of Graeme, Brett and Nick.
Crew: Graeme Sutherland, Brett Elliot, Nick Bastow, Dave Alexander
Substitutes: Logan Sutherland, Kevin Peet

2. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Skipper: Andrew Wills

2008 – Young 88 and Farr 1020 National Champion (skipper)
2006 - Etchell World Champion (crew)
2004 – NZ National Keelboat Champion (skipper)
Crew: Tim Lidgard, Jayson Herbert, Matt G Kelway, Jono Rankine

3. New Caledonia
Cercle Natique Caledonien
Skipper: Patrick Baldi

Patrick has been sailing for 35 years, sailing multiple times in both Inshore and Offshore races in the Pacific Area.
2008 – Spi Alizes, Noumea Race Week Champion. Twice entrant in the Tour de France a la voile
Crew: Nicolas Auteret, Goulven Eduffe, Christine Gaillard, Alan Quere

4. Emirates Team New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Skipper: Dean Barker

Multiple America’s Cup Skipper – Winner Louis Vuitton Cup 2008
Crew: Don Cowie, Jero Lomas, James Dagg
Substitutes: Richard Meacham, Grant Loretz

5. Wellington Yachting Association
Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club
Skipper: Josh Junior

2008 – 1st World University Match Racing Champs, 1st National Junior OK Dinghy Champs
2007 – 1st NZ Under21Match Racing Nationals, Silver Medallist ISAF Youth World Champs (Laser)
Crew: Chris Jones, Matthew Steven, Rowan Swanson, Eddy Tan

6. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Skipper: Simon Dickey

2007 – 1st Key West Race Week – Open Division (Tactician), 4th TMC – Danish Open Qualifier – Grade 3
2006 – 1st Nations Cup Oceania Final – Grade 2 Match Racing, 1st RNZYS Winter Match Racing – Grade 4 (Skipper)
1991 - 1st Youth World International Match Racing Champs
Crew: Dallas Bennett, Conan Hunt, Frederick Green, Andrew Baron
Substitute: Ian Darby

7. Thailand
Ocean Marina Yacht Club
Skipper: Scott Duncanson – The Lofts Southshore

2007 – Thailand Platu 25 National Champion
Crew: Bruce Kendall, Trent Pedersen, Jeremy Chase, Kevin Scott

8. NZ International Etchell Class Association
Naval Point Yacht Club
Skipper: Derek Scott

Derek won the P Class double, the Tanner and Tauranga Cups in 1995. He was sailing 470’s at an Olympic Level from 98 to 2005, and won the 470 Nationals in 2005. This year has won the Farr 3.7 Nationals, North Islands and Auckland Champs. Derek will be sailing the Keelboat Nationals with his Etchell crew including Alastair Gair who will be his Tactician for this regatta. As a crew they have won the last 3 Etchell Nationals and got 2nd at the 2006 Etchell Worlds.
Crew: Alastair Gair, Dave Ridley, Pete Waters, Rhys Johnston
Substitute: Carl Peters

9. Bay of Plenty Yachting Association
Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club
Skipper: Ross Currie

Ross is a prominent Keelboat Skipper at the Tauranga Yacht Club with the Birdsal 39 ‘Arethusa’ . He is the winner of A Division Wednesday Night Series 07/08. Former Class Champion in the Ross 780 and Nolex 22 Classes. He is also a Pacific Rim event winner 4 times, and came 4th in the 2007 NZ National Keelboat Championships.
Crew: Mark Findlay, Hansie Echolze, Allan Fullerton, Richard Dent Manager: Peter Dallimore (TYPBC Commodore)

10. New Zealand Elliott 5.9 Association
Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club
Skipper: Peter Burling

Peter is the 2008 Elliott 5.9 National Champ, and represented NZ at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing in the 470 Dinghy Class.
Crew: Richard Burling, Cam Horne, Andy Robertson, Blair Tuke

11. International 470 Class Association of NZ
Kohimarama Yacht Club
Skipper: Geoff Woolley

Geoff has been involved in the 470 Olympic Campaigns for the last 4 years. Recently finished 13th in the 470 World Championships, and 1st in the NZ Nationals.
Crew: Mark Overington, Dan Slater, Piers Tyler, TBC
Substitute: Scott Kennedy

12. Young 88 Owners Association of NZ
Kawau Island Yacht Club
Skipper: Jacko Van Deventer

2008 Young 88 Owners Nationals Representative
Crew: Grant Crawford, Nick Stensen, Samantha Osbourne, Shaun Grigg
Substitute: Suzanna Pyatt

13. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Skipper: Laurie Jury

2008 – 2nd NZ SR26 National Champs, 2nd NZ Young88 National Champs, 3rd NZ Match Racing National Champs
2007 – 1st NZ Young 88 National Champs, 1st NZ SR26 National Champs, 1st NZ National Keelboat Champs (mainsheet), 3rd ISAF Teams Racing World Champs, 1st NZ Teams Racing Nationals
2006 – 1st NZ National Keelboat Championships (skipper)
2005 – 2nd NZ National Keelboat Championships (skipper)
Crew: Matthew Stuart, Joseph Kearny, Logan Fraser, Shaun Mason