Johnson wins 3.7 Nationals Bay of Islands - Report and Images
by Chris Mitchell and John Elliott on 14 Apr 2009
372 Derek Scott and 375 Rhys Johnston coming off the start line - 3.7 Class National Championship Jarrod Cook
Rhys Johnston won the 3.7 Nationals at the Bay of Islands Yacht Club over Easter with a clear points advantage. In second place was Derek Scott, defending champion, and in third place was Ben de Fluiter.
Sailing conditions were quite difficult for Friday and Saturday, with only three light air races completed out of the five scheduled, and one race abandoned. This was a trying time for Race Officer Tony Brown and the BoI
volunteers. Generally, the wind died off as soon as a start sequence was begun.
However, a more reliable but shifty breeze of up to 12 knots came in on the Sunday, allowing four more races to be completed. Lance O'Connell won the Veterans prize, and, only a few weeks into sailing the 3-7 class, Katie de
Lange stood out by taking both the Ladies and the Under 21 prizes.
The Class is looking forward to visiting Tauranga again over the winter series. The Auckland Champs will be at Takapuna over the weekend of April 25 (Anzac), and Wellington was confirmed as the first choice location for the Nationals in 2010 (Easter).
The Class website is: www.3-7Class.org.nz
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