Record fleet for Paper Tiger North Island Champs at Turangi
by Mark Bell on 11 Mar 2010
Mark Bell, 3rd overall - North Island Paper Tiger Champs Ross Wrenn
The North Island Champ this year is class stalwart and multiple nationals winner Terry Valder of Auckland, who sailed an immaculate series taking four guns in the predominantly light-air, six race series.
He would have made it five but for an unfortunate collision between an underwater obstruction and his extra-long A-cat centreboards only metres from the finish. Second was another class veteran, John Thompson of Wellington, another multiple Nationals winner who has recently returned to the class after a short 'retirement'.
Third was Aucklander Mark Bell, a double winner, with these three boasting a remarkable 13 Nationals titles between them. Fourth was another Aucklander, Doug Fergusson, but Wellington took out the prize for attendance by a wide margin, with a remarkable 20 boats making the start line.
The standard of the fleet has been steadily rising over the last 10 years, with the quality of boats, equipment and sailors at a very high level and a great deal of innovation going in to new sail, foil and rigging innovations.
The New Zealand Team, selected from the top ten at the Nationals, is looking in good shape to win back the Teams Trophy at the Internationals, to be sailed at Napier over Easter against the top ten Australians and 20 invitation skippers.
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/67274
