P Class and Starling National Championships Finish in good breeze

by Sail-World Correspondent on 9 Jan 2011
The 2011 Tauranga Cup and Starling National Championship, hosted by Napier Sailing Club, concluded today in a breezy southeasterly, ensuring a full range of conditions throughout the regatta and producing worthy champions from amongst some very talented young sailors.

The day started with an unsettled breeze that forced an abandonment at the start of the first race on the Starling course as it swung southwards from the east but settled thereafter to a fairly constant 15 to 18 knots.

The Tauranga Cup was unlikely to see a change at the top of the table, as Tauranga’s Trent Rippey continued to show that he was in a league of his own in the heavier conditions, winning the event by perhaps the biggest margin in recent history.

To take nothing away from Rippey, he led the competition from the start, building on his lead in the lighter first two days by sailing intelligently, then following that up with six wins out of six which meant that today was only ever going to be a battle for the minor places.

Sam Lee, from Charteris Bay, again proved his worth on a windy day to keep hold of second place and Matthew Hughes, from Murrays Bay, was also outstanding today, often sailing through the field from a bad position to finish well and climb up the table to take third place from Hamilton's Isaac McHardie. Although the conditions didn't suit him, McHardie, who took out the Tanner Cup earlier in the week, still managed to sail extremely well under the circumstances to remain competitive. Another Charteris Bay sailor, Charlotte Corston, also sailed well today with two second place finishes which saw her move ahead of Tauranga's Zak Merton and Napier's Michael Hayton, whose valiant effort to keep moving up the table in unfavourable conditions was thwarted by a start penalty in today's first race.

Although falling back due to the conditions, Hokitika's Patrick Haybittle and Murrays Bay's Cameron Moss are two young sailors worthy of mention for their wins earlier in the event, proving they will both be serious contenders in the future.

Race Officer Kim Admore was very pleased with the event and enjoyed working with the race officials, adding that Napier Sailing Club had put on a better regatta than he normally experiences. He also credited the sailors, claiming it was difficult for them being out on the water for the best part of six hours but it showed dedication and commitment to the sport which will certainly hold them in good stead. It was also noted that, even during the regatta, the improvement of the sailors as a whole was evident as the racing in the P Class fleet generally became closer.

Starling Match Racing Champion Gareth Moore, from Waimakariri, added to the silverware today when he managed to hold off a very strong challenge from Murrays Bay sailor, Mahia Pepper.

Pepper and Tauranga’s Oscar Rorvik began the day within striking distance of Moore but while Rorvik’s challenge faltered in the first race, Pepper won the first two races and closed the gap to just two points. However Moore remained steady as he maintained his unmatched consistency to not only keep himself ahead of Pepper on the table but also back himself in the last race to go for the win. It was instead Pepper who finally succumbed to the pressure, suffering a capsize and only managing to finish 24th but he can also look back on a successful week which included third place in the Match Racing Series.

Rorvik held on to third, while Kohimarama's Andrew McKenzie and Taupo's Keith Inglis, separated by only a point in the end, rounded off the top five.

Principal Race Officer Tim Sandall also credited the way the sailors handled the conditions and made a special mention of Starling sailor Anna Ankersmit, from Murrays Bay, who epitomized the type of character required to overcome adversity, as she persistently fought the overwhelming conditions in every race today to keep righting herself, ignore the chill and battle her way to the line in her own race against time – an effort worthy of reward.

The feedback from everyone involved has been very positive and it makes for a great start to a big year for Napier Sailing Club, which will culminate in the 2011 Optimist World Championships, in December.

Full results on pandstarling.org.nz