Picton declared Tsunami Free zone for Interislander Optimist Challenge

by Rob Burn on 16 Feb 2011 Picton has been declared a Tsunami Free zone for the annual Port Marlborough Interislander Optimist Challenge and NZ Laser 4.7 regatta starting Friday, Feb 18th.

The final day of last years Interislander was cancelled due to the impending arrival of the tsunami waves. Perfect conditions and a 20 knot steady breeze showed departing competitors what might have been as they sailed away on the Interislander ferry.

Set up day is this Thursday, and racing starts for the Open Optimist Fleet on Friday. The Open Fleet races for three days, four races scheduled for the first two days and three for Sunday.

Racing is outside Mabel Island and there will be a spectator boat available to view all the action from the water
This is a NZIODA (NZ International Optimist Dinghy Association) ranking regatta, the only South Island one. Points from this go towards possible selection for NZ Optimist Teams competing overseas at the end of this NZ season and building up for the Optimist World Champs in Napier, Dec 2011 to Jan 2012.

This will be the first time the Opti Worlds will be held in Australasia, it is a big event with between 55 - 60 countries taking part and around 250 sailors. The pressure is on for all our sailors, with only NZ's top five able to compete at the Worlds.

Our Queen Charlotte sailors are expected to put in a strong performance and keep the top North Islanders honest in our local conditions. Allie Gifford, Hamish Clark and Callum Radford lead the QCYC Open Fleet, training under Head Coach, Neeta Angre. Nico van Beek, Troy Gratton and Nicholas Gardiner take the big step up to their first Open Regatta.The Open Fleet numbers about 85 boats, with late entries still coming in.

The Optimist Green Fleet will sail 7 races over Saturday and Sunday. Racing will be in Picton Harbour and great viewing is available from Shelley beach and the friendly Queen Charlotte Yacht Club.

The Green Fleet sailors are the first or second year sailors, some just straight our of the Learn to Sail Courses. The juniors are really keen, Henry Gibbs, Chris Cameron, the Adams Boys, the Griggs girls and their talented QCYC Team mates will provide some great racing close in. There should be over 30 in the Green Fleet, again with more late entries coming in.

The Laser 4.7 is a new addition to the regatta. The boat is the standard Laser, the men's Olympic Class, with a smaller sail, aimed at the youth sailors that have grown past the Optimist Class. The sailors to watch in this Fleet will be Local sailor, Taylor Burn, fresh from third in the Laser Nationals recently in Auckland. His main competition will be Taupo's Keith Inglis, Taylor's 2009 Optimist Worlds NZ Team mate in Brazil. Keith won the Laser 4.7 Nationals and is a tough Competitor. Both sailors have the opportunity to represent NZ at the upcoming Laser 4.7 World Championships in San Francisco, July 2011.

The NZ Laser Association is providing free coaching for the Laser sailors on Friday before racing.

'The Interislander' regatta has become known for its point of difference from all other regattas around the country. In keeping with the fabulous food and wine tradition in Marlborough, the Club puts on a 'Taste of Marlborough' on the first night of the regatta. ' the Aucklanders all say they love coming here for a taste of our local Mussels and fresh salmon, it makes the long trip down all worthwhile' says Regatta organiser, Rob Burn. This years wine sponsor is Spy Valley Wines, a very tasty compliment to the great food for the sailors parents and supporters.

On the competition side the Interisland Challenge is about North Island versus South Island for the Interislander Trophy. The winning 'Island' comes from points over each age group across both the Open and Green Optimist Fleets. The South Island has won the Island of Origin, Opti style, for the last two years. This year the Northern competition will be very strong with the largest North Island contingent ever coming down.

The Muritai Shield is also at stake. This Shield was originally sailed in P Class yachts between Queen Charlotte and the Muritai Yacht Club of Wellington. It become lost in the seventies and rediscovered in a garage clean up in 2010. This year it will be relaunched in Optimist competition between the two Clubs and will be a great incentive to foster closer ties with a competitive edge.

Happy Sailing
Rob Burn