2016 Marauder 8.4 Class Championship - Action about to begin...

by Yvonne McGill on 12 May 2016 The Marauder 8.4 Class Championship will be held the 14th and 15th May. The races are to start near Northern Leading marker out in the Waitemata Harbour.

This year a large fleet of the popular Alan Wright designed 8.4metre Marauder yachts are entered for the competition. The event is being co-organized by the Marauder 8.4 Owners Association and the Richmond Yacht Club. Division One has many entered and should be an exciting race. Mahita’s skipper has never entered a Marauder regatta before therefore his crew is an unknown quantity.

Last year’s regatta was a wild and woolly event held up near Gulf Harbour. Strong winds and rain on the Saturday certainly provided some excellent, wild and enjoyable racing. Although the racing took its toll on men and boats, everyone was extremely pleased that they had persevered and completed the two days of racing.

The competition for the Marauders will be run as follows:

Division One - The open spinnaker division. For fully crewed yachts that compete for the prestigious title of Marauder Class Champion and the Barry Olliff Memorial Trophy.

Division Two - The restricted division. The yachts can compete with less crew because no spinnakers are allowed. The trophy for this is the GHM Consulting Cup.

Division Three - For yachts that don’t fit the class rules. These yachts can use spinnakers.

The combined fleet on handicap will compete for the Tony Newmarch Cup.

Racing will start on the Saturday 14th May with all yachts sailing up to four windward/leeward courses. Then Sunday will see the Marauders contesting a long haul harbour course within the inner Hauraki Gulf. The courses will be set to the day’s weather, and anticipated wind strengths. On the Saturday night a get together of all crews and officials will be held at the Richmond Yacht Club to share stories, a beer and a meal.

The association is very pleased with the generosity shown by prize sponsors. The event welcomes One10 Boat Paints and Kiwi Yachting -Safety at Sea as their main sponsors for the 2016 Marauder Championship. Thank you also to our other sponsors - Chains, Ropes and Anchors, Burnsco, Floating Dock, Ecovis, North Sale, Boat Books, Boating NZ, Yvonne McGill and Alan Wright have also donated prizes to date.

The organizers are hoping for fair winds, a record fleet of Marauders and some great racing.

Entry cost $45.

For further details, NOR and entry forms contact Richmond Yacht Club via website.