Team NZ skipper downed by coach in NZ Match Racing

by Sara Roberts on 26 Nov 2007
Emirates Team NZ afterguard coach Rod Davis with his America's Cup crew of Tony Rae, Grant Loretz, Chris Ward and Richard Meecham have ‘done the impossible’ to beat NZL-92 skipper, Dean Barker, in the finals of the New Zealand Match Racing Championships on the Waitemata harbour.

It was nail – biting racing as Davis won the first, Barker the second, Barker the third, Davis the fourth as the final went down to the very last race in the best of 5 series.

The start was even and during the day the breeze had increased to over 20 knots. This increased breeze tested the crew’s and Davis’s crew were up to the challenge. At the top mark Davis was around first but Barker was close behind, just a boat length in it.

Davis had a good hoist and as the spinnaker set, the boat lurched towards the bottom mark. Barker and team did the same and were right on Davis’ transom. The spectators watching around Westhaven marina and from the Members Bar deck at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron were leaning out over the rock wall and balcony to gain a better line of sight! The race was extremely close!

At the top mark for the second time Davis again rounded the top mark in front and kept just in front of Barker to win the race, win the regatta and win the New Zealand Match Racing Championships for the second time!

In the petit final Chris Dickson and his young crew won the first race against Laurie Jury. Jury then went onto to win the next two races in the strengthening breeze and secure third spot in the regatta.

All the competitors commended the Race Committee and Umpires for the excellent job they did through out the series! And all involved are looking forward to next year already!

Petit Finals

C. Dickson beat L. Jury by 11s
L. Jury beat C. Dickson
L. Jury beat C. Dickson by 26s

Finals

R. Davis beat D. Barker by 3s
D. Barker beat R. Davis by 19s
D. Barker beat R. Davis by 11s
R. Davis beat D. Barker by 13s
R. Davis beat D. Barker by 15s


Final Placings

1st Rod Davis – ETNZ / RNZYS
2nd Dean Barker – ETNZ / RNZYS
3rd Laurie Jury - Kiwimatch
4th Chris Dickson - RNZYS
5th Adam Minoprio – Blackmatch / RNZYS
6th Michael Thorpe – RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme
7th Jonathan Rankine – RNZYS
8th David Wood – Killer Racing / RNZYS
9th Jess Smyth – Georgia Racing / RNZYS
10th Phil Robertson – RNZYS
11th Jan Dawson - RNZYS
12th Simon Dickey – Frontend Racing / RNZYS