Toyota Optimist Nationals- Awash with coffee and chocolate

by Ginger Rogers on 10 Apr 2012
Yet another day in paradise finds everyone waiting for the breeze to kick in on Day 2 of the Toyota New Zealand National Optimist Championships.

Suspicion falls on the coffee guys, Dennis and Glennis, keeping us all on-shore for coffees and hot chocolates till the budget met!

Finally around 11am the Open Fleet launched with the Green Fleet to follow. The Greenies got three races away today – and although the conditions were light, a very cool Tara Handa from Murrays Bay Sailing Club found the favoured side of the course and found herself in first place after 5 races on Day 2.

The Open Fleet also struggled in light winds. The first race (Race 4) saw all flights get away with Josh Handa winning the Blue Flight, Emma French the Yellow and Jim Colley the Red.

The second race today (Race 5) was a bit of a disappointment as the Blue Flight got away before a major wind shift to the right meant the race was abandoned. This saw the course reset and re-sailed. The Yellow flight resulted in 17 sailors being black flagged but William McKenzie came through to win. The Blue Flight was won by Leonard Takahashi-Fry which would place him in a leading position on the overall results. Hamish Clark won the Red Flight. Second overall is Isaac McHardie from Hamilton/KYC on the provisional results.

The third race today was postponed due to a dying wind.

Top Australian is Australian Alistair Young from Fremantle who could not continue his hat-trick of wins from the first day, scoring 9th and 28th to slide to 14th overall. He is one place ahead of the second Australian competitor Jim Colley from Royal Prince Alfred YC who won his Race 4 and finished 7th in Race 5 to lie in 15th place overall after two days of racing

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Melanie Kirkman from Kohi – 11 today.

For full results http://www.sportsground.co.nz/clubsite.asp?siteid=19995&pageid=77510&pagetypeid=17!click_here