Youth Sailing Season Finale underway at Algies Bay

by Kirsty Laws on 1 May 2014 Algies Bay is delivering a full range of weather this week, for the 240 sailors at the 31st Secondary School Team Sailing Championships.

On Monday squalls over 20 knots coming across the course saw fast exciting racing, with a few capsizes. Wind continued on Tuesday, giving way to light and fickle conditions for Wednesday and Thursday. The light conditions were initially welcome for the sailors, some of whom have been competing continuously since Easter, first in the Optimist and then the Starling Nationals.

2013 winners Kerikeri High School are leading the gold fleet, with MacLeans College, Auckland Grammar and Tauranga Boys currently in the next 3 places. Napier Girls are best placed of the 9 girls' teams attending the event, followed by Diocesan and New Plymouth Girls. The top 3 open and top 3 girls teams will compete against Australia in the Interdominions in October.

With only one day left organisers are hoping to complete the second Round Robin, but will need good conditions to complete the usual 6-team final.