Nerve-racking final day in the Javelin Nationals at Lake Taupo

by Antje Muller on 13 Mar 2016 If the racing has been close on the first two days, it only got closer through the final three races of the 2016 Javelin Nationals, sailed on Lake Taupo. Brilliant sunshine and a moderate wiring breeze provided a great stage for the epic battle to win the Ray Eade Cup.

In the morning, Thirty Something looked like they had their hands on the Cup as the light Northerly winds died out and the fleet was kept ashore. Black Bart used the spare time again to get in more time on the water brushing up on their roll tacks.

The lake breeze set in around lunchtime however, slowly building to around 12 knots, but with big holes and breeze lines across the course. Trailblazer came up to form in race 7, using their local knowledge to win ahead of Bax Contractors and Thirty Something. This closed the gap to the two leading boats and gave Trailblazer a realistic chance of competing for the title.

In Race 8 Thirty Something took the lead and won ahead of Bax Contractors with Trailblazer having to fight up through the fleet into third place. To come out on top, the Davids now had to win the last race with two boats in between them and the leading boats. Therefore they shut out those two at the start, and came around the top mark second behind Thumper and in front of Flying Circus.

Success seemed achievable when they caught up to the leader at the last mark rounding, but Bax Contractors fought hard up the last short beat to come in second behind Trailblazer but ahead of Thumper and Flying Circus, which secured their overall win.

The National Title along with the Ray Eade Trophy go to Ben Bax and Dylan Doug, the oldest skipper and the youngest crew in the fleet. Congratulations!

Winner of the John Long Memorial Trophy for second place went to David Brown and David Feek who narrowly beat Wade McGee and Demian Dixon.

Best Female Skipper was Sara Watters with Hamish Norton crewing who finished fourth. .

This year, the DFL trophy went to the fifth place holder Antje Muller and Kez Cameron.

Big thanks go to the Lake Taupo Yacht Club for hosting the event, and the officials and volunteers who made this exciting regatta possible.

The next competition will be the Sanders Cup Interprovincial Trophy held in Whangarei over Easter.

For more information on the Javelin Class please visit the website www.javelinskiff.org.