Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

2011 Toyota Optimist NZ Nationals - Race Day 4 Report

by Christine Hansen on 24 Apr 2011
Leonard Takahashi-Fry at the end of day 4. - 2011 Toyota Optimist NZ Nationals, Wakatere Boating Club Christine Hansen

The fourth day of racing has come to a close at the Toyota Optimist Nationals at Wakatere BC and Leonard Takahashi-Fry of Murrays Bay BC has a reasonable buffer between himself and the next contender.

Isaac McHardie of Hamilton is placed second and has a seven points on Bay of Islands sailor Nathaniel Deverall. Between third and fifth there’s a whole lot of shaking going on with positions changing after each race, the remaining three positions in the NZ World Championship team are still up for grabs with one day of racing to come.

With eleven races in hand a second dropped race (taking out the sailor’s worst 2 scores) has come into play. For those with ‘catastrophies’ earlier in the piece, this provides a chance for some to redeem themselves, including a big come-back from top ranked Markus Somerville, Wakatere BC, – moving from 11th to fourth on the leaderboard. 'I’m back' was his comment to the coach after winning three of his four races today.

Also very much in the running are William McKenzie of Kohimarama, Tim Adair of Wakatere BC, George Gautry of Muritai and Trent Rippey of Tauranga.

This was the second of two days with four races in the Open fleet which is quite demanding for the competitors, but necessary after loosing the first day of racing due to a lack of wind. Conditions were reasonably steady, the wind continued to blow from the north-east, during race three it dropped to 5 – 8 knots but in the remaining races was around 10 – 15 knots. The tide changed at midday and remains bit of a mystery for many of the young sailors.

The Green fleet had another two races today, race officer Kim Admore runs a fairly relaxed ship for the inexperienced sailors and his briefings each morning are educational and create a fun atmosphere. Today the top three in 105 boat fleet are Henry Gibbs of Queen Charlotte YC, Vaitea Delvallet of Tahiti and James Grover-Grey of Wakatere BC.

Two races are scheduled for the last day of racing which will begin after midday as a mark of respect for Anzac Day, conditions may be difficult as a ridge of low pressure system moves across the north of the country bringing with it 5 – 25 knot northerly easterly wind and heavy rain.

For full results go to the event website at: www.optimistnationals.org.nz








Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOM

Related Articles

British Dragon South West Championship
A spectacular warm-up for the 2025 Edinburgh Cup Torquay delivered a spectacular warm-up for the 2025 Edinburgh Cup, as 13 Dragon teams took to the waters of Tor Bay for the South West Championship, a two-day regatta packed with shifting breezes, tactical gambles, and top-class racing.
Posted today at 8:59 am
Foiling Sport Congress gathers global players
To shape the Future of Foiling Last week, Malcesine hosted the first-ever Foiling Sport Congress — a by-invitation event organised to foster an in-depth discussion on the current state and future developments of foiling across all disciplines.
Posted today at 5:59 am
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 3
The best female wave sailors in the world showcase their skills on the global stage After the men had taken centre stage for the opening two days of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, today was the day for the best female wave sailors in the world to showcase their skills on the global stage.
Posted today at 4:11 am
Transpac Onboard Episode 4
Anything Can Happen at Sea All Transpac 2025 competitors are now at sea and actively racing to Hawaii. We take a look at the Pasha Live Race Tracker and talk about the significant wind hole confronting a contingent of competitors.
Posted today at 3:06 am
Stops & re-starts in first two legs of AEGEAN 600
A tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades After a beautiful breezy start yesterday, but a tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades, at the end of today's daylight the AEGEAN 600 fleet is back on the move.
Posted on 7 Jul
Marblehead to Halifax Race Update
The front-runners are pushing hard toward the finish After nearly 24 hours at sea, the front-runners of the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race are pushing hard toward the finish. Temptation/Oakcliff leads the fleet in both elapsed and corrected time, with Boudicca – Gill Race Team close behind.
Posted on 7 Jul
British Classic Week Day 1
Northerly winds gusting 22 knots make for a brisk start Day one at British Classic Week in Cowes saw fast-paced racing around the cans sponsored by Spirit Yachts for over 50 classic and modern classic yachts.
Posted on 7 Jul
International Moth Worlds Opening Ceremony
137 sailors from 25 nations have gathered, featuring some of the biggest names in sailing After weeks of preparation and an intense lead-up, the 2025 Moth World Championship is ready to get under way. Official racing begins tomorrow, 8 July, on the waters of Lake Garda, with the event hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine.
Posted on 7 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 2
No racing, but spirits stay high in Aarhus Day 2 of the iQFOiL World Championship in Aarhus tested the patience of sailors, coaches, and the Race Committee alike, as the wind refused to settle across the bay.
Posted on 7 Jul
Foiling Frenzy at Fraglia Vela Malcesine
The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! Regardless of where sailors are in their careers, or the reputation they have, everyone wants to be there and have a tilt at the title.
Posted on 7 Jul