Knight Frank Young 88 South Island Championship - Preview
by Mike Leyland 9 Mar 2018 17:54 PST
10-11 March 2018
Former Emirates Team New Zealand member and America's Cup World Series veteran Harry Thurston will be skippering One Way in this year's Knight Frank South Island Young 88 Championships in Lyttelton this weekend. The boat, owned by Tim Anderson, is based in Thurston's home port of Akaroa. The crew will also feature other big names of New Zealand yachting including ETNZ rigger and Sydney Hobart Race winner Nick Burridge.
Lyttelton's Te Ana Marina is still under construction but will for the first time be the base for competing local boats and those visiting from the other side of Banks Peninsula. Defending Champion Craig Edwards and his crew on Flying Machine are expecting some tough competition this year. Clearly with the calibre of international talent this is going to be an exciting event.
Last weekend 6 Young 88s competed in Lyttelton for the Presidents Cup, Canterbury Keelboat Championship. Flying Machine won the event ahead of Full Circle (Phil Folter) second and Shibbeen (Dave Munro) third. Gil Smith on Meltdown won the Bully Hayes Trophy for best Akaroa entry. Although convincing with 6 wins Edwards expects the field to be a lot more competitive this weekend as teams gear up for the South Island's most competitive keelboat Class racing event.