Governor's Cup: Takahashi takes lead on Day 2
by Andrew Delves, RNZYS 18 Jul 2019 15:39 PDT
19 July 2019
Leonard Takahashi - Governor's Cup Day 2, July 17, 2019 © Andrew Delves
Leonard Takahashi, sporting a Kane Williamson steady the ship hat, has steadied his Pacific Racing Team on Day 2 of the 53rd Annual Governor’s Cup to take an overall lead.
Takahashi started the day with a loss against Frankie Dair, but came good in his remaining races to win them all – which included an exciting come from behind victory over Nick Egnot-Johnson’s Knots Racing.
Takahashi’s RNZYS Performance Programme Pacific Racing team now top the leader-board with ten wins - two flights into the second round robin.
“The boys did great today and we’re starting to get back in the groove of match racing. It’s nice to be at the top but the racing is tight so we’re going to have to keep it up tomorrow”
Frankie Dair and his RNZYS Youth Training Programme team had an outstanding day and now find themselves in outright second with nine wins. Dair started hot with a solid win against Takahashi and continued to sail fast throughout the afternoon. Dair looks cool, calm and collected out there and now has a very good chance of making the semi-finals - should he continue his form.
Nick Egnot-Johnson’s RNZYS PP Knots Racing team had another up and down day, but showed their class in some crucial times to notch up important victories and leave them with eight wins overall and in a tie for third.
The most important came right after a tight loss to Takahahsi, where Egnot-Johnson then had to go straight into a re-sail against Finn Tapper. The race was another belter, but this time it was Egnot-Johnson who crossed the line for the win – a real confidence booster for the Knots boys heading into the remainder of the second round robin tomorrow.
“The race against Leonard {Takahashi} was really close and he just managed to get past us on the final downwind, but it was awesome to bounce back against Finn {Tapper} in the next race. We’re feeling pretty good, a few things to work on but we’re pumped to get back out there on Thursday.”
Jordan Stevenson’s RNZYS PP team are also right in the mix and sailed very well today. Stevenson is now on eight wins tied with Egnot-Johnson, Finn Tapper and Ryan Parkin, and is in a real race to make the semi-finals –
“We did great today, the breeze was up which helped us and made it more interesting. We’re starting to get more used to the boats and really can’t wait to get back out there tomorrow.”
Round robin two racing will continue on the water off Newport Beach tomorrow, with all four Squadron teams in the hunt for a coveted semi-final spot.
Follow the RNZYS Facebook Page and Instagram for updates and stories throughout the day.
Results here: www.matchracingresults.com/2019/governors-cup