Big fleet of 70 boats for 65th Zephyr Nationals at Manly, April 9-12
by Peter Busfield 9 Apr 2021 15:12 AEST
9 April 2021
The Zephyr class is developing into a very popular singlehanded class - 70 entries for the 2021 Nationals at Manly Sailing Club © Zephyr Class
The 2021 Zephyr dinghy sailing class yacht's coveted national championship is being held at the Manly Sailing Club, Whangaparaoa, Auckland 9th to 12th April.
New Zealand’s longest running adult dinghy sailing national event is hotting up this year with the addition of a new full fibreglass version of the Des Townson designed 3.35m (11ft) Zephyr sailing boat.
Designed to have the same weight and sailing characteristics of the well proven three skinned wooden original Zephyrs of the 1950’s, the fibreglass version is being built by world renowned boat builders of successful Olympic racing yachts - MacKay Boat Builders of Silverdale, Auckland.
In 2016, Manly hosted the 60th Zephyr nations with 84 contestant and as we approach this number again the President of the Zephyr Association of NZ and Manly resident Matt Mitchell says ‘Our mighty Zephyr, the biggest dingy class in the county is going from strength to strength and we look forward to welcoming all sailors to the tight racing and comradery and banter on the beach and trailer park at the end of each days racing’.
The Commodore of the Manly Sailing Club, Barry Thom, says "The on water racing will be very interesting with several NZ and world champions,Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race, Olympians and former America’s Cup sailors expected to be on the start line, battling it out with very capable long time top Zephyr sailors".
The racing starts on Friday 9th April with nine races over four days. The social events, appropriately supported by Zephyr wines from Marlborough, are being held at the Manly Sailing Club and nearby Manly Bowling Club to cater for the over 100 sailors and supporters of this popular event. The organising committee is led by past America’s Cup Principle Race Officer and Gulf Harbour resident Harold Bennett.
Supported by : Salthouse Next Generation Boats, Zephyr Wines, XPL Composites, Conway Sails and Covers, C-Tech and NZSailing.com