P Class Tauranga Cup: Three winners on Day 1, first female race winner for a decade
by Gary Smith 7 Jan 2024 04:54 PST
4-9 January 2024
Mila Blundell from Charteris Bay stunned the fleet with a great start in the first race of the Tauranga Cup to be the first girl since Kate Stewart in 2014 to win a race at the Tauranga Cup.
A simple tack on port just after starting at the Starboard end while the rest of the fleet did several tacks, gave her a minute lead at the first mark. Mila held her nerve in the 8 -10 knot NW to finish 51secs ahead of Hamish Brown (P308)
Hamish then won the start for Race 2 and also lead from start to finish. Chased this time by Callum Hyde (P404). The breeze was building into a 10 -12 kn NW as the tide started to run in. Most of the sailors were figuring out the current of the Tauranga Harbour by this stage.
The third race of the day was led by another of the girls Tehya Harris (P44). Again a clean start and on to port tack. The rest of the fleet were putting in a lot of tacks, but the keep it simple proved to be the better style. The boys were chasing hard in the increasing breeze, and eventually Oli Stone (P75) slipped over for a close win.
Stone is the overnight points leader from Hamish Brown and Callum Hyde. The top two sailors have been rewarded for their consistency with just two points separating them, and already they have opened a a handy 8pt gap over the third placed competitor
There were a lot of personal battles going on down the fleet that have resulted in a Protest to be heard tomorrow.
The Sportsmanship award for the day went to Lucy Eaton (P918) who even though she was having a tough race at the back of the fleet, still did a penalty turn when she hit a mark.
The racing was finished with the “Centenary Dinner” hosted by Nik Burfoot, and featured a number of stories from past P Class sailors including only three time winner Jimmy Gilpin, Derek Scott and Leonard Takahashi (Recently announced Youth AC40 Team member). A great night for those that attended.
Overall Points after Day 1:
www.sailwave.com/results/TYPBC_Tauranga_Cup_2024.htm