PredictWind Wingfoil Nationals - Sean Herbert has a near perfect Day 3
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com 9 Mar 18:09 AEDT
PredictWind Wingfoil National Championships. Wakatere Boating Club. Day 3 - Saturday 9 March © Suellen Hurling
Manly SC wingfoiler Sean Herbert continued his winning ways on Day 3 of racing in the Predictwind Wingfoil Nationals, being sailed at Wakatere Boating Club, winning four races and the national title.
Sailing in offshore winds of 12-17kts, Herbert won four of the five races and stayed on top of the leaderboard - a position he has occupied from the outset of the regatta.
Jeremiah McDonald (Bucklands Beach YC) who had been in second overall for the regatta began the day well enough, but after winning Race 11, he stumbled in the last two races of the 14 race event, scoring 17th and 18th places. Fortunately three discards are allowed in the event, and McDonald was able to erase his double digit indiscretions to retain second place.
Kosta Gladiatis (Manly SC) had top six placings in the five races sailed, scoring three thirds - enough to finish third overall by the narrowest of margins -1pt. Gladiatis was the top Youth sailor in the 29rider Gold fleet.
Going into the final day just 5pts separated 3rd to 6th overall, with three riders sitting on 31pts. Gladiatis had a real tussle with top international rider, Banjo Nicholson (AUS), with the Belmont SC sailor getting the better of the young Kiwi. However Gladiatis managed to spend his six point margin in the right places and kept his nose in front. There was only 1pt separation between the two on Total and Nett points - underlining their close battle. In all his scoring races Gladiatis finished in the top four - a credible effort. Nicholson, also a Youth sailor, did a big push on the final day - scoring three second places from five races.
There were no changes from the overnight leaderboard in the Silver fleet Youth sailor Michael Scholes (Manly SC) topped the Silver fleet, by just 2pts dropping back from a 6pt lead over Olly Maidment at the start of the day. Hugo Appleby held on for third overall.
Five races were sailed in the so-called Social fleet, after managing just two races on Saturday. Oli Aldridge (GBR) won four of the five, with Scott Randell winning the other race, placing scond in three others, and finishing 3rd in Race 5, to finish just 5pts behind Aldridge. Bruce Walls was third, on 35pts.
Website: wakatere.org.nz/2025-nz-wingfoil-national-champs
Results: www.sailwave.com/results/WakatereBoatingClub/2025NZWindfoilNationalChamps.htm
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