NZ Racing Roundup: NZ titles decided in 49er, 49erFX, OK Dinghies, iQFoils, Hansas and FDs
by Yachting NZ/Sail-World NZ 9 Feb 11:26 AEDT
OK NZ Nationals - Wakatere BC - January 6-8, 2026 © Nigel Price
There was a strong international representation at five class national championships sailed over the weekend at Torbay, Milford, Wakatere, Tauranga and Nelson.
NZ 49er and 49erFX at Torbay
The NZ crews put on a strong showing in the NZ 49er and 49erFX class championships hosted by Torbay Sailing Club over the weekend.
Just a week after claiming the 49erFX title at Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, Nicola and Rebecca Hume continued their impressive run, winning seven of the 11 completed races to finish four points clear at the top of the leaderboard. Youth crew Will Mason and Merrick Sanderson,stepped up from the 29er, and claimed the remaining four race wins, finishing second overall, while Erin and Isla Kee backed up their third-place finish at Oceanbridge with another third-place finish at Torbay SC .
In a very competitive 49er fleet, Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush followed up their commanding Oceanbridge win with a solid third overall, tied on points with second-placed Australians Harry Price and Max Paul.
Nevin Snow and Ian MacDiarmid took out the overall 49er title, finishing four points ahead of their nearest rivals and winning two races in the 11-race series. Race victories were well spread across the fleet, with wins also going to Menzies and Lee Rush, Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren (4th overall), Mattias Coutts and Oscar Gunn (6th overall), and Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan (7th overall).
iQFOiL Nationals at Milford
Milford Cruising Club turned it on for the 2026 iQFOiL national championships over the weekend.
With nearly 50 riders, including top international talent, competing across three glorious days of racing, it was a weekend to remember on the water.
Results: www.windfoil.nz/_files/ugd/76c22b_8511552fbbae48d58d2c65f7c49a4ea7.pdf
Hansas at Tauranga
Results: www.sailwave.com/results/2026NZHansaNatChamp.htm
OKs at Wakatere:
Results: www.sailwave.com/results/WakatereBoatingClub/ok372026.htm
Flying Dutchman at Nelson:
Results: www.sailwave.com/results/NelsonYC/FD%20Nationals%202025%20Nelson%20Yacht%20Club.htm