Issue date
The legend of big swells in past Starling Nationals hosted by the New Plymouth Yacht Club continued as the National Championships Regatta held recently battled with a couple of weather systems passing through.
Racing was abandoned on day one through no wind, a big swell and a lot of seasick people.
Day two arrived with too much wind and a very rough sea and was also abandoned. Day three and a stiff south easterly greeted the 124 sailors, and still with a good sized swell racing was on.
One race got away for both flights before the wind crumped out and was replaced with a nice westerly for the next three races with Josh Armit, Jeremy Mitchell, Jackson Keon, and Hamish Clark setting the early pace in the qualifying races.
Meanwhile the eleven sailors in the development fleet were getting through their races inside the New Plymouth harbour, with Oliver Reeves(Torbay) claiming 1st overall, 2nd place to Dominic Coleman and third place to Anthony Van Hameren both from the New Plymouth Yacht Club.
With only one day left for the gold and silver split fleet, racing was started early hoping for four races. Still in a big sea and plenty of wind the gold fleet completed three races and the silver fleet were half way through their third when a very fresh front hit the fleet, all racing was then abandoned and the boats sent to shore.
There were a few changes in the results with the bigger sailors coming to the fore in the fresher wind but Josh Armit from Murrays Bay sailed exceptionally well to secure 1st place, Jeremy Mitchell also from Murrays Bay was 2nd and Jackson Keon from Murrays Bay/Sandspit was 3rd.
There were 47 female sailors in the regatta with Lola Stoodley (Napier SC) taking first girl.
The race committee did well under some very trying conditions, and along with members of the NPYC enjoyed hosting the regatta with 16 local boats competing.
Thanks to Wakatere BC, Napier SC and Wanganui SC for the lending of boats and to all club support craft for their support during the regatta. Big thanks to the regatta sponsors, North Sails, Donaghys, NZ Rigging, Mackay Boats, Harken, Kiwi Yachting, Sailone, The Water Shed, Ringcraft Moana, TSB Bank, AICA NZ Ltd, IED Lifting Centre.
Full Results Click Here
Regatta Facebook page: Click Here
Development Fleet Results Click Here
