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Gavin Brady has made a habit of winning over the years and did that in style at the weekend, winning all five races to take out the North Sails Young 88 owners championship title.
Slipstream 3, crewed by Brady, Carrington Brady, David Brooke, Max South, Sam Bell, Alastair Gifford and Ryan Houston, dominated the racing in almost-perfect 10-18 knot westerly on the waters between Browns Island, North Head, Rangitoto and Kohimarama.
Second on line was Nick Gillies helming Waka Huia, with Chris Macindoe on War Machine third.
Fourth on line and winner on corrected time was Medium Dry helmed by Phil Rzepecky with Rod Davis calling tactics from the back.
There was some very close racing among the fleet, and Waka Huia and War Machine were separated on countback, but no one could catch Slipstream 3.
“David Brooke and Phil Salthouse completed Slipstream from hull and decks 32 years ago and won the nationals," Brady explained. "That was what the class was all about; build a boat and go race.
"Brooke has been part of the Slipstream team over the past five months and helping sort out the boat. It was a very rewarding day to win the owners nationals.”
Greg Wilshire and crew on Vagabond scored an excellent fourth on handicap. Wilshire is a new owner, and it was his first time racing the boat with some very second-hand sails and Vagabond succeeded in scaring the pants off many, especially in the first race.
The competition was as fierce as usual, but contact and damage avoided and it was great to see boats acknowledging fault and doing their penalty turns.
The team from Buckland’s Beach Yacht Club, led by Chris Marsh on the water and Gavin Haslip off the water, did an excellent job and they were backed up by sponsors North Sails, Mount Gay Rum, Burnsco, Haslips Tyres and New Balance.
The Young 88s will be out in force at the Bay of Islands Sailing Week regatta on January 21-24, with 10 boats already entered and expectations of others joining the action.
See here for more information on the Young 88s or see their Facebook page.
Results from the North Sails Young 88 Owners Championships at the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club:
Line (12 boats)
1st: Slipstream (1) 1 1 1 1 - 4 points
2nd: Waka Huia 2 5 3 2 (6) - 12 pts
3rd: War Machine 3 2 2 (6) 5 - 12 pts
Handicap
1st: Medium Dry (4) 2 3 3 1 - 9 pts
2nd: War Machine 3 3 1 (9.5) 5 - 12 pts
3rd: Slipstream (10) 7 2 2 3 - 14 pts
Photo: Rachel von Zalinski / Live Sail Die.
