Issue date
Monday 25th January saw the completion of the three day Starling National Match Racing Championship in which each province sends a representative in the quest for National honours in New Zealand’s premier youth class.
Two provinces declined the opportunity for entry and in a revamp of the rules since last year two wild card opportunities were taken up by Cook Islander Tex Franheim and Glendowie Boating Club’s Nick Reid giving the event some international flavour and a full draw. The format consists of two round robins followed by a finals series resulted in an impressive total of 156 races over 3 days. Each sailor sailed at least 22 races.
At the end of the round robins 13 year old Francesco Kayrouz representing North Harbour and from Wakatere BC was leading. The youngster who in September won the inaugural AIMS Games regatta in Tauranga sailing an opti is new to Starlings and fresh from a 6th in the P class Tauranga cup and 4th in the Tanner cup is certainly a young talent to watch out for. For the finals he chose 4th placed Zoe Bennett from Wellington as his competitor in the first semi final. Meantime Matt Connolly (2nd) (Auckland) met Tom Maidment (3rd) (Bay of Plenty) in the other semi final.
Both semis turned the seeding upside down. Francesco, who had been so dominant in the round robins loosing only two races, lost his way, with a black flag in the first race for not taking his second penalty immediately and then succumbing to some outstanding match racing by Bennett who has had training in the Royal Port Nicholson YC’s youth program. Meanwhile Tom Maidment and Matt Connelly fought a tense battle going down to the wire in a do or die winner takes all best of three series. Both boys competed in last years event and their maturity and composure in their decision making showed and certainly kept the umpires on their toes.
The best of Five Race final went down to the wire with and incredibly hard fought series of matches sailed with superb skills/tactics on display. Even the final race was won with the boats overlapped on the finish line with less than half a length in it. It was a pity there had to be a winner and loser as either competitor would have been worthy champions but it was Tom Maidment of BOP who took the title on his second attempt.
Francesco regained his composure and won the petite final to finish third.
Once again this has been a great event. The Glendowie Boating Club’s energy in running this event as in such an organised manner is testament to well organised club of active sailors and volunteers willing to their bit as part of a team.
In a new initiative, this years event was preceded by a Coaching/Tactics/Rules clinic run by Northern Region YNZ RSO Hamish Hey and RNZYS Youth Training Program graduate George Brasell. It was very noticeable the effect this had on the tactical awareness of the sailors adding greatly to the spectacle of the event and the sailor’s understanding of control. Hey, a four time umpire at the event remarked on the high standard of sailing when speaking on behalf of the Umpire team at the prize giving.
Another significant step forward for the event was the inclusion of new blood to the umpiring team . Senior umpires - Mike Alison (Chump), Hamish Hey, Tim Short and Don Le Page, were joined by Louis Mayo, Arkady Edmunds and Jack Frewin in a YNZ lead initiative to train new umpires for the future.
The sailors and supporters were treated to an entertaining speech from ETNZ legend Tony Rae at the prize giving. Rae spoke of the highs of the Steinlager 2 Whitbread campaign, AC campaigns and the win by Black Magic in San Diego and the heart break of the Vestas Wind tragedy almost a year ago to the day, and sporting toughness, resilience and respect of race officials needed as a sailor on the Match Racing tour.
Final Results:
1 Tom Maidment (BoP)
2 Zoe Bennett (Wellington)
3 Francesco Kayrouz (N Harbour)
4 Matthew Connolly (Auckland)
5 Matthew Wylie (Canterbury)
6 Emily Overend (Nelson Marlborough)
7 Tex Franheim (Cook Islands and SI wild card) (a great effort as someone said for a sailor who had never even seen a Starling before.)
8 William Pitt (Taranaki)
9 Nicola Sanders (South)
10 Hannah Wilks (East)
11 Nick Reid ( NI wild card)
12 Horima Neville (North)
