More national champs crowned as season winds down

Click here for Back Issues of YBQ Magazine

Issue date

5 May 2025

As the domestic sailing season wraps up, over a dozen new national champions have been crowned across various classes.

From the Optimists to the Etchells, the past month has seen top performances across the board, with sailors of all levels showcasing their skills and determination.

Jordan Stevenson and his winning crew of Andrew Clarke, Byron van Vugt, Anna Merchant, Josh Salthouse, Harry Hull, and Matthew Hughes. Photo / Supplied

Stevenson crowned keelboat champion

Jordan Stevenson and crew won the 2025 keelboat national championships, held over the weekend at Royal Akarana Yacht Club in MRX one-design yachts. Samuel Scott took second overall and was the top youth skipper.

Both leading teams comprised sailors from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's performance and youth training programmes, with Stevenson’s crew featuring Andrew Clarke, Byron van Vugt, Anna Merchant, Josh Salthouse, Harry Hull, and Matthew Hughes. Scott’s team included Cam McGlashan, Robbie Wooldridge, Finn Balchin, Tim McCulloch, Rye Brady, Marin Armstrong-Wills, and Lucas Smith.

Leslie Egnot and her team finished third and were the top female entry. Alex Mitchell-Barker’s crew placed fourth in a highly competitive fleet.

Full results here.

Shapeshifter in action in Napier. Photo / Supplied

Shapeshifter top in Napier

Shapeshifter claimed a commanding win at the 2025 Burnsco Elliott 5.9 national championship in Napier, holding off strong competition from Revelry. The crew of Brett Elliott, Nick Bastow and Matthew Stuart bagged three wins on a physically demanding first day, which set the tone, and a final-race victory sealed the title, despite a few late-regatta stumbles.

Revelry pushed hard with six top-three finishes but was unable to convert consistency into race wins. Their title hopes slipped away in race eight after a disqualification while leading. Reggae Shark delivered another strong campaign to secure third overall, while the youth team Class Act earned the Most Improved ranking trophy.

Racing was intense across the 10 completed races, with five different race winners and photo finishes that tested the race committee. Four South Island boats made the journey north, with Boat 1 taking a race win and eighth overall. Off the water, the regatta was just as lively, with successful social events hosted by Napier Sailing Club. The fleet now turns to the 2025 Burnsco Traveller Series, kicking off at Lake Rotoiti on May 17-18.

Full results here.

Tony Vaka (front row, second from right) is the 2025 Liberty national champion. Photo / Supplied

Vaka's strong run continues

Tony Vaka took out the 2025 NZ Hansa Liberty national championships at Royal Akarana Yacht Club, edging Graham Hook by just two points in a closely fought regatta. Brian Trubovich rounded out the podium in third.

Vaka triumphed with 11 top-three results across the 12 completed races in wet and windy conditions, with the win capping off a strong run for the Aucklander, who recently placed fifth at the Hansa Liberty world championships in Australia.

Full results here.

Teams racing honours for AGS, Westlake Girls

Twenty wins from 21 races in the gold fleet secured Auckland Grammar School the overall title at the 2025 New Zealand secondary schools teams racing nationals, held at New Plymouth Yacht Club. Westlake Boys High School finished second, with Saint Kentigern taking third.

Top girls' honours in the gold fleet went to Westlake Girls High School, finishing an impressive sixth overall. In the silver fleet, Mount Aspiring College came out on top, with St Kents Girls the highest-placed female team. Wellington College won the bronze fleet, while Napier Girls’ High School placed third overall.

Francis Douglas Memorial College took victory in the emerald fleet, with Nelson College for Girls finishing third and as the top female team in their division.

Full results here.

Micah Wilkinson, Anatole Masfen and Simon Cooke. Photo / Supplied

Cruel Jane wins Etchells thriller

Cruel Jane, skippered by Anatole Masfen with Simon Cooke and Olympic bronze medallist Micah Wilkinson aboard, claimed victory at the 2025 Etchells national championships at Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club. The title was decided in a dramatic final race, with Cruel Jane edging out Feng Shui (Hayden Whitburn, Rohan Cooke, Tim McCulloch) by a single point.

Rounding out the podium was the team of Craig Greenwood, Jeremy Scantlebury and Jack Frewin.

Organisers thanked the club for hosting the class this season, with some awesome racing on Tuesday nights.

Full results here.

Blake McKinnon on his way to winning the Starling nationals title. Photo / Jacob Fewtrell Media

Cyclone no match for McKinnon, Luxford

Blake McKinnon has joined the ranks of New Zealand’s top youth sailors after winning the 2025 Starling national championships at Howick Sailing Club.

Battling the remnants of ex-Cyclone Tam and a 100-strong fleet, the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club sailor secured the title by a commanding 24 points.

Oli Stone finished second, with Callum Hyde in third.

Lucy Luxford was the tope female sailor at the event. Photo / Jacob Fewtrell Media

Lucy Luxford was the standout female sailor, finishing 11th overall and claiming the prestigious Starling Super Series trophy. She was closely followed by Charlotte Handley (12th) and Kate Howse (19th).

In the silver fleet, Annabelle Cartwright, Sasha White, and Lewis Smith claimed the podium spots. The development fleet was led by Will Noyer, with Jessica Lee and Lucy Eaton rounding out the top three.

Full results here.

Matteo Barker defended his overall title at the Optimist national championships. Photo / Live Sail Die

Barker, Wells go back-to-back

Matteo Barker and Zofia Wells have successfully defended their national titles at the 2025 Optimist national championships, hosted by Royal Akarana Yacht Club. Barker claimed the overall crown for the second year running, finishing ahead of Hamish Brown and Will Fyfe.

Wells repeated as top female sailor, placing fifth overall. Charlotte Handley and Greta Hutton rounded out the top three female finishers in ninth and 13th, respectively.