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They have been described as like a low-flying aircraft and can reach speeds in excess of 30 knots and this weekend a number of well-known sailors will compete in the RaD Car Hire Moth national championships.
Hamish Pepper will be among a high-quality field lining up for this weekend's Moth national championships at Algies Bay. Photo: Suellen Davies / Live Sail Die.
The likes of Olympic bronze medallist Sam Meech, America’s Cup veteran Ray Davies and Volvo Ocean Race winner Brad Marsh will be among about 15 who will contest the three-day regatta at Algies Bay.
They will have their work cut out for them by seasoned Moth sailors like defending champion Russ Evans, Stuart Goodes and Italian Pierluigi ‘PG’ de Felice, who has done a handful of America’s Cup campaigns and is part of Luna Rossa’s team this time around.
The moth seems to have a natural alignment with the America’s Cup.
“The new America’s Cup boats are a scaled-up version of a Moth, in some respects,” said four-time Olympian and former Team New Zealand tactician Hamish Pepper, who will also be competing this weekend. “They are a lot of fun which is one of the reasons why it attracts the calibre of sailors that it does.
“A lot of the America’s Cup guys are sailing in these in their off-time for practice and to keep their skills up.”
It’s part of the reason why there’s likely to be a push for New Zealand to host the Moth world championships in either 2020 or 2021 as teams gather for the 2021 America’s Cup.
Peter Burling won the 2015 Moth world title, and last year finished second soon after helping Emirates Team New Zealand win the America's Cup. Pepper is part of a small group trying to build the Moth class in this country and they recently became an official class association.
The Moth could also come into consideration as an Olympic class as officials review the lineup for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Winds are expected to be reasonably light across the three days, with 4-16 knots forecast, but the Moths can rip along in little breeze.
“These boats are amazing, so much fun,” Pepper said. “I wish I was 20 years younger and getting into sailing at this level.
“It’s like flying a low-flying aircraft. Sometimes you can hit a bit of turbulence and end up in the water. There’s some danger but you learn how to eject. If you know it’s coming, you learn to throw your body to miss the shrouds, foils or bow sprit. There are bound to be a few flying humans this weekend.”
Racing gets underway at noon each day with five races scheduled daily.
