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He’s been sailing for almost 60 years, yet when Peter Nees teamed up with teenager Zach Stibbe at the 2023 Sunburst National Championships in Dunedin over the weekend, he experienced a number of sailing firsts.
With his sailing partner of more than 25 years unavailable, Nees (74) reached out to 17-year-old Stibbe – one of New Zealand’s most promising ILCA sailors and the son of Olympic gold medallist Jenny Armstrong and renowned coach Eric Stibbe.
“I have known Jenny and Eric for many years and young Zach from the fleet of Lasers around Dunedin,” Nees said.
“In December I asked Erik if Zach would be willing to get in the Sunburst with me for the nationals. He just laughed but soon after I received a message saying Zach would do it.”
However, finding a partner proved to be the easy part...
“With Zach taking the helm, I had to relearn how to crew. We also only had one day to sail together before the start of the event as Zach was travelling down from the ILCA National Championships at Murrays Bay in Auckland,” Nees said.
“It was blowing close to 25kn on the day of our training run, so that was pretty full on. But it ended up going as well as could be expected.”
The pair won the last of seven races to finish second overall, three points off Christchurch father-and-daughter team Matt and Holly Neale.
Peter Nees and Zach Stibbe finished second at the 2023 Sunburst National Championships in Dunedin.
“My only condition for sailing with Zach was that he should have fun and I think we both enjoyed the experience,” Nees said.
“That was the biggest lesson he taught me – that it’s possible to take the sport seriously, to be results-driven and also have fun.”
Stibbe’s boat management and communication was equally impressive.
“I have some trouble with my hearing but the way Zach would count down tacks, gybes and mark roundings was excellent, as was his preparation. It’s good to see a young sailor with such a skillset – none of the airy-fairy, seat-of-your pants sailing I do.”
Nees, who still sails his Laser most weekends to keep fit – “at 67kg I’m pretty good in the light air” – would jump at the chance to sail with the youngster again.
“I wouldn’t hesitate but with his focus on the Laser and representing New Zealand that’s unlikely to happen. It was a great experience, though. I’ve never won the (Sunburst) nationals. Pete (Wood, Nees' regular partner) and I finished fifth at Port Chalmers a few years ago and to win the last race and finish second overall this time…I was over the moon.”
Results and standings from the 2023 Sunburst National Championships hosted by Vauxhall Yacht Club:
1st: Matt Neale/Holly Neale (Naval Point Club Lyttelton) (3) 1 1 2 2 1 3 – 10 pts
2nd: Zach Stibbe/Peter Nees (Vauxhall Yacht Club) (4) 2 2 3 3 2 1 – 13 pts
3rd: Bruce Yarnton/Lydia Grasberger (Wakatere Boating Club) 2 3 4 9 4 (13) 2 – 24 pts
Full results here.
