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A group of Starling sailors for the Otago Harbour headed up to Wanaka last weekend for the Wanaka Yacht & Power Boat Club’s Spring Youth and Junior Regatta held over Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd December.
What has made the travel possible for the Starling sailors is a purpose built trailer that parent, Graeme Bennett had built at Toko Engineering from Milton. The tandem trailer can carry 12 Starlings or other combinations of other yachts.
Yachting New Zealand RSO Graeme Wall explains the wider benefits; “Graeme hopes that having the trailer on the Otago scene now will give the impetus to get a bunch of young sailors competing around the region and further afield. This all bodes well for the Starling Traveller series plus the Nationals later in the season at Picton.”
“Last weekend the trailer made its inaugural out of town trip with nine Starling yachts aboard. The group of sailors all travelled and camped together which is sure to build a team spirit for trips away to future regattas,” he continues.
Mei Lian Dickey from the Wanaka Club said that the Club was very pleased with the sudden influx of Starlings in one hit for their regatta. Mei Lian said; “the fleet of Starlings and Optimists that took part in the racing found the gusty conditions, some up to 30 knots, very challenging.”
The Wanaka Club has plenty of activity on the lake during the summer with their next big event being the Roy’s Bay Summer Regatta held over the three days of 25 – 27 January. This regatta is open to all classes so what better way to finish off the summer holidays than a trip to Lake Wanaka and some good racing.
