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Yachting New Zealand's own Wayne Holdt showed Panache to win the Hartley 16 North Island title at the Ngaroto Sailing Club last weekend.
Holdt and Duncan Dunning, sailing Panache, narrowly beat fellow New Plymouth Sailing Club members Jason Holdt (Wayne's son) and Todd Birrell (Shaking Laundry). Craig Canute and Caleb Birrell (Hartley Moving) were third.
The Hartley 16 class association's decision to return to Ngaroto for their North Island championships was a good one, with 12 boats attending the regatta.
The fleet was pleasantly surprised to complete four races in good conditions on the first day (heavy rain had been forecast) and backed it up with two races in light conditions on the second day.
The handicap rating was won by newcomers to the class Justin and Jon Hurst from Waiuku. Justin has been a Yachting New Zealand Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! instructor over the past few years.
Olympian Micah Wilkinson, who did his early sailing at the Ngaroto Sailing Club, also featured, competing in the regatta with his father Peter.
A special thanks to the club for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Mount Gay Rum, North Sails and Fyfe Sails.
The next traveller series event on the Hartley 16 calendar is at Waiuku on November 26-27, 2022.
