Issue date
Current World Champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er) and Molly Meech and Alex Maloney (49erFX) each completed a good series to retain their titles in the 49er and 49erFX respectively at the New Zealand Championships Regatta sailed in Auckland from the Royal Akarana Yacht Club over the weekend of 11-12 January 2014.
NZ 49erFX Nationals 2013: Total Scores
|
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
TOT |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Alex Maloney & Molly Meech |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
[2] |
1 |
15 |
|
2 |
Erica Dawson & Ellie Copeland |
[3] |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
34 |
|
3 |
Hatae Chika & Noriko Okuma |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
[DNF] |
DNF |
40 |
NZ 49er Nationals 2013: Final results
|
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
TOT |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Peter Burling & Blair Tuke |
[4] |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
20 |
|
2 |
Marcus Hansen & Josh Porebski |
1 |
[3] |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
28 |
|
3 |
Logan Dunning-Beck & Jack Simpson |
3 |
[4] |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
48 |
|
4 |
Ben Goodwin & Sam Bullock |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
[DNF] |
DNS |
3 |
3 |
DNF |
4 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
55 |
|
5 |
David Higgins & Chris Burgess |
[DNS] |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNF |
4 |
5 |
5 |
DNF |
OCS |
DNS |
5 |
96 |
|
6 |
Chris Scott & Tim Smith |
[DNF] |
DNF |
DNF |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNF |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
DNS |
105 |
Richard Burling reports on the weekend;
Another seven races (two windward leeward laps) and a harbour race completed the program on day two of the New Zealand 49er and 49erFX National Championships.
The forecast was suggesting more West in the wind than on Saturday, building from 8 to 11 knots.
Flattish water in Mechanics Bay, just to the west of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, was again perfect for the fast and furious 12-15 minute races.
The odd skip of misty rain bent the wind a little initially in the afternoon with the other bonus being puffs up over 20 knots to complete the whole range of conditions over the weekend.
Spectator viewing was fantastic from Tamaki Drive alongside the course while the cruising boats coming home from the weekend had a great view of the harbour race.
Racing was again very tight at the top with regular lead changes.
Younger guys Logan Dunning-Beck and Jack Simpson battled with Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock all weekend regularly pressuring the more established crews. It is a pity Ben and Sam had some equipment issues on both days.
Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland in the FX kept Alex and Molly honest in the lighter wind stuff and had some extremely close racing with the Japanese girls when the breeze was up.
Race 14 was particular rewarding for Pete and Blair – catch it on video here. Having returned to the start line where they believed they had started prematurely, the battle was on not to get chicked - (“chicked” within the group meaning being beaten by the girls sailing with the slightly smaller FX rig).
Alex and Molly led at the first three marks, yes they were also in front of current guys 49er World Silver medallists Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski, with Pete and Blair around four boat lengths behind on the final downwind leg to the finish. With the wind around 15 knots the guys slowly wound the girls in to just get mark room on the finishing boat but not quite laying the finish boat – simultaneous jibes through the finish line had the guys winning by around 50cm.
The regatta finished with a harbour race blast down to “Northern Leading Light” and a work back home to the finish boat.
Huge thanks to Ian Clouston (Race Officer) giving up his weekend to run excellent races, also Yachting New Zealand for their support.
The next two regattas for the Olympic skiff classes are the North Island Championship at Murrays Bay followed by Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, 1-4 Feb.
