Issue date
Ten yachts sailed over two days at the Takapuna Boating Club Anzac Regatta. Other classes were boards, 420 and F18. Only boards had a bigger fleet.
Derek Snow #88 (Wakatere) with three wins, won the regatta over seven races ahead of Mike Jones #188 (Manly) and Phil Ash #111 (Manly).
The winds were SW on Saturday very shifty and changeable with increasing speed during the day.
The wind was NE and lighter on Sunday. There wasn’t time to run the 8th race in the afternoon.
Two new sailors raced with the Auckland fleet for the first time, Tony Fausett #314 (Wakatere) and Allan Swinney #395 (Kapiti Boating Club) up from Wellington for the weekend. Many thanks to Dave West and everyone at Takapuna Boating Club.
The event was the last of ten regattas in the Grand Prix Series that started with the Rotorua Sprints last October.
The winner of the 2014 GP series is Mark O’Brien #176 (Hamilton) whose best 25 races gave him a small lead over Derek Snow closely followed by John Elliott #308 (Hamilton), Phil Ash and Mike Jones. In 6th place was Kate Ellingham #388 (Wakatere), who has been very unlucky to have been ruled out with injury.
A total 26 sailors have been active in the GP series and this has provided some good racing.
Hamish Hall-Smith #371 (French Bay) has created a promotional poster for the class and the class is trying to promote itself more widely as an exciting next step from the junior classes. Being at the end of the season people are traditionally buying and selling boats and anyone new to the class is welcome to email secretary or president for help and advice.
There is also a feasible plan for leasing yachts, (with thanks to Brian Peet for providing his guidance) if there is sufficient demand. Email; secretary@3-7Class.org.nz
Updates on the building of new boats in the UK and Korea will come shortly, but it is great to report that there is building activity overseas with a professional builder underway in the UK.
Now that the summer season is over and the GP series is wrapped up, the winter series at Manly-SC and at Tauranga-YPBC are soon to start.
