Taupo to host 29 teams for National Secondary Schools Team Racing

This year the Lake Taupo Yacht Club will host the Secondary School Team Racing Nationals, one of the larger sailing events of the year and also one of the larger secondary school sporting events in general.

Twenty nine teams will be competing for the honours of best New Zealand secondary school, as well as the right to represent New Zealand at the Inter Dominions ANZAC Teams Sailing Regatta in Brisbane.

The regatta is a five-day event consisting of racing between teams of three yachts, each with two sailors, against another team of three. The aggregate of the three boats determines the winning team, so it is not necessary to be the first boat across the line. Teams then go on through the week competing against other teams until a national champion is found.

“Many think of the one-on-one match racing as chess on water,” says NZ Team Sailing President Derry Godbert, “but this takes tactics to yet another level. It forces sailors with mixed abilities and skills to work together to out-smart and out-sail their opponents. The races are fast and determined on the spot. Add in the tight courses and it makes for an exciting event”.

The yachts are standardised and teams swap boats after races. Each race is around 5-10 minutes. Umpires follow each race and impose penalty turns on the spot.

Last year’s winning school Kerikeri High School has again entered a strong team. However Yachting New Zealand Regional Support Officer Hamish Hey says to watch out for Westlake Boys they looked impressive winning the recent North Island regional champs. There are some of New Zealand’s top young sailors heading to Taupo for the event. That’s hardly surprising when you consider that many of the sailors representing New Zealand at world class regattas have come through this event. It is one of the strengths behind New Zealand sailing.”

The event also brings out the local rivalrys. Marlbrough Girls will be keen to reverse the close second Marlborough Boys at the recent Top of the South champs. Taupo teams Tauhara College and Taupo-nui-a-Tia College will be fighting for local honours, as well as taking full advantage of their home course.

Lake Taupo Yacht Club Commodore Dean Roe is thrilled with the opportunity to host the event that will bring around 230 sailors and their support crew to town for the week. “The Club is well positioned to cater for large sailing regattas, and the town is geared towards accommodating large numbers. However, a word of warning to those who have a tendency to get off balance – the water is cold,” warns Dean. “However for those less inclined to get wet, this is a spectacular event. The yachts have colourful matched sails, and several races will occur together in a tight course just off the main street of town. We look forward to the Tuwharetoa welcome on Monday morning and the action-packed week to follow.”

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