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He’s sailed around the globe, competed in many of the world's most iconic yacht races, and lifted the America’s Cup four times - yet nothing has made veteran Kiwi sailor Matthew Mason prouder than witnessing his young son’s rare sailing feat over the weekend.
Fourteen-year-old Will Mason was on Saturday crowned the national champion in the Starling class, only five days after winning the Optimist national title.
He won four of 10 races in the Starling event at Manly Sailing Club, beating 98 other competitors despite only sailing the boat for the last three months.
Last Monday, Will also triumphed by 10 points in a 102-boat fleet at the Optimist nationals at Wakatere Boating Club.
“It feels amazing, especially coming out of the Optis and straight into the Starlings,” Will said.
“I’m pretty sore but I only get another day off before five more days of sailing in the secondary schools team national championships.”
The Starling is a popular singlehanded dinghy and is widely regarded as a transitional youth class for sailors up to 70kg.
At only 51kg, Will was one of the smaller boys in the fleet and had to battle his much bigger competition – and strong winds - on Friday.
“It was quite tough as I knew I didn’t have the pace of the others. Besides, the last time I sailed a Starling it was very windy – and I ended up capsizing every time I sailed downwind,” he said.
“On Friday I just wanted to eliminate as many mistakes as I could and get around the course in one piece.”
He did – leading by 18 points when racing was abandoned on Saturday due to 30kn+ winds – to hand the Year 10 Takapuna Grammar student the Starling title at his first attempt.
Will Mason claimed the national Optimist title a few days before also winning the Starling event. Photo / Adam Mustill Photography
Dad Matthew is one of the country’s most renowned sailors, having completed 15 Sydney Hobart races and the Whitbread Round the World Race (now called the Ocean Race).
He also competed in seven America’s Cup campaigns, winning four.
“I was never the best dinghy sailor around and to say I’m stoked with what Will has achieved is an understatement. This weekend registers right up there with any of my achievements,” Matthew said.
“Will and I run our own little programme now and we’re both enjoying spending the time together. It’s very special.
“There's nothing better than watching your kids do well and supporting them - whether you're on the sideline at a rugby game or waist-deep in the water, pushing out an Optimist.”
Father and son “do get carried away” with their sailing talk on occasion, Will adds.
“Dad introduced me to the sport when I was about 7 and has been there helping me as much as he can but he mostly tries to stand back and let me do things my way.
“I like just having fun when I’m out sailing with my friends but winning every now and then is also not a bad feeling.”
Will Mason and Dad Matthew at their Takapuna home. Photo / Eduan Roos
Like his dad, Will wants to one day help Team New Zealand lift the Auld Mug.
“Seeing everything Dad has achieved definitely makes me want to be like him. And I do like the America’s Cup – especially with how fast the new generation of boats are going."
For now, Will’s focus is on this week’s schools regatta off Algies Bay north of Auckland, a tilt at qualifying for the youth world championships later this year - and his schoolwork.
“I just can’t keep him off the water. If he is given a choice between sailing and doing anything else, he’ll go sailing,” Matthew Mason said.
“At least that’s not the worst way to get through your teenage years.”
Standings and results from the 2023 Starling national championships hosted by Manly Sailing Club:
Gold fleet (50 boats)
1st: Will Mason (Wakatere Boating Club) 2 1 1 1 2 1 5 8 (9) 8 - 29 points
2nd: Miro Luxford (Charteris Bay Yacht Club) (19) 4 4 10 12 13 1 1 1 1 - 47 pts
3rd: Tom Pilkington (Wakatere Boating Club) 1 3 1 1 1 1 8 20 14 (21 SC30) - 50 pts
Silver fleet (49 boats)
1st: James Blyth (Howick Sailing Club) (51 OCS) 31 12 26 22 1 2 3 2 - 124 pts
2nd: Nico Blundell (Charteris Bay Yacht Club) 33 24 (41) 20 17 29 4 5 7 4 - 143 pts
3rd: Hugo Maitland (Worser Bay Boating Club) 36 (38) 8 33 33 SC10 16 6 3 5 7 - 147 pts
Full results here.
Standings and results from the 2023 Optimist national championships hosted by Wakatere Boating Club:
Gold fleet (51 boats)
1st: Will Mason (Wakatere Boating Club) 2 (15) 4 4 5 5 3 1 3 2 2 7 - 38 pts
2nd: Nelsen Meacham (Wakatere Boating Club) 2 (17) 1 1 16 2 1 6 10 4 4 1 - 48 pts
3rd: Charlie Bridger (Charteris Bay Yacht Club) 1 3 2 9 2 3 2 4 (15) 7 6 9 - 48 pts
Silver fleet (51 boats)
1st: Tom Shannon (Wakatere Boating Club) 15 35 (41) 27 38 24 2 5 8 7 3 (183 pts)
2nd: Ruben Newton (Wakatere Boating Club) 30 (45) 36 32 32 41 4 2 2 10 4 3 - 196 pts
3rd: Nicholas Wong (Wakatere Boating Club) 30 (45) 36 32 32 41 4 2 2 10 4 3 - 196 pts
White fleet (16)
1st: Louison Cardin (Yacht Club of Tahiti) 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 (4) 1 1 1 - 15 pts
2nd: Mehiti Bax de Keating (Yacht Club of Tahiti) 2 2 2 3 (16 UFD) 1 1 1 16 UFD 2 2 2 - 34 pts
3rd: Gus Gillies (Wakatere Boating Club) 8 5 7 5 (16 UFD) 4 5 7 2 9 5 5 - 62 pts
Full results here.
