Issue date
Gisborne Yacht Club hosted the 2016 “Gisborne Financial Services “”Poverty Bay Champs “over the weekend prior to Easter.
The local fleet numbers were swelled with visiting yachts from Napier, Wairoa, a contingent of Taupo sailors, and even an “International” entry contested the 6 race series held over Saturday and Sunday.
The Trailer yacht Division boasted 3 past and present National Champion yachties in the 4 boat Fleet. Peter Twigg sailing “Strait Enz” from Napier, the Current National Champ Ross 780 was challenged by Gisborne Ross 780 “Fleeting Glimpse” in a match race type scenario. Local sailor Colin Shanks, previous multiple crew national champion in the Farr 6000 and Noelex 25 classes and multiple Sanders Cup winner, helmed Fleeting Glimpse into an early lead on Saturday but was out sailed in the 3 races on Sunday.
Both boats however were beaten on NZ Trailer Yacht Rating by Adrian Mayhead’s Aquarius 22 “Checkpoint”, a previous National Champ in that Class. Noah Lee in Tumanako followed in 4th place on Ratings.
The Laser and Laser Radial Classes sailed in a combined fleet with Taupo Laser Radial Blake Woodfield dominant over even the Full rig Lasers. Scottish born, Southampton based Yachting NZ Coach Milly Joseph, here on a “Volvo” Junior School yacht training session added international flavour to the event when she jumped aboard a borrowed Laser Radial.
The intermediate Starling class had 2 Taupo Sailors in the fleet with Scott Woodfield winning 5 of the 6 races. Local Jacob Scammell, fresh from a deserved 5th place in the Mighty River Regatta in Taupo, sailed into 2nd spot.
The Optimist fleet was split into a Green and Rainbow fleet, with visitors in both fleets. Local defending PB Champion Aaron Gaskin took out the series from Napier based junior Ryan Arthur. 9 year old Lucy Millar went into day two in second place in front of Ryan aged 11, but Ryan strung together two 1sts and a second on day 2, cemented him in second spot. Lucy’s twin brother Jake sailed consistently to end the Regatta in 4th spot behind his sister. The Rainbow fleet was contested by two Wairoa juniors Eugene Stasson and Patrick Fishwick. Eugene strung together a heap of top placings to head off Patrick.
Our special thanks to YNZ Regional Support Officer Wayne Holdt who made the long trip from New Plymouth providing invaluable help with the event both on and off the water.
Results
Trailer Yachts
Division 2 and combined; 1st A Mayhead “Checkpoint” ,
Div. 2 2nd Noah Lee “Tumanako.”
Division 1; 1st “Strait Enz” Peter Twigg, 2nd “Fleeting Glimpse” Colin Shanks.
Laser Full rig; 1st Richard Stannard, 2nd Dean Roe (Taupo) 3rd Hamish Cave.
Laser Radial; 1st Blake Woodfield (Taupo) 2nd Milly Joseph (Southampton)
Starling; 1st Scott Woodfield, 2nd Jacob Scammell “Xtreme”, 3rd Grason Gaskin, 4th Zack Warboys (Taupo)
Optimist Green Fleet; 1st Aaron Gaskin, 2nd Ryan Arthur, 3rd Lucy Millar, 4th Jake Millar.
Optimist Rainbow Fleet; 1st Eugene Stasson, 2nd Patrick Fishwick
