Issue date
Five crews from Wakatere Boating Club, Kohimarama Yacht Club and French Bay Yacht Club contested the inaugural MRX Youth Pathways Regatta. The regatta has been introduced to suggest a fun and practical pathway from youth to adult sailing for our young sailors, so many of whom drop out of sailing after graduating from the youth classes.
To aid the step up, crews first took part in a practice twilight race to help them adjust to keel boats. For the main event, teams were briefed on kite work ashore and were accompanied by a MRX “helper”. They were also encouraged to include an adult sailor in their crews.
The young sailors who adapted brilliantly from dinghy to close keel boat racing and thelight westerly conditions and unfamiliar waters above the harbour bridge provided a great test. Congratulations go to the Wakatere Boating Club No 2 crew on their win. Very little separated the crews on the water - just 3 points separated the top 3 places.
From all accounts the crews enjoyed the experience - as French Bay’s Fergus Thomson commented, “Our team was buzzing last night, notwithstanding our poor starting, and a few unlucky decisions over the day”.
