2026 Young 88 national championships: William Mason makes history with triumph at Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Will Mason made history at the Young 88 national championships last weekend, becoming the youngest ever helm to win the title after a close regatta.
Mason, aboard the aptly named Young Magic, took two wins from seven completed races at the event, hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and sponsored by Harken.
He was joined on board by a group of his yachting enthusiast mates — Tim Howse, Noah Malpot, Sam Street, Pierre Harrison, and Lucas Day — with four-time America’s Cup winning dad, Matt Mason, providing vital guidance to help lift the team to the top of the leaderboard.
Defending champions Dangerzone, helmed by Harry Thurston, finished second — just three points behind Mason — while Vagabond, helmed by Greg Wilshire, placed third.
Vagabond was also the top-placed Corinthian team, meaning no one on board was considered a professional sailor. The top female helm was Karyn Drummond, who steered her Young 88 Flash Gordon to fourth overall. Drummond was the first female driver to win the Young 88 nationals in 2024, with Flash Gordon also taking out the top mixed crew prize.
Will and Matt Mason, Tim Howse, Noah Malpot, Sam Street, Pierre Harrison, and Lucas Day aboard Young Magic. Photos / Live Sail Die
At just 16 years old, Mason secured his first Young 88 nationals title, joining elite company including Dean Barker, Ray Davies, Roger Pagani, Andrew Wills, and Jeremy Lomas — the most successful skipper in the fleet’s history with five titles.
Leading into the regatta, Mason had already shown strong form, finishing second at the PredictWind Waszp national championships at Kohimarama Yacht Club. He also boasts an impressive sailing résumé, including back-to-back national titles in the Optimist, Starling, and 29er classes, as well as winning the prestigious Sir Peter Blake Trophy at the Sir Peter Blake Regatta.
Conditions across the weekend were flukey and frustrating. Racing on the opening day took place to the north-east of Rangitoto Island, a course area made famous during the 2003 and 2021 America’s Cup events. Emirates Team New Zealand added to the spectacle, completing several flybys while the Young 88 fleet was racing.
On Sunday, racing was delayed until the breeze filled in, with racing shifting to the eastern side of Rangitoto Island and the PredictWind Girls Regatta providing a lively backdrop.
Harry Thurston's Dangerzone finished second overall. Photos / Live Sail Die
The Mason Pepper Memorial Trophy, awarded in memory of the late Mason Pepper, a stalwart of the class, went to Paddy Wagon, owned and skippered by Young 88 class president Gary Fowler.
"Another fantastic series of close racing, and our appreciation goes to the RNZYS for a very well-run event in very trying conditions. Thanks to Craig Edwards and his crew, who travelled from Christchurch to compete against the Auckland fleet,” said Fowler.
The handicap prize, awarded to the team that showed the most improvement across the series, was claimed by Fatal Attraction (Richard Bush).
The Young 88 fleet now looks ahead to its final Tuesday Night Sprint Series race of the summer before transitioning into winter competition. The class continues to thrive year-round, with a packed calendar that includes events such as the 1, 2, 3 Series hosted by Bucklands Beach Yacht Club and the Shorthanded Sailing Association of New Zealand’s Triple Series.
Full results here. - with Live Sail Die
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