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Auckland ILCA/Laser Champs 2021
Sat 6 Mar 2021 7:54pm
Following on from a windy Nationals at Worser Bay the Auckland Masters and Auckland Champs provided testing conditions at Tamaki over the weekend 27/28 March, with gusty E to NE winds up to 25 knots and a difficult seaway.
Using a combined regatta format Masters and Open fleets both competed together on Saturday, with those keen enough continuing on Sunday to complete the Open Auckland champs, combining the results over the two days. A great turnout of almost 50 sailors, pretty much equally split between Radial and Standard, were on the water for the first race on Saturday, with a forecast of 15 to 20 knots promising great sailing. The forecast proved a little conservative and the fairly boisterous conditions took their toll, particularly among the masters fleets, many of whom called it a day after 2 or 3 races on Saturday, even though 4 races were completed.
At the conclusion of the one day Auckland Masters Championship on Saturday the Radials were won by Master Phil Wild, who had a strong and consistent day, mixing it with the top of the Youth and Womens fleet. The leading Radial GM's were both from Hamilton, with Werner Hennig just getting the better of Scott McDougall on the day. Bob Blakey celebrated his birthday to confirm his fully deserved Legend status, and he sailed pretty well too! In the Standards, reigning World Apprentice Masters champion Dave Ridley was victorious, followed by Wellington duo, Grand Master Andrew Dellabarca and Master Rob Woodward, who unsurprisingly found the conditions to their liking. Mike Keeton came out of retirement (again!) to be leading GGM.
Conditions on Sunday for the conclusion of the Open champs were similar, with the wind a bit more in the North but equally strong and again with a tricky seaway. In the Standards Luke Deegan and Luke Cashmore fought out the top spots all weekend, with Deegan eventually proving the more consistent in the conditions to take the Open title from Luke Cashmore. Samoan Olympic rep Eroni Leilua was a solid third overall, followed by leading Grand Master Andrew Dellabarca then Master Rob Woodward. In the Open Radials there was a good battle all weekend at the top of the fleet with Youth Matthew Rist proving the one to beat and eventually taking the title from leading Women Olivia Christie and Master Phil Wild. Youths Nathan Vince and Dylan Forsyth mixed it up with the top 3 at times to finish 4th and 5th overall. Leading a great squad of Youth girls was Greta Pilkington in 7th overall, with Sophia Morgan not too far behind her.
So a testing but very well run and enjoyable weekend at Tamaki, with everyone I think enjoying being able to sail unaffected by the shadow of Covid lockdowns.
Results
1 day Auckland Masters Laser Champs - decided by masters positions in these 4 Saturday races
2 day Auckland Open & Youth Laser Champs - decided across all 7 races on Saturday & Sunday