NZ ILCA (Laser) Nationals Day 2 - Napier Simply Superb

Results after day 2

Yesterday was nice, today was superb. A proper sea breeze was just getting established for race 1 and it built all day. By the days third race it was 15 knots plus, great waves and it provided a superb days sailing. Superb conditions laid the foundation for superb racing and sure enough every fleet enjoyed 3 great races. Superb race management matched the conditions, with great courses set perfectly for the conditions providing opportunities for all 100 competitors, and even a lovely broad reach surfing in at the end of the day. You could tell it was a good workout, some of the GGM's were debating the merits of a maximum of two races a day at the bar afterwards!

The fresher breeze gave the standings at the top of the ILCA 6 fleet a bit of a shakeup, with Greta Pilkington all smiles after having a really strong day with 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings in todays 3 races to grab the overall lead on count back from Napier Winston Liesebach, who remains the leading youth. Australian visitor Frances Beebe also has a great day to sit just a point back in third, ahead of George Lane and overnight leader Loiue Poletti, who could not quite find a repeat of yesterday's form today. Zach Stibbe excelled in the windier third race to take the gun and moved up the leaderboard into 6th, ahead of a very consistent Naomi Ferrissey. A great contest is developing amongst the youth girls, with Chloe Turner and Rose Dickey neck and neck on points after day 2.

Master Nik Burfoot, our ex Open Laser world champion, might not have sailed ILCA's much for a few years but today proved that he has certainly not forgotten the art! Three bullets propelled him to the lead in the ILCA 7 fleet, leaving the rest of the fleet in his wake. Overnight leaders, Master Scott Leith, and Open sailor (and Greta's brother) George Pilkington both worked to keep Nik honest all day to lie second and third overall, just a couple of points adrift of Nik. Behind them Grand Masters, Andrew Dellabarca and Rohan Lord are slugging it out for the GM cube while Ireland's Bill O'Hara led the GGM's in two of todays 3 races to stamp his authority on the GGM division.

In the 4.7's the Pilkington's continued their family domination, with younger brother Tom winning all 3 races ahead of an extremely close contest for second. Lucy Millar from Gisborne, with a 2/3/2 today, just leads Hermione Aris from Murrays Bay and Laura Yang from Akarana, who got through to second in todays second race to stay in close touch overall.

In the ILCA 6 Masters the fleet could only watch in awe as Master Phil Wild continued his domination with three more bullets. Behind Phil a close series is developing between Ed Tam (M), who remains second overall, Werner Hennig (GM) and Dave Johnson (M), while in the GGM's Pupuke's Pete Thomas made a big move up the order to significantly close the points gap on Graeme Tee from Ohope. Helen Spencer and Georgina Wooldridge are enjoying a close battle for the women title, with Georgina getting the better of the contest today, but still trailing Helen overall.

The weather man is predicting another stunner for tomorrow, so with 3 more race scheduled we should see another fantastic days sailing for everyone.

Nick Page