The 2016 Auckland Masters was held at Tamaki on Saturday 2 April. 

The fleet of 25 Full rigs and 9 Radials arrived to a promise of a building N to NW wind for the day. Unfortunately it was not to be and we never got much over 5 knots all day which, combined with an offshore power boat race through our course at lunchtime, resulted in only 3 races being completed before a rain squall completely killed the breeze for the day.

The light and patchy conditions made consistency almost impossible, with everyone getting caught in holes and unfavourable shifts at times. The first race started on time and in the Standards ancient local knowledge proved the difference with GGM and Tamaki commodore Bob Blakey somehow finding his own breeze in the middle of the course to take the lead at the half way point and carry on to an epic victory. Not to be outdone the next generation of Blakey made it a father and son double with Master Richard winning the Radials first race.

The fleet now alerted to the Blakey magic was on their toes for the second race, managing to relegate both Blakey’s down the fleet showing that even at Tamaki lightning doesn’t strike twice! Team Hamilton visitor Ken Atchison (AM) enjoyed an all the way victory in the Standards while AM Scott Leith managed to show the Radials that he was on form after all and the first race 3rd was an aberration. In the 3rd Race Chris Brodie (M) backed up a 2nd in Race 1 with a convincing victory in race 3 to take out the Standard trophy from Ken with former top Laser sailor Mark Oliver (M) getting back into a Laser after many years to start his training for the World Masters Games and secure 3rd overall. First GM was another Hamilton visitor Scott McDougall in 4th overall.

Whangarei visitor GM Roger Winton was victorious in R3 of the Radials but Scott’s second was just enough for him to come out on top by a point from Roger with Richard a couple of points back in 3rd the first Master.

So another strong Masters turnout for the Roast Beef sandwiches at the prize giving and thanks to sponsors Smart Marine and Watershed for some great prizes.

Nick Page

All Results

Murrays Bay SC hosted the 2016 Auckland Laser Championships this weekend with the 46 Standard and Radial sailors facing a variety of challenging conditions over the 2 days. The fleet included a strong international contingent, who were competing as a prelude to Sail Auckland next weekend, with sailors from Canada, China, Korea, Singapore and South Africa competing in addition to a good cross section of the local Laser fleet.

The start of racing on Saturday was delayed due to an unstable SW breeze fighting a forecast sea breeze that in fact never eventuated. Racing finally got underway in a light and very shifty SW breeze which constantly challenged all the sailors with major shifts and pressure variations from less than 5 knots to an occasional 12 knot puffs which seemed to appear from nowhere. The scheduled 3 races were completed with the cream as usual rising to the top in spite of the challenges. So after day 1 world top 40 ranked sailor Colin Cheng from Singapore led the Standards with reigning Apprentice World Champion, and current MBSC commodore, Scott Leith leading the Radials.

Day 2 provided significantly more breeze, with a tricky & variable 10 knot SW for the first race shifting to the South and strengthening to about 15 knots for the final 2 races, which still delivered plenty of shifts and pressure variations. 

In the Standards Colin Cheng held onto his overnight lead with a strong 1/2/1 record to win convincingly over South African sailor Stephano Marcia with Chinese sailor Jianan Wu in third.  First under 21 sailor was Tim Adair from Murrays Bay in 7th overall while the first master was another local, Dean Drummond in 9th overall.

In the Radials Scott Leith was also able to hold onto his overnight lead, although two bullets for leading NZ women’s sailor Sara Winther did put some pressure on Scott and lifted Sara to third overall. Leading Youth, in 2nd overall, was a consistent George Gautrey, who continues a great streak of form following his excellent results at the recent ISAF Youth Worlds and NZ Laser Nationals. Visitor Kim Da Jeong was the leading female youth sailor.

So following this weekend successful regatta we can look forward to a top quality contest at next weeks Sail Auckland regatta also being held at Murrays Bay, with the NZL Laser team sailors and more international sailors joining the fleet.

Nick Page
NZLA Chairman

Laser Standard

Laser Radial

Over the weekend of the 13th 14th February 2016 34 keen Laser sailors headed down to the Mt Pleasant on the Christchurch estuary for 9.00 and 9.30 starts. 

Saturday’s first race was a tricky downwind start in a dying Southerly. 2 ½ hours later we finished in a light Easterly breeze. The Full Rig places seemed to change somewhat as some were becalmed and others bought the new breeze through. All in all a very frustrating race I would say by all!

The second race the light Easterly remained and we just finished with enough water to spare.

Day 2 we managed 4 races a piece in all the fleets in a light Easterly breeze.

Thanks to Mt Pleasant and especially Phil Galloway for hosting the regatta. It was great to see so many Lasers sailing off the one club in Christchurch.

The wind gods were not kind but we did well to get 6 races done and dusted in unusually light weather conditions.

The Standard rigs were won by Richard Ineson  from Cyc, with Nick James 2nd and Haydn James 3rd.

Sam Higginbottom won the 4.7s with Annah Winheld 2nd.

In the Radials Dougal Frame was a convincing winner with Craig Atkinson beating Dad Hamish for 2nd and 3rd.

• Full Results
• Muritai on Facebook
• LiveSailDie.com

Wellington again turned it on for the final day of the 2016 Woodridge Homes NZ Laser Nationals at Muritai Yacht Club in Wellington.

A light breeze greeted the 92 sailors as they arrived at the club and some of us were led to believe that the local Masters “we don’t do Light” was a Wellington myth. However true to Wellington form by start time it had built to 20 knots, again from the NW, and we ended up with the freshest day of the contest with gusts at times touching 30 knots and plenty of shifts and variation in pressure for those smart enough to take advantage. The outgoing tide ensured that conditions were not too rough and all fleets completed 2 races to complete their full complement of races for the contest.

In the Open Standard fleet Andrew McKenzie again took command from the start of each race to record two wins and an emphatic overall victory, winning 8 of the 10 races. Visiting Chinese sailors Ning Zhao and Jinfu Zhou were 2nd and 3rd in both todays races and overall with Matthew Kempkers from Auckland 4th.

The Radial Open contest was only decided in the final race and provided the highlight for the host club with club youth star George Gautrey, fresh from his second in the ISAF worlds youths, scoring a 1/2 today to secure victory over reigning World Apprentice Master champion Scott Leith, who also scored a 1/2 today but ended up 3 points behind George. Third was Chinese visitor Jianan Wu who was extremely  consistent and only 2 points behind Scott. The leading woman was Susannah Pyatt in 6th  and Worser Bay youth sailor Olivia Christie had an exceptionally strong regatta to finish 9th overall and first youth girl, out sailing many more experienced competitors despite the testing conditions.

After a really close contest visiting French sailor Juliette Bone claimed victory in the 4.7 division over Worser Bay sailor Amy Anderson.

Local talent was again to the fore in the Masters Divisions, with many of the sailors using the regatta to start to prepare for the Laser sailing at the 2017 World Masters Games in Auckland.

The Standard Masters division saw local Andrew Dellabarca securing an extremely well deserved victory with a 2/3 scoreline today to defeat the reigning champion, Apprentice Kris Decke from Whangarei by 5 points. Grand Masters Peter Kempkers, who had a great day winning both Masters races, and Murray Thom were 3rd and 4th respectively.

In the Radial Masters Ed Tam from Worser Bay won comfortably overall. He had a 3/1 record today to win clearly from Master Hamish Atkinson from Christchurch. First Grand Master was Roger Winton from Whangarei and after an intense battle of the Grand Masters Eastbourne’s Garth Cheyne took out the division from Bob Blakey and Gus Fry in 6th, 7th and 8th overall.

So we have concluded a wonderfully successful contest with testing conditions and every division well contested. Next year’s contest will be in Taupo which is sure to provide a whole new set of challenges for sailors. The top 5 in each division were;

Regards
Nick Page
NZLA Chairman
 

Top 5 in each fleet at the end of todays racing;

Open Standard
1. Andrew McKenzie, Auckland
2. Ning Zhao, China
3 Jinfu Zhou, China.
4. Matt Kempkers, Auckland
5. James Jennings, Auckland

Open Radial
1. George Gautrey, Eastbourne
2. Scott Leith, Auckland
3. Jianan Wu, China
4. Josh Armit, Auckland
5. Alastair Gifford, Auckland

Standard Masters
1. Andrew Dellabarca, Wellington
2. Kris Decke, Whangarei
3. Peter Kempkers, Auckland
4. Murray Thom, Auckland
5. Rob Woodward, Wellington

Radial Masters
1. Ed Tam, Worser Bay
2. Hamish Atkinson, Christchurch
3. Greg Wilshire, Auckland
4. Roger Winton, Whangarei
5. Mike Knowsley, Auckland

Full Results

Laser Radial Open & Youth

Laser 4.7

Laser Standard Masters

Laser Radial Masters

Woodridge Homes was generously supporting the 2016 NZ National Laser Champs. Hosted by Muritai Yacht Club - Eastbourne, Wellington.

• Full Results

• Racing Friday to Monday 22nd - 25th January 2016

Fantastic results at the 2015 Youth Worlds in Malaysia for NZL Lasers.

George Gautrey finished 2nd behind Australian Alistar Young in a 66 boat fleet - with a consistent performance including a 1st and 6 of 9 races in the top 10.

And Ali Nightingale finished 12th of 54 boats - including a 1st in the first race.

All results

Laser Radial
Susannah Pyatt 2nd.
Ali Nightingale 9th
Julia Francis 20th

Laser
Thomas Saunders 2nd
Andrew McKenzie 12th
Matt Blakey 16th
Matt Kempkers 20th

All Results

Napier again hosted the contest as part of their Summer regatta, with competitors welcomed by 27degree temperatures causing many of the Wellington contingent to remark on the contrast with spring in Wellington! There was a fantastic turnout with over 50 Lasers entered and it was great to see a strong youth contingent and competitors from as far afield as Picton, Christchurch and Whangarei.

Results for all classes

Saturday started with a nice 10 knot breeze and all fleets started on time at 11am. However half way through the first race things changed dramatically, with a 35 to 40 knot pressure line coming down from the shore causing some exciting moments for all and causing a fair degree of carnage with bent and broken yachts scattered around the bay. This resulted in the races being abandoned after the leaders finished and all boats being sent ashore. Unfortunately the winds did not moderate until late in the day so there was no more racing possible on Saturday.

Sunday however delivered fantastic conditions with a light sea breeze slowly building through the day and 4 quality races being completed.
 
In the 36 strong Radial fleet youth trumped experience with Josh Armit showing real class in winning two races in dominant style and backing that up with a 2^nd and 5^th to take the trophy ahead of Albert Stanley from Worser Bay and Alistair Gifford from QCYC who each managed a race win. There was a great turnout for the Youth girls fleet with strong top 10 performances from Ali Nightingale in 5^thand Libby Porter in 8^th the standouts. Leading Master was Ed Tam in 7^th with GM Roger Winton sneaking into the top 10 to provide some balance to the youth domination.
 
In the Standards it was again a contest of youth vs experience with Master Andrew Dellabarca repeating last years victory in spite of a strong challenge from last years Radial winner, youth James Jennings who finished 2^nd.  Third was Greg Wiltshire from Howick, holding up the Auckland masters end of the contest in what is becoming an annual North vs South challenge. It was interesting to see 3 of the new standard sails being used but all we could conclude from the results was that they seem very close in performance to the old model and there did not seem to be any consistent speed advantage in the conditions we experienced.
 
The strong turnout at this regatta bodes well for the Nationals at Muratai in January so we are looking forward to strong Youth and Masters fleets being joined by Open and overseas sailors in what should again provide a quality contest.
 
Nick Page

• 1^st Peter Graham  O(7 pts)
• 2^nd Hamish Atkinson M (11 pts)
• 3^rd  Neil Morris GM (12 pts)
• 4^th  Samuel Rushton Y (18pts)
• 5^th  Alex Morris O(19 pts),
• 6^th Lola Adams W (27pts)
• 7^th Layton Hern
• 8^th Durham Throp
• 9^th Bas Hart
• 10^th Ross Shipman
• 11^th Anna Breen

Full Rigs:

• 1^st Chris Shannon AM (6pts)
• 2nd Daryl Parkes (8pts)