by Jodie Bakewell-White
The weekend of March 6th and 7th will see the Akaroa Cruising Club host a fleet of Young 88s for the Belle Property South Island Young 88 Championship. Organisers expect the event to provide the most competitive class keelboat racing outside of Auckland this season.
Ten boats or more are expected to compete including two from Wellington - Whistler II (Mike West) and 88% Proof (Brendon Hogg) - plus six or more from Lyttelton. Second Division winner of the Lawson’s Dry Hills Regatta in January 88% Proof is now rated a hot contender for this year’s title. Flying Machine (Craig Edwards) who won the Waikawa event last year and went on to win the South Island Champs will defend their title.
The two Wellington Young 88s plus Smokey (Steve Page) and Medium Dry (Anthony Leighs) from Lyttelton all competed in the Waikawa event providing a chance for crews to size each other up.
The competition for the South Island Young 88 title is wide open this year with 5 or more boats sailing well and in top form. Incantare, the restored and renamed Country Mile, with experienced dinghy and trailer yacht sailor Milton Bloomfield at the helm is a new entrant in the event this year. Lyttelton entry Legacy II (Colin Lock) has failed to fire in early racing this season but has shown good pace at times and could cause a few surprises.
The Belle Property South Island Young 88 Champs will be preceded on 27-28 February by the President’s Cup Canterbury Keelboat Champs also in Akaroa.
Further information and comment please contact:
Rob Berry (Akaroa Cruising Club) Ph 0274 320 739
Craig Edwards (Flying Machine/Young88 Assn) Ph 0274 344 245
Akaroa Cruising Club
Yachting New Zealand
Thursday, 18 February 2010
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