Waka Racing sailing on board Slipstream at the BMW Cup NZ Final. Supplied image.
by Garth Ellingham
Waka Racing has just won the New Zealand BMW Sailing Cup in outstanding form. After comfortably winning the fleet racing series they proceeded to win the Match racing series in blistering fashion. They now have the right to represent New Zealand at the BMW Sailing Cup World Final.
With six fleet races sailed on Saturday in 15 knots of breeze, Waka Racing took a commanding lead in the series. Sailing consistently with the goal of finishing in the top 4 every race the boys never took their eyes off the prize, finishing the day 4 points clear of second place. With the format for the regatta of one days fleet racing then the second day of Match Racing with the top four battling it out for the trophy. They know had the right to pick there opponent for the second round, Semi Finals of Match racing.
Waka racing chose Grant (The Butcher) Turnball as there opposition in the first to 3 semi final. With more experience and great team work Waka Racing took him down 3-0 in the shifty southerly conditions off Westhaven Marina. A good start to the day but full focus was now on the final.
Entering from the starboard end against Will Tiller we managed to win the start we wanted and controlled the first race, winning by a comfortable margin.
Race two didn’t go as well after losing the start we couldn’t gain enough to attack him around the course.
Race 3 was close as big shifts were prominent and a lead was never big enough. We lead throughout but got caught near the top of the second beat. Experience shone through as we luffed Will hard and made him tack off at the top mark, gaining a four-boat length lead and the race.
Waka racing sealed the deal in race five, as it was a race for the tactician to win, and that he did. After an even start we got the first shift and the lead that we managed to double by the top mark to win the race and the regatta.
Waka Racing will now compete in the BMW Sailing World Final in Auckland from the 22nd-25th March against 6 other international teams from Germany, Malta, Hong Kong, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. We look forward to the occasion and the opportunity to defend the New Zealand's title at this event. Please do come and support us off Beam Rock on the 22 and 23rd and then off Westhaven Marina on the 24th and 25th.
Thanks to BMW for supporting the event and giving a team from NZ a chance to take on the world each year at this event.
Waka Racing this week was:
Phil Robertson (Helm)
Garth Ellingham (Tactician/Main Sheet)
Sam Bell (Pit)
Logan Fraser (Trim)
Brad Farrand (Bow)
NZ BMW Sailing Cup 13 March 2010 - Fleet Racing
Skipper Boat # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total Place
Phil Robertson 1995 2 2 3 2 1 4 14 1
William Tiller 1997 1 1 7 4 4 1 18 2
Phil Douglas 1991 3 4.5 1 5 6 3 22.5 3
Grant Turnbull 1996 4 9 9 1 2 5 30 4
Brian Trubovich 1994 9 6 2 3 8 2 30 5
Peter Vause 2000 7 7 4 7 5 7 37 6
Ian McBurney 2001 6 4.5 8 6 3 dnf 37.5 7
Gary Kirkland-Smith 1999 5 8 6 RDG 6 7 6 38 8
Craig Anderson 1998 8 3 5 dsq dnc dnc 46 9
Waka Racing
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