Worser Bay Boating Club take out Interclub Regatta finals

by Jodie Bakewell-White

NZCT Regional Support Officer for the Lower North Island, Wayne Holdt reports on the Interclub Regatta...

Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club hosted the central region clubs last weekend to compete in the second round of the regional interclub regatta. Napier, Taupo, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Manawatu and Horowhenua supplied teams of six sailors in the open MRX keelboat and a youth team of four sailors in the Elliot 6.

As with the Wellington clubs round last month, the racing was extremely close as two round robins were sailed in front of the city in beautiful Wellington weather. Napier Sailing Club finished at the top of the points table after the round robin on 42pts. After a tie break where both teams finished on 39pts, Horowhenua Sailing Club edged out Taupo Yacht Club, closely followed by New Plymouth Yacht Club on 39.5pts, Wanganui Sailing Club with 46pts and Manawatu Marine Boating Club on 50.5pts.

Sunday’s weather forecast was not good for the top two teams from the Wellington round (RPNYC blue and Worser Bay Boating Club) to race for the overall championship against Napier and Horowhenua. Race Officer Ken Burt decided to try and get racing away early in the day before the forecast gale built.

The first race was underway by 10.00 am in 20-25 knots. Worser Bay cleared out in both fleets until their youth team parked on the top mark giving the others the chance of gaining lost ground. With some frantic manoeuvring in the increasing breeze they managed to unhook themselves do their penalty and give the Worser Bay team the win, second was Napier and third equal Horowhenua and RPNYC Blue. As the wind had increased to over 30 knots racing was then called off and results stood as of the one race.

All in all a great weekend's racing was had by all and we look forward to next year’s series.

Yachting New Zealand