Waka Racing sailing Skitzo. Supplied image.
by Garth Ellingham
Waka Racing has just completed two days of highly competitive, action packed, and often wet racing. In what was the 2011 Young 88 New Zealand National Championships, where they finished a very creditable fourth place.
Day 1 was a soaking wet affair with it raining and blowing pretty much all day. It was a very challenging day for the 22 Young 88’s slugging it out in the 15-25 knots conditions. There were a few beautiful wipe-outs and quite often it was impossible for the sailors to see the top mark.
Waka Racing who were racing on the yacht Skitzo had an average first day. Having to deal with a jib halyard casing breakage during the first race and then having to come up with a make shift fix to continue racing. As it was their first time tunning up with the top boats it also took a little time to get the settings bang on. The team however managed to sit 5th at the end of the day with their best result being a 3rd in the last race.
Day 2 was a nice contrast to the first day with clear skies and a nice Northerly greeting the fleet in the morning. Conditions all day were stellar, with the breeze building throughout the day to peak out at 18 knots.
This turned out to be a cracker day for Waka Racing with the entire team agreeing it was the best days sailing they had done all year. Consistency was the key and the team was constantly mixing it in the top 3 and never finished worse than 6th. Highlight of the day was leading Race 7 for the first lap only to be mowed down by Danger Zone and Flash Gordon at the top mark but fighting back on the last run to finish 2nd equal.
At the end of the regatta the team missed out on 3rd place by 2.5 points to finish 4th, which the team was still happy with and is actually very creditable. Especially as the Skitzo is a Mark 1 design and was probably the oldest boat of the 22 yachts competing in the event.
Final Results:
1. William Tiller - Flash Gordon 12.5
2. Jim Maloney - Raging Hormones 15
3. Grant Turnbull - Danger Zone 28
4. Phil Robertson - Skitzo 30.5
5. Zane Gifford - Abracadabra 36
Waka Racing would like to say a big thank you to Rick Hackett from KZ Marine, who so kindly offered his boat, allowing the team to jump on and compete in what is definitely New Zealand’s best keel boat fleet.
Quick thanks to Guy Pilkington from the RNZYS Youth Training Programme and North Sails for their advice and support with setting up the boat.
Waka Racing would like to thank Tax Management NZ and Line 7/Events Clothing for all their help.
Also a big thank you to Frontend, Spy Optic, RNZYS, Devine Consultants, PredictWind, and Wells & Co for their support.
Waka Racing
