The New Zealand national team staved off a strong challenge from
Australian competitors to claim the Falcon Electrical Optimist North
Island Teams Racing Trophy at the Napier Sailing Club over
Labour Weekend.
A visiting Japanese and regional club teams also vied for line honours.
Optimist teams’ racing involves pairs of four person teams competing
in a race, the aim is to have the lowest aggregate points across the line.
Good team communication is essential to a successful outcome.
Sixteen teams entered the contest, after two losses a team is out of
the knockout regatta. The event was held just off Harding Rd, Napier.
Shifty light conditions in the morning meant for tricky racing conditions but
by the afternoon it had settled to a south-easterly direction up to 12 knots.
Australia looked strong in the lead up section of the regatta, first beating
the New Zealand national team, having the only unbeaten run to the finals.
In the lead-up to the Optimist World Championship in Napier on December
31, the New Zealand team will be able to hone their skills in Hawke Bay to
help develop a “home advantage”. The New Zealand team comprises
Leonard Takahashi-Fry, Markus Somerville, and William McKenzie from
Auckland and Isaac McHardie (Hamilton), Nathaniel Deverell (Taipa).
Murrays Bay Sailing Club’s first team defended a strong challenge from
Napier 1 to finish in third place. Napier 1 benefited from their “overseas
import” Hector Guzman from Mexico. Hector has come to Napier to live
and train until the World Championships.
