Press Release

In a dramatic last day in the Toyota New Zealand Optimist National Championships, overnight leader Sam Bacon of Worser Bay got off to a shaky start with a 10th and a 9th place in the day’s first two races, then stormed back to score a first and a second. His hard work was just enough to hold on to his overall lead by two points.

Visiting New South Wales champion, Otto Henry (Wollahara YC) sailed consistently all day and won the day’s last race, taking second place overall ahead of Sebastian Lardies and Sam Morgan (both (Kohimarama, Auckland).

4 April 2015

The 2015 Toyota New Zealand Optimist National Championships got off to a flawless start with four races in champagne sailing conditions at Wellington’s Worser Bay Boating Club.

Race officer Brett Linton added an extra race to the day’s schedule, as strong winds are forecast for later in the weekend, and he set about executing his plan to perfection.

The event was one to remember. Sailors came from clubs all over New Zealand: Kohi, Worser Bay, Wakatere, Murrays Bay, Charteris and a lot more. 70% of sailors came from the North Island all the way to Picton. The best of NZ optimist sailors competed in this regatta. Friday Feb 20 started with Open Fleet sailing, followed by excellent Marlborough hospitality: “Taste of Marlborough” on the Friday night with local wines, oysters, clams, salmon, mussels, breads and olive oil. Saturday and Sunday had sailing for all fleets: Optimist Open and Green and Starling.

Day 1