Auckland Champs 2015

Having waited until race six of a six race series to pick the right side of the race course, your correspondent then picked the wrong winner.   At last nights prize-giving, hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the Auckland Champs Trophy - replete with the names of some legendary past winners - has handed over to a grateful, but perplexed Willzy and the crew of Feng Shui (1348) .  

However sharper minds and keener (younger) eyes soon spotted the missing 'drop' and it is therefore with great pleasure that I can announce that class debutante Lincoln Fraser and the crew of Maverick (1077) are Auckland Champions for 2015.

After a nail-bitingly close regatta over two nights, only 2.5 points separate the top four finishers and on average the fleet was separated by just over a minute.

Day One delivered lively conditions, congested mark-roundings and a few legislative posers.  Bobby's Girl (1058) took two bullets, but posted an 8th place in race 2 (which was won by Valsheda (950)) to finish the day first overall from Maverick (1077) and Valsheda (950).

Maverick (1077) continued a consistent regatta on Day Two until the final, single-lap race, when competing breezes inevitably wrought a massive hole, into which the majority of the fleet haplessly drifted.  Valsheda (950) and Feng Shui (1348) both found pressure on the left hand side of the work and at the top mark Valsheda (950) rounded first.  Feng Shui (1348) launched their chute before the offset mark and rolled Tortuga (779) to take 2nd place.

With Maverick (1077) finishing a distant 8th, the top three boats were then only separated by 1.5 points and with a discard Maverick's rock-steady performance won out.

Many congratulations, then, to Lincoln Fraser Simon Baker, Georgi Yankov and Sam Melville and thanks to all who competed in a hugely enjoyable regatta.

Many thanks also to Megan Kensington and the RNZYS race committee and to Melanie Best and the race management team.

Provisional results are here.