Toyota Optimist Nats: Wakatere dominate Qualifiers
by Christel Hopkins 1 Apr 2018 22:21 UTC
2 April 2018
Day 2- 2018 Toyota NZ Optimist National Chmapionships - Queen Charlotte Yacht Club © Christel Hopkins
Light winds played havoc with the race schedule on Day 2 of the Toyoya NZ National Optimist Championships being held at Queen Charlotte Yacht Club, on the northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand.
Unfortunately the wind faded in the morning after the quick Southerly that went through the night before.
190 sailors from three nations spent the Easter morning ashore in the sunshine with great coffee and food. Eventually the Green and Rainbow fleet sailed a race inner Harbour in front of the club with hundreds of supporters cheering them on.
After the D flag was raised for the open fleet and the Optimists got towed out to the racing area. It was tricky to get a course in the light conditions but one race got underway.
The race management team tried to get another race started but time was running out.
The results got a little mixed up due to Sunday’s race. Wakatere sailors topped the leaderboard 1-2 and 3 are all on 6 points after 1 drop. (Harrison Loretz, Joshua Hyde, George Lee Rush) Hot on their heels are Mason Mulcahy from Murrays Bay and sever Aussies.
Today the Open fleet has been divided into Gold, Silver and Bronze for the first day of the finals.
Forecast is for a good NW breeze. So bring it on!
For full results for all fleets click here