Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

SailGP Inspire - Day 4: Barker and Batten win Open title - Female crews perform strongly

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 19 Jan 06:21 UTC
Day 3 - SailGP Inspire- RS Feva - Royal Akarana YC - Jan 18, 2025 © Justin Mitchell www.justinmitchell.co.nz - Instagram: @jl_mitchell_

Matteo Barker and Blake Batten (Murrays Bay SC) won the SailGP Inspire title after an arm-wrestle throughout the three day regatta with Nate Soper and Lauchie Wills (Murrays Bay SC/Howick SC).

The event marked a coming together of the top young sailors in New Zealand, many of whom compete in singlehanded classes. The Sail Inspire event provided the chance for them to team up and get their first experience in crewed sailing - and perhaps progress to the SailGP event being sailed further up the harbour.

Sailing from Royal Akarana Yacht Club, on a course just inside the entrance to the inner Waitemata Harbour, the easterly breeze was in for the third successive day reaching 14-20kts. It asked plenty of questions of the 50 crews, invited from different yacht clubs around New Zealand.

Soper and Wills led the regatta after the first day, but dropped the ball on the last couple of races on Day 2, and relinquished the lead. They went into the third and final day, unable to have any further misadventures. Their two double-digit placings on from Day 2 were able to be discarded, but they still had to keep the pressure on Barker and Batten, and hope they too, would stumble in the remaining three races.

Going into the third day, the consistent performance of the Murrays Bay SC crew meant the regatta was theirs to lose. With a win in Race 9, followed by a 5th and then a second in the Race 11, Barker and Batten did enough to retain their points lead. Sopher and Wills regained their first day form starting with a third place in Race 9, backing that up with two wins in the final two races. However it was not enough and when the final points were tallied, with two discard races taken into account, Barker and Batten's consistent sailing earned them top place on the podium on the main stage at SailGP.

Harry Strang and Thomas Linklater from Tauranga YPBC, finished third place overall - which they had resided right through the regatta.

Female crews filled three of the top eight placings overall. A Mixed crew of Finloe Gaites and Sofia Turner (MBSC) finished 6th. In regular racing just under 50% of the crews are female.

Many thanks to Vanessa Robson, Justin Mitchell Photography, the NZ Feva Association and Royal Akarana Yacht Club for making this happen along with SailGP, including RS Fevas in the SailGP Inspire program.

For full results Click here

Additional Images:

From the Medal Presentation on the mainstage at SailGP Auckland

Related Articles

RAILBLAZA Trident Carbon Fiber Modular Push Poles
Ideal for shallow water anglers RAILBLAZA, manufacturer of premium quality, user-friendly electronics, fishing and boating mounting systems and accessories, has announced the launch of its new Trident Carbon Fiber Modular Push Pole, ideal for shallow water anglers. Posted on 8 Jul
New Online BoatUS Foundation Course
Taking on Biggest Cause of Accidents: Distracted Boating A quick look at the annual U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating accident statistics shows “operator inattention” and “improper lookout” to be perennial placeholders in the top five primary contributing factors in boating accidents. Posted on 8 Jul
NOAA changes Atlantic bluefin tuna retention limit
Announcing changes following feedback from the sportfishing industry and recreational anglers On June 3, NOAA Fisheries announced changes to fishing regulations for private vessels limiting the harvest of one school size bluefin tuna (27 to 47 inches) and charter and head boats would be permitted to retain two school sized bluefin tuna. Posted on 8 Jul
Simrad Yachting introduces AutoTrack feature
For its HALO 2000 & 3000 Radars Simrad Yachting, a leader in marine electronics and navigation, today introduced the new AutoTrack™ feature for its HALO® 2000 and HALO 3000 Radars. Posted on 7 Jul
Big Deal, Bayliss 75' on the water update
Built for owners with a long-standing relationship with our boatyard Bayliss Boatworks is proud to announce the delivery of Big Deal (Bayliss 75'), a custom sportfishing weapon designed and built for owners with a long-standing relationship with our boatyard. Posted on 5 Jul
The enhanced Yellowfin 54 Offshore
The most stable ride in its class Welcome to the next evolution of the 54 Offshore. We have evolved the Yellowfin 54 Offshore to redefine your boating experience. Posted on 4 Jul
Michael Rybovich & Sons construction updates
Progress on hulls from 84', 62' down to 42' New construction updates of 70' S/F Hull # 9, 42' S/F hull #10, 75' S/F hull #11, 84' S/F - Hull # 12. Posted on 4 Jul
Bayliss Boatworks new construction updates
The team is making solid headway on Mama Seata Tarheel is shaping up beautifully, with our exterior carpentry team recently installing the teak coaming and coverboards in the cockpit. Posted on 3 Jul
A new chapter begins
Two new flagship models for the Open & Heritage Series Introducing the all-new Heritage 321 — the ultimate family center console and the new flagship of the Heritage Series. Posted on 2 Jul
Marine Auctions: Special July Online Auction
The bidding will end on Tuesday 22 July at 2pm AEST The alternative way of selling any type of vessel or marine asset with proven and successful results. Posted on 2 Jul
Maritimo M75Palm Beach Motor Yachts