Detailed results at http://teamnz.myblog.net.nz/page213.aspx

Day 4 of the schools’ team sailing nationals saw the sailors hit the water early with hot and light conditions. Many teams were keen to carry their form forward from the day before, others were looking to make improvements on their day 3 results. With the OA on track to do 3 round robins, the opportunity to be promoted around fleets was still there – it was game on for all teams.

Bronze had the most competitive day they have had all regatta. Some highlights included Glendowie’s Greg Hunter proving to us he is the king of Bronze fleet, along with Christchurch Boys’, Matt Willey were the stand outs on bronze. Great work in compressing races, pass backs and mark traps. At the end of the 2^nd round, Nelson Bays, Timaru and Glendowie were all tied on 8 race wins each. Because of countback results Glendowie were up for promotion to silver fleet. In the race an early start line penalty for Glendowie in the repechage meant he had to work very hard to hold back two Nelson College Girls. They gained the lead with a 2,3,4 at one stage on the final beat but two sailors were caught on the wrong side of a new breeze and having not made sure of their covers finished the race 2,5,6. This fleet continues to impress me and it is fantastic to see all the team improving to a very high standard.

In the silver fleet it was all about the girls from New Plymouth Girls, who again continued their excellent form forward from day 3 and managed to win 9 out of their 9 races sailed and were along with Kristin in Gold fleet, the only other team across all 3 fleets to win all their races in round robin 2. This allowed the girls to qualify for promotion to gold fleet through a sudden death sail off against King’s College down from gold fleet. But for the girls it wasn’t to be, a bad start and lots of resistance from King’s caused them to lose control in the downwind leg, due to a penalty turn after some excellent teams racing from King’s Jordan Stevenson who asked many tough questions of the umpires finally paying off. Dio and St Kent’s are steady in 2^nd equal on 6 wins each in round robin 2. The committee made a start briefly on round robin 3, but were forced to send the teams ashore due to a lack of wind.

In Gold fleet, Kristin were the pick of the day for me today, having a superb round robin 2, like New Plymouth Girls winning all of their 9 races sailed. Some highlights included Leonard Takahashi performing a perfect mark 3 trap, running circles around the opposition team, even though his team already had a clear 1, 2. Kerikeri Open carried their good form from day 3 into day 4, finishing with 7 wins – this team continues to impress me with the teamwork and communication. Marlborough Boys picked up their game in this round robin and scored a nice 6 wins out of their 9 sailed. Auckland Grammar and Westlake Boys are tied on a modest 5 wins each. There is plenty to play for in this fleet with a 3^rd round robin attempted to be sailed.

The forecast for Thursday is looking mainly light, however, the race committee will be pushing strongly to try to get the sailors sailing a good and fair race.

Let’s go day 5!

Angus McKenzie – Umpire Gold/ Silver Course.

Photography – Susana Buckton