CHRIS STEELE 2007 WORLD OPTIMIST CHAMPION
ALEXANDER MALONEY 2007 TOP FEMALE & 3RD OVERALL
NZL - TOP TEAM -
Chris Steele, Alexander Maloney, Logan Dunning-Beck, James Turner & Sam Mackay
NZL OPTIMIST ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION FORM - CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
- NZIODA boat is available for use by clubs for events and training, Please contact Rob Capon acapon@xtra.co.nz or 415 6798 to book the boat.
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Opti international team auction
2008 NZ Optimist Nationals, Naval Point
Nicolas Poree of New Caledonia has won the NZ Optimist championship sailed at Naval Point YC, Lyttelton. Nicolas and fellow New Caledonian Maxime Masard, who was only one point behind in second, have been attending NZ champs since 2005 when it was held in Taipa. They are part of an ongoing exchange between the two nations which was originally fostered by Glendowie BC many years ago, this year they have entered a particularly strong team with four sailors in the top 15.Logan Dunning-Beck of Wakatere BC in Auckland was third overall, and the first New Zealander. Logan makes up part of the New Zealand Worlds team, along with Sam Mackay of Napier SC, Andrew McKenzie of Kohimarama YC, Erica Dawson of Murrays Bay SC and Naomi Mannering of Napier SC.
Click on any of the photos below for more images from the Opti Nationals
Logan Dunning-Beck NZL 4232 and Marcus Somerville NZL4010 Waiting for wind Starting sequence on Lyttelton Harbour 1 Nicolas Poree SRC M 14 FRA 48
2 Maxime Masard SRC M 15 FRA Yellow 49
3 Logan Dunning-Beck Wakatere BC M 15 NZL Yellow 53
4 Sam Mackay Napier SC M 15 NZL Yellow 61
5 Andrew McKenzie Kohimarama YC M 13 NZL White 63
6 Erica Dawson Murrays Bay SC F 14 NZL Blue 75
7 Naomi Mannering Napier SC F 14 NZL Red 75
8 Mark Wong Vinn Howe Singapore SC M 13 SIN White 103
9 Keith Inglis Taupo YC M 14 NZL White 108
10 Lloyd Collings Sorrento SCBC M 14 AUS Red 116
11 Olivia Mackay Napier SC F 12 NZL Red 122
12 Nicholas Gunn Tauranga YPBC M 15 NZL Blue 126
13 Shelley White Keppel Bay SC F 15 AUS Red 127
14 Clement Muller SRC M 14 FRA White 135
15 Laszlo Horvath SRC M 15 FRA Blue 137
16 Alex Dyet Torbay SC M 15 NZL Blue 138
17 Sam Schofield Wakatere BC M 14 NZL White 140Click here for full results from the Open and Green fleet
Click here to read a Report from Team MAD DOG Racing about Waimakariri SPCB green fleet sailor Patrick Haybittle at the Nationals - Brian Haybittle
The Nationals are in their final day and positions at the top are very tight. Erica Dawson of Murrays Bay SC has had a wonderful regatta, leading the New Zealand fleet for much of the time; Logan Dunning-Beck of Wakatere BC has shown his experience by putting together a series of good races after suffering a confusing finishing result in one of the first races; Sam Mackay of Napier Club, Andrew McKenzie of Kohimarama YC and Naomi Mannering of Napier SC have also sailed well and are in contention for the coveted top five NZ Worlds team positions. Close behind are Keith Inglis of Taupo YC and Olivia Mackay also of Napier SC.
Of the 178 sailors in the Open fleet, 34 internationals are attending the event, with Nicolas Poree of New Caledonia, representing France, currently leading the regatta. Other nations represented are Singapore, Australia, USA, Norway, Tahiti, Hong Kong, and United Arab Emirates. 41 sailors are taking part in the Green fleet division of the regatta - this is currently being led by Evie Baxter of Queen Charlotte YC.
A variety of conditions have been experienced, but the majority has been sailed in light weather.
Auckland Champs 2008, Howick
The Auckland Champs attracted 107 Open fleet, and 41 Green fleet sailors from all over New Zealand - a massive 148 boats! Conditions were generally light and flukey earlier in the day but races held later enjoyed a more steady, and fairly brisk breeze at times. Andrew McKenzie of Kohimarama came out on top with first girl Naomi Mannering from Napier 2nd and Alex Dyet of Torbay 3rd. In the Green fleet Charlotte de L'Isle, Torbay, came 1st, Nick Egnot Johnson, MBSC, 2nd and Justin McDonald of Tauranga 3rd. For full results go to the RESULTS page.
Racing on Sunday off Howick YC at the 2008 Auckland Champs - click on either photo for more
SI Opti Champs, Lyttelton 23/24 February 2008
Logan Dunning-Beck added the South Island Opti Champs to the North Island title he already holds. Andrew Mckenzie placed second with Alex Munro in third.
1st Logan Dunning Beck Wakatere 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 (3.0) 9.0 6.0
2nd Andrew Mckenzie Kohimarama 7.0 (22.0) 1.0 1.0 1.0 32.0 10.0
3rd Alex Munro Wakatere 2.5 2.0 (5.0) 3.0 4.0 16.5 11.5
Full results are available at http://www.navalpoint.co.nz/results/optisouth.htm/
Junior Sail Auckland, Auckland February 2008
There were good results in the Opti Open class for Logan Dunning-Beck, Sam MackKay and Sam Schofield who finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in a 96 boat fleet sailed in moderate winds on Saturday and blustery wet conditions on Sunday. Jnr Sail Auckland ResultsWakatere Junior Regatta, December 15, 2007
Reasonable sized fleets turned out for the annual Junior Regatta in Devonport this year. Conditions were cloudy with moderate but shirfty northerlies and choppy waves. The young sailors dealt well with sightly challeging launching conditions as the receeding tide fought the wind and created dumping waves along the shoreline. Results will be posted when they come to hand.Click here for more photos of the Open fleet
Sir Peter Blake Memorial Regatta, Torbay Sailing Club, December 8 - 9 2007
One hundred and twenty seven optimist sailors turned up for the Sir Peter Blake Memorial Regatta this year sailed out of Torbay Sailing Club. In the Open fleet eighty five competitors sailed four races and enjoyed sunny conditions on Saturday with a breeze that began lightly from the south and moved into the north and increased to a moderate sea breeze in the afternoon. Sam MacKay of Napier was at the top of the board at the end of the day on 26 points, ahead of Andrew McKenzie of Kohimarama with 37 and Jayvee Buchanan of Murrays Bay/Charteris Bay with 40.The forty two boat Green fleet also enjoyed conditions well suited to young sailors learning the ropes - Jarrod McDonald of Murrays Bay came in a clear first with 7 points; Charlotte Moss of Murrays Bay second with 25 points; and Markus Somerville of Wakatere third with 28 points.
Unfortunately Sunday brought strong winds of 30+ knots so sailing was called off after a number of boats in the large Starling fleet suffered gear breakages - fortunately the series was complete with four races and the previous days results stood. Thank you to the many volunteer helpers from Torbay SC and supporting clubs. For full results go the Torbay SC website by clicking here.
Light winds were the order of the day for Opti sailors attending the North Island Champs held on Lake Rotorua. Up and coming sailors came to the fore in the light breezes which stayed under 10 knots over the weekend. The Open fleet was dominated by Napier sailors - Sam Mackay 1st and Naomi Mannering 2nd, with Murrays Bay sailor Erica Dawson snapping at their heels - putting two girls on the podium for the first time at a major NZ Opti regatta in recent years. A good fleet of 108 boats took part, with about one third girls - and a visitor from Noumea.
Another 60 sailors competed in the Green fleet, Murrays Bay sailors taking the top three closely contested positions, and again we saw 2 girls in the top 3. Charlotte Moss 1st, Jarrod McDonald 2nd and Ellie Lane 3rd.
Big night for NZ Optis at the 2007 Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards
The NZIODA and it's sailors were well represented at the awards ceremony held at the Royal Yacht Squadron on 16 November.
2007 World Optimist Champion Chris Steele was joint winner of the Young Sailor of the Year, along with 2006 & 2007 International 420 World Champions and ex NZ Opti representatives Peter Burling and Carl Evans. As top country team at the Opti Worlds, winners of the Miami Herald trophy, Chris Steele, Alexandra Maloney, Logan Dunning-Beck, James Turner and Sam MacKay received a Merit Award. Andrew Wills received a Merit Award for his role as coach to the Worlds team, and Alexander Maloney was a finalist nominee for the Young Sailor of the Year. The list of nominees in both the Young Sailor of the Year, and Sailor of the Year featured many past Opti sailors.
Amongst the Honour Awards were Lorna and Mike Judd who have been involved with the class for many years. As well as looking after measurement and coaching for the class; building regional club participation and development; Lorna and Mike also helped finance entries for the first teams travelling to World Opti Championships - the humble beginnings of our opti sailors' achievements today.
Barry Davies also received an Honour Award. Barry initiated the annual Opti Clinic which has become one of the three big national events on every NZ Opti sailors' calendar. Barry also organised the NI's on behalf of NZIODA for many years - along with his wife Dianne, he has put countless hours into the class.
Top left: Jan Dawson, YNZ, and Opti team members James Turner, Chrs Steele and Alexandra Maloney. Absent - Logan Dunning Beck and Sam MacKay.
Bottom left: Lorna Judd, His Excellency the Governor-General Anand Satyanand, Mike Judd
Photos Richard GladwellTop right: Jan Dawson and Andrew Wills
Bottom right: Barry Davies and His Excellency the Governor-General Anand Satyanand
Photos: Richard GladwellInterclub teams racing at Murrays Bay 10 November '07
A beautiful sunny day with light northerly winds set the scene for some early season teams racing. The courses were set just off Mairangi Bay and Murrays Bay, giving spectators a good view from the popular walkway over the cliffs, and along the foreshore walkway when the tide was low. The sailors had a great time and I believe there are plans to hold another competition later this summer - not sure where and when but we'll keep you posted.Judge Jim Maloney agreed that it was a great day - "the kids had a blast". Kohimarama YC, Tauranga BC, Howick SC, Bucklands Beach YC, Wakatere BC and Murrays Bay SC entered teams with a total of 12 taking part. Official results aren't available at this stage, but 1st place went to a Murrays Bay team, 2nd to Tauranga, 3rd to Wakatere and 4th to Kohimarama. Click here for more photos
Andrew McKenzie reports on his Bermuda Junior Gold Cup trip
On Monday Dad came home from work saying he had received a phone call from Kevin Brown President of NZIODA asking if I wanted to go to Bermuda to compete in the King Edward VIIth Junior Gold Cup next week. Did I What!! We also received an email from Peter Montgomery saying we had hit the jackpot and were sure to have a great time. He said that Dad should watch out for the 'Dark and Stormies', On Sunday we were on the plane.31 hours after take off and a four hour sleep at a JFK Airport hotel we arrived in sunny Bermuda..... to read more click here
Bermuda is a small series of islands, 22 square miles in total, approximately 600 nautical miles off the east coast of North America, and 800 miles North East of the Bahamas, and 32 degrees north of the equator. Actually it is way out in the Atlantic, seemingly a million miles from anywhere. The islands form part of the ring of a volcanic crater atop a 13,000 foot underwater mountain. Wow!
