Slingshot claims winter sailing series
Slingshot, skippered by Clive Ballet, took out the division one title in the Waikawa Boating Club’s New Zealand King Salmon Winter Series.
The series concluded on Sunday with the eighth round of racing in the Marlborough Sounds, when the overall placings were decided in ideal sailing conditions.
Slingshot claimed division one honours for the series, from Khamsin, with Northern Rebel third, Viola fourth and Flying Tiger fifth.
The division two crown was won by Prime Suspect, from runner-up Bavaria, with Welcome Home third, Acquiesce fourth and Fame fifth.
Sunday’s racing saw 22 yachts, across the two divisions, unfurl their sails.
After an intense start the yachts got down to some tough racing and it was Viola who struck the right chord to come out on top, holding off the eventual series winner, Slingshot.
Ballett said his second-placed crew had performed well.
’’We started on the line at the right moment and we have a fairly new, but good, crew of six - three experienced and three novices. So we sailed well with good timing,’’ he said.
Paul Tredinnick, skipper of Acquisce, who finished third on Sunday and fourth overall, described the conditions as, ‘‘perfect early spring sailing’’. He had a crew of six, including two rookies, and enjoyed the day immensely. ‘‘It beats the hell out of mowing lawns,’’ Tredinnick added.
Division two on Sunday was taken out by Galaxsea. Skipper Des McMillan put his success down to ‘‘ideal sailing conditions, a little bit of luck and help from my crew who have been sailing with me for some time’’.
D’Edge was second in division two and skipper Laurie McIntyre said it was the tightest start he had seen.
‘‘The breeze stayed constant at 10 to 12 knots, gusting a bit more at times. We were lucky enough to have Anna Gibbs, a very experienced sailor, on board as part of our crew. It was a long reaching race.’’