The Northland Age

Iconic sailors hop aboard for youth regatta

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in the silver division.

Conditions varied over both days but the infamous ‘Bay Breeze’ gradually built to around 8-10 knots to make for exciting racing.

Day one saw two races before lunch and four in the afternoon. Racing was wrapped up late morning on day two with a ‘fun race’ in which everyone had to stand — and some deliberate­ly capsize their boats at the mark. “And they it,” Haslar said of this less serious side.

The prizegivin­g proved festive with Coutts draping gold, silver and bronze medals around the necks of the top placegette­rs in each division “just like the Olympics”. There was also a table of gifts based on a draw system allowing every competitor to receive a prize or recognitio­n. This included a special award presentati­on to Sebastian Rhind from Wanaka for being the most distant competitor.

 ?? MAIN PICTURE/LESLEY HASLAR ?? The presence of two of New Zealand’s most accomplish­ed sailing exponents elevated proceeding­s for the junior skiff sailing national championsh­ips at Opua Bay last weekend.
Sir Russell Coutts and windsurfin­g legend Barbara Kendall were out and about...
MAIN PICTURE/LESLEY HASLAR The presence of two of New Zealand’s most accomplish­ed sailing exponents elevated proceeding­s for the junior skiff sailing national championsh­ips at Opua Bay last weekend. Sir Russell Coutts and windsurfin­g legend Barbara Kendall were out and about...

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