Yachting New Zealand Regional Coordinator, and YouthSail Judge, Neil Verry describes the conditions.

“It was survival sailing out there today,” says Verry. “There was a strong chop with the breeze, which strengthened through the afternoon. There was some damage to some boats. It was great to see the kids having a blast despite it though. There were some big smiles on faces out there.”

The leading boat changed throughout racing in the Laser fleet with Blair McLay from Torbay Sailing Club coming out on top at the end of Day one with two wins. McLay has shown excellent form this season, his best performance being 2nd at the Laser National Championship in Napier.

In the Olympic Class Laser Radial, Cushla Hume-Merry from Wellington sits equal with Olivia Powrie, both on three points. Powrie sailed a 420 with the New Zealand Youth Team last year and has moved, this year into the Laser Radial single-handed boat.

Strong interest has provided a 21 boat fleet in the 420 class and some strong competition. As with the other Youth Trial classes the regatta winning Boys and Girls 420 pairs will become eligible for selection into the New Zealand Youth Team to travel to Poland, and competition is fierce.

The top three spots are tied up all with 4 points. There is good representation from around the country amongst the leading crews, all showing they can handle the breezy conditions. Peter Burling & Bruce Kennedy of Tauranga are tied with Chris Dawson & Scott Illingworth, both from Auckland and Riley Dean & John Little from Naval Point Club in Christchurch.

Georgina Hill and Michelle Kennedy from Kohimarama Yacht Club was the top girls’ pair on the board at the end of the day.

Competition is fierce in the Boys Mistral Boardsailing also, with Antonnio Cozzolino and Correy Plant all tied up on three points, both recording a 1st and 2nd on Day One. Steffanie Williams leads the girls’ boardsailing demonstrating strength and experience.

YouthSail 2005 Day One Results
Thursday, April 21 2005

Laser

1st - Blair McLay (Torbay Sailing Club) - 2 points
2nd – Blair Lindsay (Murrays Bay) – 4 points
3rd – Matt Coutts (Murrays Bay) – 6 points

Laser Radial

1st - Cushla Hume-Merry (Worser Bay) – 3 points
2nd - Olivia Powrie (Kohimarama) – 3 points
3rd - Jane Monk (Otago) – 7 points

Boys 420

1st - Peter Burling & Bruce Kennedy (Tauranga) - 4 points
2nd - Chris Dawson (Murrays Bay) & Scott Illingworth (Kohimarama) – 4 points
3rd - Riley Dean & John Little (Naval Point) – 4 points

Girls 420

1st - Georgina Hill & Michelle Kennedy (Kohimarama) – 14 points
2nd - Hayley Wilson (Murrays Bay) & Rosie Sargisson (Kohimarama) – 31 points
3rd – Leah Moncheur & Nicola Trudgen (Muritai) – 34 points

Boys Mistral BoardSailing

1st - Antonio Cozzolino (Mistral Owners Assoc) – 3 points
2nd – Correy Plant (Stormriders Boardsailing) – 3 points
3rd – Chris Blake (Glendowie) – 6 points

Girls Mistral

1st - Steffanie Williams (Kohimarama) – 19 points
2nd - Justina Sellers (Howick) – 21 points
3rd - Kate Ellingham (Wakatere) – 28 points

Hobie

Rory & Kelly Goodman (Otago)

P Class

1st - Carl Evans (Kohimarama) – 2 points
2nd – Paul Snow-Hansen (Wakatere) – 4 points
3rd – Jason Saunders (Tauranga) 7 points

Splash

1st - Ersin Buckley (Tutakaka) – 2 points
2nd – Andy Maloney (Kerikeri) – 6 points
3rd – Mathew Jacobson (Onerahi) – 7 points

Starling

1st – Andrew Knox (Wakatere) – 6 points
2nd – Nigel Halliburton (Kohimarama) - 7 points
3rd – Simon Stanley-Harris (Glendowie) – 8 points

Source: Jodie Perkins