Top sailors gather

Over 350 sailors are preparing for the Sail Auckland Regatta

Over 350 sailors are expected on Auckland harbour over Waitangi weekend for the annual Sail Auckland Regatta.

The four day regatta which starts this Friday is supported by Ports of Auckland and will host top New Zealand Olympic class sailors as well as some internationals that have travelled to Auckland for this event.

Regatta organiser Tom Macky explains the significance of the event for these sailors.

“Sail Auckland is one of just nine internationally recognised Olympic Class Regattas on the World circuit from which the World Rankings for sailors are compiled,” says Macky. “As such, Sail Auckland attracts superb international competition for our local Olympic class sailors campaigning for Beijing.”

“This year we will have more than 20 New Zealand sailors competing who have either won medals at the Olympics, in Olympic Class World Championships, or ISAF Youth World Championships. The high standard of our local sailors attracts top international champions to our waters.”

Four Yachting New Zealand Olympic Squad sailors will be on the water including Andrew Murdoch (Laser) and Jo Aleh (Laser Radial). Competition is likely to be tough in the Laser fleet with fellow kiwis Michael Bullot, David Weaver and Blair McLay challenging Murdoch for the top spot. Young Australian Laser hot shot Tom Slingsby, as well as sailors from Britain and Korea are also in Auckland for the event.

The other YNZ Olympic Squad members taking part are former board sailors Aaron McIntosh and Bruce Kendall now paired sailing the Tornado catamaran. Sebastion Godfreid and Caroline Brouer from Belgium are both world champions in single handed classes and come together to compete in the Tornado at Sail Auckland. The New Zealand Tornado National Champs take place the following weekend.

Sail Auckland also presents top board sailing competition with New Zealand and international sailors testing their skills on the new Olympic board, the Neil Pryde RS:X. 2004 Olympian Tom Ashley who came out on top in the fiercely contested RS:X windsurfing nationals which just concluded at Takapuna is competing this weekend. Recent medallist at Sail Melbourne and Oceanic Champion, Jon-Paul Tobin is also in the fleet.

Ashley and Tobin are up against two strong Polish board sailors in New Zealand for this summer’s regattas, which are among the first internationally recognised in this new class.

Top junior sailors Peter Burling and Carl Evans who recently won the individual Starling and P class National Championships respectively have paired up in the double-handed 420. Burling placed 6th in the 420 World Championships 2005 and has numerous other titles to his name.

Junior Sail Auckland incorporating the Optimist, P Class, Starling and Splash fleets runs over Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 February.