Auckland delivered what seemed like the 100th cyclone affected weather pattern for the season for the 2023 North Shore Freshwater Champs at Lake Pupuke on 20th and 21st May. The result was two days of fresh to strong W to SW winds, with Saturdays racing curtailed after 2 races when the gusts got to around 30 knots, and while Sunday was a bit more manageable, with the gusts probably never getting much over 20 knots, there were plenty of the usual lake shifts and holes to negotiate and the odd torrential rain squall just for good measure!
Talk of the boat park on Saturday afternoon was equally divided, some focussing on Mike Pasco’s technology telling him he did 17 knots on the last downwind of the race 2, not bad for an old guy in an ILCA 6, but others were more focussed on recounting how many variations of the classic Laser capsizes they managed! Unsurprisingly the younger, fitter guns ruled the roost in the trying conditions. Samoan Olympic rep Eroni Leilua was in the hunt on day 1 then totally dominated Sundays racing to take out the ILCA 7 title from Caleb Armit. Third overall and dominating the Master was GM Tony Nicholson, who was clear ahead of the chasing bunch, all of whom found any sort of consistency a challenge in the conditions. This group was led by Karl Nicholson (M) in 4th overall, with leading GGM Nick Page 5th,just holding off Mike Knowsley (GM) and Hamilton visitor Ken Atchison (M) in the bunch.
In the ILCA 6 the event came down to the last race, with leading Master Phil Wild struggling to hold off a late run from rising star Naiomi Ferrissey (YW), while Apprentice Phillip Bennet was hot on their heels. A big rain squall on the last circuit of the last race almost changed the top end placings. Naomi somehow managed a magical downwind recovery from a poor start to pip Phillip on the finish line, and with Phil back in the fleet looked to have done enough to take the title.However an inspired mark rounding and last beat from Phil saw himcoming through into 3rd on the line, just enough to take the title on count back from Naomi, with Phillip not far behind in 3rd. Sophia Morgan and Isabella Boyd were 4th and 5th overall, showing the increasing depth of talent in the women’s fleet, while Saturday’s GM speedster Mike Pascoe was second master in 6th overall.
A Zephyr fleet also braved the conditions, with Mike Drummond dominating every race in spite of the odd swim to win overall from Paul Mason and Dave Rivingdon.
So in spite of very challenging conditions again a very successful regatta, well run and certainly exciting for all those who braved the autumn conditions.
Nick Page
