18 entries for this weekend's Harken Young 88 National Championship 2019
by Mike Leyland 11 Mar 2019 10:52 GMT
16-17 March 2019
2017 Harken Young 88 Nationals, Saturday 4 March © Lissa Reyden of LiveSailDie
The Young 88 continues to prove its popularity with high levels of participation and building fleets in the North Island, South Island and West Island (New South Wales).
The 2019 Harken Nationals take place on 16-17 March. Entries include the current champ Zane Gifford's Raging Hormones to be skippered by Andrew Wills, and previous Nationals winner and current sprint racing leader Mark Bond's Slipstream.
It's fantastic to see former top race boats returning to the fleet like Stephen Bettesworth's Split Decision, Jacko van Deventer's Sailor Moon being skippered by new boat partner Michael Naulls and Dave Stanton's Sister Moonshine skippered by son Campbell. Undercover has recently changed hands with new owner Akaroa based Jonny Bell and skipper former Emirates Team NZ sailor Harry Thurston setting the Auckland scene alight by finishing at the top of the first couple of nights of sprint racing. The fleet is also welcoming for the first time Jim Young's daughter, Wendy Muir campaigning Young Blood with Jim's granddaughter Kelsey aboard.
PredictWind's long range forecast models for the race area North of Rangitoto are already well aligned showing a perfect 10-15kts from East on Saturday and a bit more 15-20 from the East on Sunday with very little or no rain.
The Young 88 Association has been testing out the MySail boat and crew management app and has been using it successfully to help the owners fill crew gaps. To view crew available and sign up go to the MySail event page here.
The weekend' off water plan at The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron plan is as busy as ever with a skipper's briefing 1800 Friday night including the slightly different procedures for an umpired fleet.
There will be a full on "after match" Saturday in the Dinghy Locker bar featuring an inter crew Harken Winching competition with loads of great prizes and spot prizes. The Nationals will be capped off with the Prize Giving Sunday night in the Quarterdeck restaurant with special guests including designer Jim and his wife Anne Young.
The racing and results can be followed on the RNZYS event page here and also, on the Young 88 Facebook page.