Starling Nationals: Wakatere Boating Club sailors in top spots after three days of racing
by Zoe Hawkins 22 Apr 2021 06:27 BST
22 April 2021
Heavy traffic at the 2021 Barfoot & Thompson 2021 Starling Nationals © Joshua McCormack
George Lee Rush has emerged with a slender lead after Day 3 of the Barfoot & Thompson Starling Nationals 2021.
Robbie Woolridge and Josh Hyde are in second and third places. The three sailors are from Wakatere Boating Club.
“It’s tight and any of these sailors could potentially win the regatta,” says Jonathan Gravit of the Starling Class Association.
Four races were held yesterday in a shifty south-westerly with variable puffs and swings of 30 degrees across the course affecting the last race in particular.
Nicola Hume from Murrays Bay Sailing Club is the top girl.
In the Silver Fleet Alex Norman of Murrays Bay Sailing Club/Wakatere Boating Club has a clear lead, 16 points ahead of Zoe Mains from Glendowie Boating Club and Finn Balchin from Napier Sailing Club. The oldest sailor, Debbie Fewtrell, won the fourth race.
In the Development Fleet Katie Mulcahy of Murrays Bay Sailing Club won two races yesterday and holds the lead. Sofia Currie of Maraetai Sailing Club is second and Blake Jeffrey of Wakatere Sailing Club in third.
Four more races are scheduled for today to decide the national championship title. The forecast for today is a light to moderate south-westerly.
The Barfoot & Thompson Starling Nationals 2021 are hosted by Kohimarama Yacht Club and run from 18-22 April 2021.
Details and early results tables are at www.kyc.org.nz