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NZL National Championships and Selection Trials

31
Oct 2011
New Zealand’s National Championships this weekend – and with a difference….or two.
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2010 New Zealand National Championships
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New Zealand’s National Championships this weekend – and with a difference….or two. The Nationals are a 4-day regatta at Murrays Bay SC, Auckland from Thursday 25. Like most 420 regattas around the world it will be organised by a team of parents and supporter s, working with RO, Steve Pyatt.

Organiser, Craig Moss, Vice Commodore at Murrays Bay and 420 Class Committee member writes: “…we will (also) be running a ‘restricted’ 420 class (with) jib and main only, no trapeze or spinnakers. The idea is to attract new sailors to the Class in a non threatening way. This was first tried at the North Islands in November, with encouraging results . So far there has been interest not just from new sailors…, but also parent/son/daughter teams……..The 470s will also be joining us for Friday - Sunday”. This certainly sounds a great way to encourage new entrants to the Class, but also to celebrate the boat as a family, club racer, as well as the performance pre-Olympic youth boat.

Bringing an international challenge again (Ireland’s, Jane Butler and Jenny Andreasson prepared for the ISAF Youths and the World Champs at last year’s Champs) are two teams from Malaysia, Khairunnnisa Mohd Afendy & Norashikin Mohamad Sayed and Ky Anas Ku Zamil & Mohamad Hafizzudin Mazelan - they took 3rd and 4th places at Sail Auckland and were 13th and 9th respectively at the Australian 420 Nationals at the beginning of 2010. Some serious campaigning here too!

So, it is all happening in New Zealand. With 2009 World Ladies’ Champions, Alexandra Maloney & Bianca Barbarich-Bacher, and Bronze Medallists, Francisco Lardies & Finn Drummond, moving on (Alexandra won the 29er fleet at Sail Auckland and Francisco & Finn took 3rd in the 470s (2007 World Ladies’ Champs, Jo Aleh & Olivia Powrie, at Takapuna won the 470 event) – wow, today’s Kiwi 420 sailors have high standards set for them!