Nelson Yacht Club members cleaned up at the South Island Laser Championships held in Nelson over the weekend of the 14th & 15th December 2013. Tasman Bay turned on the conditions, with 15-18kt Sea Breezes and nice waves under hot sunny skies.
Paul McNabb won every race in the standard Laser, ahead of Rob Stevenson and Paul Hufflett.
Laura Harding had only one blemish on her scorecard as Ollie Peckham beat her in the final race in the Laser 4.7 fleet. However, with six races completed, she was able to discard this result to comprehensively take the title. Jenny Ferrier came third after her mast snapped in the last race.
The Laser Radial fleet proved to be the most hotly contested, with NZ Olympic Radial Sailor Sara Winther looking on and offering her wisdom and coaching tips to 11 sailors. Josh Edmonds, NYC Member and coach for NBYTRA (the Nelson Bays Youth Teams Racing Association), dominated the regatta with 4 bullets after an initial 2nd place in the first race. He took back the title he won last time the event was held in Nelson, working hard to beat Dunedin sailors Chris Tulley and Peter Graham.
Laser South Island Championships – Results
Sara Winther’s help over the weekend was awesome, and everyone took something constructive away from the weekend. Thanks as well to all the volunteers who made the weekend run so smoothly. NYC is looking forward to hosting the NZMT Turbochargers NZ Laser National Championships starting January 16th 2014.