7:36 AM Thu 29 Jan 2009 GMT
A fleet of New Zealand's top dinghy sailors will be in Wellington during Waitangi weekend (Feb 5-8) for four top level national and interdominion events.
The Worser Bay Boating Club is hosting the Interdominion OK Dinghy Championships, which has attracted Kiwi and Australian top ranked sailors.
OK Dinghy
Worser Bay sailor Karl Purdie is the current OK Dinghy World Champion. He will be taking on not only the cream of the kiwi talent, many ranked the best in the world, but also a top Australian team of seven sailors. The Australian team includes past world champion Roger Blasse.
The Interdominion OK Dinghy Championships is being administered by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club and sailed out of Worser Bay. The competition course is between Matiu and Ward Island in Wellington Harbour.
The event will act as a prelude to the World OK Dinghy Championships being held on the same course in February next year.
Z Class
The club is also hosting the Z Class New Zealand Championship, the New Zealand R Class Skiff National Championship (Leander Trophy) and the Sunburst North Island Regatta.
 | Action on the water. The Z Class fleet will be in Wellington to battle it out for the national titile - as they did when this photograph was taken during the 2006 championships held in Napier. - 2006 Z Class National Championships - Hilary Parker Click Here to view large photo |
The Z Class New Zealand Championship is likely to be a closely fought series, with the three past championships being decided on a count back; when first place has been tied. This year the competition amongst the traditional class has been spiced up with a wave of sail development.
Current New Zealand champion Peter Hollyman and Colin Gamble will be battling to retain their title against stiff opposition from previous winners John Bulleyment and Kevin Saunders.
The events are expected to attract up to 100 boats, plus some of the country's best dinghy sailors.
Worser Bay Boating Club Commodore Andrew Paterson says it will be a huge weekend.
"There's going to be a heap going on. It'll be a lot of fun."
R class flyers
The fast and furious R Class will feature 15 crews including current national champions Sean Milner and Dan Leech.
Competition in the unrestricted class could be particularly interesting if a boat featuring hydrofoils under development by a group of Christchurch sailors puts in an appearance. Whether it will appear in Wellington remains a secret.
Sunburst veteran one to watch
The Sunburst North Island Regatta comes just two weeks after the national champs, fought over the weekend of January 24/25.
National champion winner Brett Linton, who sailed with his daughter Penny (nine), will be acting as race officer during the Worser Bay championships. However, some names to watch out for are 70-year-old sailor Maurice Scott, who with his son Greg Scott took out the national veteran's title, and the well-placed pairing of Glenn Stanley and Johnathan Bacon, who are likely to do well in heavy weather.
Racing times
The Z Class and R Class Skiff's will be first to hit the water with racing starting on Thursday February 5.
All classes will be racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Z Class, R Class and Sunbursts start racing at 11 am on Friday and then 10am on Saturday and Sunday. OK Dinghy details are yet to be confirmed.
For more information go to www.wbbc.wellington.net.nz
by Claire Giblin
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