2006 National Championship : Maraetai
The weather forecast was not promising however the 2006 Jollyboat Nationals went ahead on April 29/30 at Maraetai Beach sailing Club. Kindly supported by Ronstan, new faces to the fleet was the order of the day and much interest was turned to whether or not the Waiheke sailors had improved further since the Auckland Champs earlier in the season.
There were also some dark horses with Adam Coates, Matt Hall-Smith and Ray Hall, brother of Roger Hall, borrowing Clint Rennie's Bartman for the occasion. The event was run under the competent eye of Phil Foulkes who did an excellent job considering the unpredictability of the weather.
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Murray, the new poster boy of jollyboat yachting eases it to windward |
On day one the wind turned on a 5 -10 knot easterly breeze for the morning two heats. In race one Roger Hall sailing Peppermint planet led all the way to get the gun with Murray Robertson sailing Hotshot and Matt Hall-Smith sailing Snorter slugging it out behind for second place. Matt Hall-Smith banged the right hand side on the last beat to slide through to claim second with Murray third.
The second race went a similar way but this time saw the emergence of Ray Hall sailing Bartman. With his brother winning again Ray posted a second with Matt Hall-Smith sailing a fine race to finish 3rd.
The first race in the afternoon was again in a light to moderate easterly. Grant Archer sailing One One Five charged to the lead in a strengthening breeze only to hook his centerboard around the centerboard at the top mark Mark Winters found his stride to lead most of the race to the bottom mark for the final time. An enthralling match race with Roger Hall saw the boats locked together until the final ¼ of the leg with Roger Hall gaining a small shift on the left hand side to slide through for a third consecutive gun.
The final race of the day saw the most consistent strength breeze and again Roger Hall won with Mark Winter again second. And 103 sailed by sailed well above themselves to finish a mighty third.
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2006 two handed National Title was won by Roy Cunningham |
Day two was not looking promising for wind but at least the rain had cleared. The first race started in a light northwesterly. Murray Boucher sailing Splinter showed what light wind sailing was all about to lead at the top mark with the bunch close by. Murray held his lead for the reaches and then the second beat. By then Mark Winters sailing Weapon and Roger Hall in Peppermint planet had clawed their way through the fleet to close the gap. Nearing the bottom mark for the last time Roger Hall got the inside overlap and then led up the final beat. Gordon Dyer sped past three boats to claim and fantastic second with Winters third.
The wind then petered out and all the boats sat in a mill pond. Finally a moderate Southwesterly came through and race six was started.. Ray Hall got his teeth into this one and sailed well to lead at the top mark with Matt Hall-Smith close by. These two led the way and while Roger Hall in Peppermint planet was close by his strangle hold was finally broken with Ray Hall in Bartman getting the gun with Matt Hall-Smith second and Murray Boucher sailing superbly for third.
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2006 single handed and combined National Title was won by Roger Hall in Peppermint Planet |
The final race saw a lottery develop. With all boats sailing close together it was Mark Winters getting the edge turning a 5 metre lead into a 500 metre lead before any one could say boo! The race was shortened Roger Hall was second and Matt Hall-Smith third.
Roger Hall was the clear winner for the singlehanded and overall National Title however the race for second was tight with Ray Hall just edging out Matt Hall-Smith.
Both sailors racing their first nationals in the class.
The double handed division was won by Roy and Jamie Cunningham by only one point over Auckland Champions Steve Tennent and Alex King.
Our thanks to Maraetai Sailing Club and Ronstan for their generous support of the 2006 National Championship.
