The 2024 Sir Peter Blake Regatta, hosted by the Torbay Sailing Club, opened yesterday with a spectacular display of skill, strategy, and determination. As the largest youth sailing event in the Southern Hemisphere, this regatta attracts hundreds of young sailors from across New Zealand, and the first day lived up to its reputation for intense competition and camaraderie. With clear skies and moderate winds, sailors across three race areas pushed their limits in a bid to establish early leads.
As the day concluded, some competitors cemented their dominance, while others set the stage for an exciting second day of racing today.
Race Area A: Early standouts among junior sailors
Race Area A featured the O’pen Skiff and Optimist Green and White classes, offering a mix of emerging talent and experienced youth sailors.
- O’pen Skiff Gold Class: Sol Douwes from Manly SC impressed with two first-place finishes and a second, tallying an enviable total of 4 points. Fellow Manly SC sailors Valentina Gladiadis and Mia Peters are tied with 10 points, leaving today’s races critical for overall winning positions.
- O’pen Skiff Silver Class: Jackson Leigh of Bay of Islands YC was unmatched, winning both of today’s races and finishing with a perfect score of 2. Teammate Henry Burgess is within striking distance at 5 points, and Maple Brazle sits third with 8 points.
- Optimist Green Class: Alvin Zhang of Murrays Bay SC leads with 5 points, demonstrating consistency in a large fleet of 37 sailors. With James Palmer (7 points) and Ray Zhang (10 points) close behind, the Green Class promises a fierce contest today.
- Optimist White Class: Jack Robertson from Murrays Bay SC set the standard with a first and second-place finish, totaling 3 points. Hudson Halla (6 points) and Alex Garcia-Curtis (7 points) will be aiming to close the gap in today’s races.
Race Area B: Competitive classes tighten the field
Race Area B brought out fierce rivalries in the Optimist Open, RS Feva, Starling, and P Class divisions, showcasing both tactical brilliance and resilience.
- Optimist Open Class: Greta Hutton of Murrays Bay SC leads with 5 points, having secured one win and two second-place finishes. Today, Harry Strang (14 points) and Sam Kandziora (16 points) will aim to challenge her for the top spot in this competitive fleet of 54 sailors.
- RS Feva Class: Elisa Currie and Juliet White combined their skills to claim the top spot with 9 points, thanks to consistent finishes. Teams led by James Currell (11 points) and Henry Meldrum (13 points) are still in contention, ensuring an unpredictable finale.
- Starling Class: Amelia Higson leads with 13 points after winning two of yesterday’s three races. Her competitors, Isaac Gaites (14 points) and Ethan Gard (17 points), remain close, adding to the suspense of today’s schedule.
- P Class: Zofia Wells dominated her class, finishing with 2 points after two wins. While Callum Hyde and Hamish Brown trail with 7 points each, they remain within range of contention heading into day two.
Race Area C: Advanced classes display precision
Race Area C, featuring some of the most technically challenging fleets, saw strong performances across the 29er, 420, and ILCA 6 classes.
- 29er Class: The team of Will Leech and Will Mason leads with 5 points, narrowly ahead of Nelsen Meacham and Joe Leith, also with 5 points. Today’s races will determine the final podium order.
- 420 Class: Cam Brown and Oli Stone are virtually unchallenged, winning all three of yesterday’s races. Though the fleet only has two entries, their dominance reflects precision teamwork.
- ILCA 6 Class: Tom Pilkington tops the leaderboard with 7 points after two wins. Sam Clarke (10 points) and Beau Utting (14 points) will be eyeing the leader’s spot in tomorrow’s decisive races.
Young women in the spotlight
Day one also highlighted the growing prominence of female sailors. Across several classes, including Optimist Open, RS Feva, Starling, and P Class, female competitors either led or secured strong positions. Sailors like Greta Hutton, Amelia Higson, and Zofia Wells are leading their respective fleets, demonstrating the depth of talent among New Zealand’s young women in sailing.
Looking at today’s racing
With races scheduled to continue today (again with weather sunny and breezy), sailors will face new challenges and opportunities to improve their standings. The consistency displayed by leaders yesterday will be tested, and those trailing have every chance to close the gap.
As we celebrate the first day of this iconic regatta, one thing is clear: the spirit of Sir Peter Blake lives on in these young sailors. Today promises more excitement as competitors chase victory, honour, and a place in New Zealand’s sailing history.
