2025 NZ Finn North Island Champs 28 Feb – 1 March

28 February and 17 Finns from around the country and two of our Brisbane (West Island) mates descended on the town of Waiuku for the North Island Championships. Day 1 saw the start delayed as we waited for tide and breeze to fill in. Finally, a light wind allowed for 3 races to be completed before the tide retreated too much. Those new to Waiuku quickly learning to keep eyes out of the boat and adapt to the extreme vagaries of the local wind. Some shell-shocked sailors ashore later still coming to grips with their fate afloat while enjoying the club’s excellent hospitality and the fleets Bard Mr Brendon Hogg recounting of the day’s misadventures. Many windshifts and a tide change later Mark Perrow emphatically emerged as the days leader followed by Ray Hall and John Warlow (visiting Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Commodore) in 3rd. Day 2 and a wind direction change to the west suited OK Dinghy sailor Sean Cleary who dominated with placings of 1,1,3. Waiuku local Mark Perrow after dominating the previous day did enough to handily win from Ray Hall with Karl Purdie rounding out the podium. Sean unfortunately had not been able to sail the previous day and ended up 10th. Everyone had their turn at the sharp end of the fleet during the day with many places decided in the final 100m of the last beat. Our Aussie mates finished 5th and 7th firing a warning shot over the bows of the NZ fleet showing that they would be in the mix for the nationals. With the forecast for the nationals looking similar to that already endured many nervous sailors retired for the evening after the prizegiving and a few calming beverages.