Report: New Zealand Harken Secondary Schools Keelboat Championships

Over the weekend of Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 March, members of the School’s Yachting team competed at the New Zealand Harken Secondary Schools Keelboat Championships.

Sailing from Westhaven Marina, the team had an great qualifying day on Saturday, with a nice south westerly breeze up to 12 knots. They struggled with their starts, but with good speed and tactics consistently managed to come back through the fleet. The team ended the day as top qualifier with a one point lead over Kristin School.

Sunday brought light southerly winds with the points resetting for finals racing. The team sailed steadily and held a three point lead over Kristin heading into the final race.

Although leading throughout, they was overtaken on the finish by Macleans College. The team showed incredible consistency with no lower than a second place in the ten boat gold fleet which proved to be enough and took home the National title, the first time the School has won the title since 2015.

Congratulations to the team (pictured above): Form 7 students J. W. M. Buckland-Blair and G. J. B. Pilkington, Form 6 student S. W. Kensington, captain R. J. Kensington and Form 4 student T. G. E. Pilkington, to coach Guy Pilkington and to Master in Charge L. Sweeney for her continued guidance and support of the team.