14 July 2024 by Gary Fowler - Paddy Wagon

Record Young 88 fleet for the first of the SSANZ Lewmar Triple Series races.

17 Young 88s competed in the first Lewmar Triple Series race yesterday. This was a record fleet for the class and was the largest class fleet in the race. (Sorry Piedies…)

Congratulations to Flash Gordon, Babe and Sailor Moon for the 1,2,3 on the line and to Spilt Decision for the handicap win. Flash Gordon and Babe showed how it was done but the next 4 yachts, after 12 hours of racing finished within 4 minutes of each other. Another example of the close racing that the Young 88s always provide.

It was a painfully light first four hours with plenty of calm patches to fall into around to top of Rangitoto and along the west coast of Motutapu. The breeze finally filled in around Rakino and there was a great kite run to Motuora with the front group of boats battling it out. The following beat around Tiri, to Northern Leading and through to the finish was glorious with a SE 10 – 15 knots breeze lowering to about 8 knots down the Rangitoto Channel and to the finish. The sun was out during the day and the moon was out at night and it was a great start to the series.

Many thanks to the SSANZ race committee for putting on another great series, for the race organisation and for doing the results. We appreciate the huge amount of work that goes into preparing such a series.