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Results all 'One Way' for Harry Thurston at the Knight Frank Young 88 South Island Championship
Published Mon 12 Mar 2018
Former Emirates Team New Zealand member and America's Cup World Series veteran Harry Thurston has won this year's Knight Frank South Island Young 88 Championships in Lyttelton, New Zealand, weekend of March 10-11.
The boat, owned by Tim Anderson, is based in Thurston's home port of Akaroa. The crew also featured other big names of New Zealand yachting including ETNZ rigger and Sydney Hobart Race winner Nick Burridge and accomplished match racer and 2011 Young 88 Nationals winner Will Tiller.
Thurston's One Way set the standard with an excellent performance offering few opportunities for the chasing pack. Despite this there was some good close racing, particularly on Sunday, with Thurston and his team finding work to do with a number lead changes.
Fine weather and north easterlies provided great racing conditions over the two-day regatta out of Naval Point Club in Lyttelton. It was light on the Saturday (7 - 12 knots) and fluky at times making it tough to pick the right side. A building breeze on Sunday saw 14 to 16 knots in the first two races building to 18 in the third throwing a few challenges at the crews.
The nearly completed Te Ana Marina in Lyttelton was host to the fleet and Knight Frank sponsored hospitality after racing on Saturday. It was a great way to celebrate the new marina and have all the crew get together for a sausage, beer and a Mt Gay rum in the sun.
Big thanks to naming sponsor Knight Frank, plus Mount Gay Rum, Harken, North Sails and Oborns Nautical. Thanks also to hosts Naval Point Club Lyttelton and all the associated volunteers, spectators and cheerleaders.
More Young 88s are joining the existing Lyttelton fleet to make the most of the new marina facilities. We expect next year's Champs in Akaroa to be even more hotly contested.
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