Burnsco Finn Nationals and North Island Championship Regattas at Waiuku Yacht Club
by Karl Purdie 9 Mar 23:53 PDT
28 February – 4 March 2025
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 Baird Mr Brendon Hoggs 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 endedup 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 prize-giving and a few calming beverages.
2 March and day 1 of the nationals dawned fine with light winds from the west. The "it's never normally like this cry" echoing around the boat park as 4 more sailors (including 2024 National Champion Richard Hawkins hailing from Port Chalmers YC) joined the fray. With the wind and tide playing ball three 45-minute races were completed with Ray, Richard and Mark ending the day within 1 point of each other in the lead. Placings 4-8 were close behind. Consistency in the conventional sense was hard to find. The consensus being if you finished all races in the top 8 then you were doing well. Three different race winners emerged (from various corners of the race course) and comprised Richard Hawkins, Ray Hall and Dan Bush....Bushy sailing a cracker to dominate race 2. This racing was definitely not for the faint hearted or those suffering from nervous disorders! Cool heads and self-belief (often in the face of overwhelming despair while waiting for that final shift that you just "knew" was there to materialise before the finish) won the day.
Day 2 (Moving Day) dawned with everything to play for, and Ray Hall made his move, dishing out a lesson in consistency to the fleet. Two firsts and a 4th putting him in a very commanding position heading into the final days racing. His club mate Karl Purdie also having a good day moved into 2nd with Lucas Prescott 4th (suffering the 3rd race blues which otherwise would have seen him much higher) and Richard Hawkins hanging in there at 3rd. Mark Perrow with 8th, 8th and 9th had a day he'd rather forget after dominating the earlier regatta scoreboard. However, such is the nature of sailing at Waiuku where risks are rewarded and more conservative, mid-course sailing severely punished. You pay your money and take your (educated guess) chances at this venue!
The legendary mermaid of Waiuku showing she had no local favourites with Mark Perrow suffering her wrath for failing to make adequate sacrifice.... Ray's salted caramel muesli bars obviously finding favour with her fickle, wilful wiles!
Day 3 and we all knew these last 3 races were crucial... for Ray a victory would be a fitting culmination of 18 years of effort, for the rest us redemption was on the line. Ray nailed it in the first 2 races without having to sail the last with an ever-consistent 2nd and 3rd followed by a victory lap 2nd in the final. Richard finding the fresher breezes to his liking scored 1st, 9th and 1st for second overall with Karl having a less than stellar day just managing to cling to 3rd from a fast-charging pack. Third to seventh only 5 points apart in the results.
Our Aussie mates performing admirably for Waiuku first timers finishing 4th (John Warlow, and winner of the International Trophy for first non NZer) and 7th (Lucas Prescott). Their presence certainly added to the event with Lucas taking out a mortgage and owning the course right side. A huge thanks for making the trip over the ditch.
At the end of the day a very worthy and deserving new champion was crowned and will add his name to the national trophy alongside the crème de la crème of past NZ yachting champions. This is truly a trophy you want to see your name on. It's worth noting Russell Coutts won an Olympic Finn gold medal but he never managed to win our Finn nationals.
As always "if it turns out you don't win and there is more to Finn sailing than getting your name on the tin" everyone had a fantastic social time as well.
The pre- and post-race food and beer was truly outstanding and although it's an often-mentioned cliché we all say with great feeling.... thanks so much to the ladies in the kitchen run by Dawn - an outstanding effort. The dinner at The Kentish and BBQ at the club were attended by everyone with a great time had by all. It's worth noting some of the ladies also brought our beach trolleys in/out during boat retrieval/launching, now that is dedication to the smooth running of a regatta. The fleet would also like to thank Hoggy (aka Wrecker) for the tunes provided at the end of each racing day capturing many key moments. Our race officer was Sacha Mc Gregor, she did a stellar job completing the 15-race format in often demanding circumstances. She provided that rare combination of listening to the sailors but also remaining firmly in charge. A finer race officer would be hard to find - Sacha a huge thank you from all of us! Thankyou also to SailLens Photography for the brilliant picture galleries produced each day.
As always also a very big thanks to Mr Waiuku himself, the one and only Alan Dawson (Dawsey). Unfortunately, unable to sail himself he set to helping run/organise the regattas, without him they would not have been the memorable events they were. On a personal note, the author would like to once again express his gratitude to Dawsey for the lend of his restored Finn over the 5-day period, there's life in that old girl yet mate!
The fleet now looks forward to the next nationals in Nelson (tentatively) this November prior to about 18 sailors then containering their boats to Brisbane for the Aussie Nats, Finn Gold Cup and Finn World Masters to be held at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron during February 2026.
A final word for Waiuku... we came, we saw and we were conquered! Truly this venue cannot be beaten for its hospitality and sheer mind bendingly, challenging nature. Sailing would be bloody boring if every venue was the same and this course is definitely not that. Grass roots sailing at its very best where everyone has a chance. In the end though given enough races the good sailors still tend to rise to the top.