Mark O makes it three in a row

Mark Orams (Torbay) has made it three New Zealand National Paper Tiger  Championships in a row with a win at the 2016 Nationals hosted by Torbay Sailing Club over Waitangi weekend.

The regatta saw a very strong 44 boat fleet compete over four days in breezes ranging from 0 to 20kts from the North Easterly quarter, allowing for some great downwind surfing conditions when the breeze was up.

The event was the overall National Title, as well as the B and C Grade titles contested meaning that every competitor throughout the fleet was fighting for every position.

With the wide range of competitors participating, other titles decided during the week long competition included the New Zealand Women's Title, The Junior (Under 21 Years) Title, The Veteran's (50-59 years) Title, The Grand Masters (60-64 years) Title, and the Great Grand Masters (65+ years) Title.

Orams took the overall National Title following a dominant and consistent performance during the entire regatta.  Orams finished with a 12 point lead over current International Champion Dave Shaw (Nelson), while Ryan "Rowdy" Leatham (Wellington) rounded out the top three after an enthralling battle which saw third to fifth separated by only 6 points going into the final day with three races.

The junior title was dominated by current International champion Dylan Taylor (New Plymouth) who picked up his 5^th Junior title in a row.  After nine tight races Taylor finished the regatta in 9^th overall (one point behind his father Stuart).

The Women's Title saw Wellington sailors Lynley Manning and Jane Thomassen claim first and second, with Polly Powrie finishing third in her first Paper Tiger Nationals.  Manning (Evans Bay) claims the title for the 11^th time.

Following a tight tussle at the top of the B Grade, Torbay locals came out at the front with Blair McLay taking the title in 14th Place overall.  Owen Jenkins finished second in 16th overall and Matt Hibbard took 3rd place in 18^th overall.

The C Grade title was won by Nick Gardiner (Queen Charlotte), who took the title ahead of Alex Hinton (Torbay) and Matt Phipps (Maraetai, Auckland).

The Regatta also doubled as the selection trials for the New Zealand Team to compete at the Paper Tiger Internationals at Easter 2016 at Royal Akarana Yacht Club, Auckland.  This added extra spice to the event with competitors eager to finish in the "Top 10" and gain selection into the New Zealand National Team who will attempt to defend the International Team Title that was won by the  Team in Sydney last year.

A huge thanks to the team at Torbay Sailing Club for their fantastic hospitality, and thanks to the Race Management Team and all the volunteers from around the country, without the volunteers the regatta would not have happened!

Overall results decided during the event include:

1st	Mark Orams	PT 3130	The Green Flash	Torbay Sailing Club
2nd	Dave Shaw	PT 3084	Feral	Nelson Sailing Club
3rd	Ryan (Rowdy) Leatham	PT 3007	The Kraken	Evans Bay Yacht & Motor Boat Club
4th	Hayden Percy	PT 3073	Aquaholic	Napier Sailing Club
5th	Bob Preston	PT 3106	Miss Hampidjan	Nelson Sailing Club
6th	Mark Bell	PT 2862	Totally Wired	Torbay Sailing Club
7th	Scott Pedersen	PT 3109	Sabre	Napier Sailing Club
8th	Stuart Taylor	PT 2989	Whispering Jack	New Plymouth Yacht Club
9th	Dylan Taylor	PT 2351	Smugg	New Plymouth Yacht Club
10th	Scott Hodges	PT 821	Flyer	New Plymouth Yacht Club

 

Other titles also decided during the regatta:

National "B" Grade

1st	Blair McLay	PT 776	Two Elusive	Torbay Sailing Club
2nd	Owen Jenkins	PT 2925	Wind Torque	Torbay Sailing Club
3rd	Matt Hibbard	PT 720	Kraka	Torbay Sailing Club

 

National "C" Grade

1st	Nick Gardiner	PT 822	Abby Cat	Queen Charlotte Yacht Club
2nd	Alex Hinton	PT 2529	Seagoon	Torbay Sailing Club
3rd	Matt Phipps	PT 2891	Turbo Tone	Maraetai Sailing Club

 

National Women's Champion

1st	Lynley Manning	PT 2800	One Fish Two Fish	Evans Bay Yacht & Motor Boat Club
2nd	Jane Thomassen	PT 3045	Pom Puss	Evans Bay Yacht & Motor Boat Club
3rd	Polly Powrie	PT 2811	Crazy Diamond	Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

 

National Junior (Under 21 years) Champion

1st	Dylan Taylor	PT 2351	Smugg	New Plymouth Yacht Club
2nd	Nick Gardiner	PT 822	Abby Cat	Queen Charlotte Yacht Club

 

Veterans (50-59 years) Champion

1st	Mark Orams	PT 3130	The Green Flash	Torbay Sailing Club
2nd	Mark Bell	PT 2862	Totally Wired	Torbay Sailing Club
3rd	Stuart Taylor	PT 2989	Whispering Jack	New Plymouth Yacht Club

 

Grandmasters (60-64 years) Champion

1st	Denis Leatham	PT 2988	Learning to Fly	New Plymouth Yacht Club
2nd	John Tattersall	PT 600	If Only	Muritai Yacht Club
3rd	Brett Gawn	PT 2970	Sundae	Muritai Yacht Club

 

Great Grandmasters (65-70 years) Champion

1st	Bob Preston	PT 3106	Miss Hampidjan	Nelson Yacht Club
2nd	Les Gallagher	PT 3093	Arriba	Howick Sailing Club
3rd	Pat Thompson	PT 2950	Scalded	Howick Sailing Club

 

Legends (70+ years) Champion

1st

Ian MacLennan

PT 2820

Love over Gold

Torbay Sailing Club

 

For full results see:

http://www.torbaysailing.club/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PT-Nationals-2016-Final-Results.pdf