Sir Peter Blake Regatta at Torbay Sailing Club - Overall
by Suellen Hurling 4 Dec 2016 13:07 GMT
3-4 December 2016
The annual Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta has wrapped up for another year, finishing off with an outstanding day on the water.
Torbay Sailing Club put on a great show for visiting sailors who travelled from Samoa, Australia, Singapore and across New Zealand to attend the annual event.
Over 450 boats entered the regatta with racing taking place across three courses.
Torbay Sailing Club used this particular Sir Peter Blake Regatta to prepare for the upcoming World Sailing Youth World Championship in the coming weeks and the World Masters Games in 2017.
The new clubhouse is days away from being completed, so to ensure the sailors, families and supporters were looked after, tents were erected and lined the shores of the beach.
Torbay Sailing Club organisers are to be congratulated for a fantastic regatta.
But it was all about the sailors, and especially the kids, but in particular, Sean Herbert for winning the prestigious Sir Peter Blake Regatta Trophy for having an outstanding attitude on and off the water and for his near perfect results in the Starling fleet.
When Mark Orams announced that Herbert had won the award, tears began to flow from his incredibly proud parents. Herbert stood on the stage with a smile from ear to ear, taking in the honour that goes with winning the award.
"Sailors such as Peter Burling and Jo Aleh have their names on this trophy, who between them have two silver and two gold Olympic medals. No doubt we will see great things from Sean Herbert in the coming years," said Orams.
"I can't believe it," gushed Herbert. "I'm so happy, but a little speechless."
Television presenter and sailing enthusiast Martin Tasker won the converted Peter Montgomery award for his continued services to sailing. Tasker does everything in his power to ensure that sailing is featured in mainstream news, helping to bring the sport into the limelight.
To end the day, Chris Steele, who was announced as the first World Match Racing Tour Card skipper, did a fly by on board the GC32 Frank Racing, putting on a show for the sailors
Results for all classes can be found via the official website, www.blakeregatta.co.nz/portfolio/results-2016
More photos at Facebook and Instagram.