P-Class: Kohi YC dominates nationals racing in Tauranga
by Kohimaramara YC/Sail-World NZ 7 Jan 2020 04:05 GMT
7 January 2020
Kohimarama YC's Tim Howse has won the Tanner/Tauranga Cup double for P-Class. The events were sailed at Tauranga YPBC, the home club of America's Cup champion Peter Burling, and birthplace of the P-class in 1923.
Racing for the trophy originally put up for inter-port, and then the inter-provincial competition was marked by strong southwesterly winds.
The Kohimaramara YC Facebook page reports that the sailors were greeted on Day 1 by a fresh SW wind that built from 15kts in the first race to 25kts in the second, then dropping slightly for the 3rd and final race of the day. With an incoming tide, the sea state, particularly at the jibe mark, was very challenging, with many sailors executing perfect pitchpoles.
At the end of the first day, Tim Howse scored two wins with Rowan Kensington (KYC) winning the other race sailed.
Racing concluded on Saturday, January 4 for the Tanner Cup - the second day of scheduled racing in the six-race series, which attracted a fleet of 18 boats.
After being delayed on shore waiting for a predicted wind drop, Race 4 got underway in a fresh 18-25 SW wind. By Race 5 the wind was a solid 25kts gusting 36kts.
Again the incoming tide produced very steep waves giving very challenging downwind legs.
Both of Saturday's races were decided on the downwind legs with Rowan winning Race 4 and Tim winning Race 5.
After Race 5 was completed the wind built to a consistent 30kts and the racing concluded, with Tim Howse winning the Tanner Cup, having sailed a very consistent series. Rowan Kensington (KYC) was second overall with Harrison Loretz (Wakatere BC) finishing third and Sean Kensington (KYC) in fourth overall.
For full results of the 2020 Tanner Cup click here
Howse completes the Double
On Sunday, the Tauranga Cup, effectively the NZ Nationals for the P class, got underway with the 34 competitors facing a brisk SW of 15-20 kts for Race 1.
The breeze stayed at 15-20kts for the first three races then built to 25kts for Race 4, the final race of the day.
As was seen in the two days of Tanner Cup racing, the wind against tide conditions produced some impressive waves especially next to the jibe mark.
Tanner Cup champion, Tim Howse (KYC) won two races on the opening day of the Tauranga Cup, with Sean Kensington and Harrison Loretz coming away with a win apiece.
Winds gusting over 50kts precluded racing on Monday, Day 2 of the regatta.
After the loss of the second day of scheduled racing, Tauranga turned on some great conditions for the final day of racing. Four races were sailed in 15-20kn with a few gusts to keep the sailors on their toes.
Tim Howse had a great day to secure the Tauranga Cup with a race to spare. Rowan Kensington took out second overall with younger brother Sean in third overall.
Howse (KYC) finished the regatta with a commanding 10pt lead over the Kensington brothers. Harrison Loretz (Wakatere BC) unable to break the Kohimaramara trifecta finishing in fourth place overall. The Tauranga Cup attracted a fleet of 34 boats.
For results to the end of Race 8 of the Tauranga Cup click here