Please select your home edition
Edition
Product Feature
Zhik INS100 jackets
Zhik INS100 jackets

Westlake shines on final day of Harken National Secondary Schools Keelboat Champs

by Andrew Delves/RNZYS Media 10 May 2021 04:24 BST 10 May 2021
Westlake Green - NZ National Secondary Schools Keelboat Championship - May 2021 © Andrew Delves

The Westlake Boys High School ‘Green’ team made up of Brayden Hamilton, Mason Mulcahy, George Lee Rush, Cam McGlashan and Ben Brighouse have won the 2021 Harken National Secondary Schools Keelboat Championship after winning the decisive final race of the regatta at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Heading into the final gold fleet race of the day it was all Westlake Boys High School, with Hamilton’s team, as well as the other Westlake Boys team helmed by Josh Hyde, just needing to beat the other over the line to claim the regatta honours.

With the best breeze of the day on the course the stage was set for one team to head back to the North Shore with bragging rights over their fellow school mates. Hamilton and his crew found form at the perfect time, and after coming second in the third race they carried their momentum into the final race, building a huge lead to sail away with the regatta – albeit on countback.

As the results were so tight, Hamilton and his team didn’t actually know they had won when they crossed the line – “It was a great regatta and we had a lot of fun, it’s a bit disappointing to finish second in the end there we think, but well done to the other Westlake team.”

However, seconds later the news came in that Hamilton and his team had in fact won the regatta on countback, instigating huge cheers and celebrations on board.

Speaking on the dock, Hamilton was thrilled to get the win – “We were so stoked when we found out we had won the regatta! It was a great competition out there and to come down to countback and the final race shows how close the racing was. The Race Committee did a great job getting the racing completed in light conditions today. A big thanks to my team, our school, and to the RNZYS for putting on a fun regatta.”

The result was somewhat of an upset because the Westlake Red team led by Josh Hyde had the better of their school counterparts in the qualifying series on Friday, winning all but one of the six races to qualify nine points ahead of Hamilton’s team. However, that didn’t count for anything on Sunday, with Hamilton sailing the boat superbly, especially in that final race, to go on and lift the trophy.

One of the big improvers was the team from Glendowie College helmed by Sean Sun who finished fourth on Saturday to sneak in and claim the final place in the Gold Fleet. Sun and his team of Benjamin Brewer, Aiden Beauchamp and Lydia Boydr then showed beautiful boat handling skills in the light airs on Sunday to round out the podium in third overall.

Earlier in the day the Silver fleet were in action where the Whangarei Boys High School team led by Josh Smith cruised to victory with three wins and a second-place finish.

The RNZYS would like to thank the eighteen talented secondary school teams who travelled from all around the country to attend this regatta, our great sponsors Harken, as well as the slick Race Management team led by the watchful eye of club stalwart Brian Trubovich. The RNZYS looks forward to welcoming all teams back in 2022.

Full results

Related Articles

The latest kit for summer boating, rain or shine
Our pick of the latest kit Summer's finally here and the season is in full swing. Here's our pick of the latest kit for racing, cruising and enjoying the water, rain or shine. Posted on 19 Jun
Invitation to 2023 World Bay Area Regatta
Foster exchanges about sailing culture within bay areas' sailing community The regatta aims to foster exchanges about sailing culture within the bay areas' sailing community and enhance the sailing skills of participants. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen connections among bay areas worldwide Posted on 2 Dec 2023
Five stars for a 'splashy' launch party!
BPI, WWF, PHINSAF, ORCP and Subic Sailing join hands For a long while the Philippines has been substantially undersold as a yacht racing and cruising destination. It seems to be very appropriate that in an archipelago nation, it should be the Bank of the Philippine Islands that is sponsoring the series Posted on 14 Nov 2023
26nm and back to where you started
Weather gods smile on the annual Hong Kong Classic It's Hong Kong's biggest annual celebration of sail, the Sun Hung Kai & Co. Around the Island Race, which this year took place on Sunday 29 October - a 26nm clockwise circumnavigation of Hong Kong Island Posted on 12 Nov 2023
Andy Dowden RIP. You will be sorely missed.
Long serving member of Thai boating community crosses the bar Sail-World Asia is very sad to report the passing of Andy Dowden, stalwart of the Thai sailing scene. He will be missed by many, and we offer our condolences to his family. Posted on 25 Jul 2023
New Kit for the summer sailing season
Shopping ideas for life on the water Get ready for summer with the latest in sailing kit and accessories Posted on 31 May 2023
Christmas gift inspiration
Christmas gift ideas for the sailors in your life With Christmas just a few weeks away, here are some of our favourite gift ideas for the sailor in your life, from stocking fillers to blow-the-budget. Posted on 5 Dec 2022
Flag Etiquette - Mourning
In case you didn't know As advised by the Royal Yacht Squadron: Ensigns must be flown at half mast when you are onboard your vessel from the announcement of the death of the Sovereign until 08:00 on the day after the funeral of the Sovereign, Posted on 11 Sep 2022
SMG awarded Sole Distribution for ThrustMe in UK
The lightest electric outboard with built in lithium battery SM Group (Europe) Limited ("SMG") are pleased to announce their appointment as sole distributor for the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands for the Norwegian based brand ThrustMe. Posted on 19 May 2022
Images from the Auckland Anniversary Regatta
Images from the Auckland Anniversary Regatta - Classic Yachts passing North Head The Auckland Anniversary Regatta proceeded pretty as planned, much to the surprise of some mainstream media. Only Rawhiti competed in both the Mahurangi Classic Yacht Regatta and the Auckland Anniversary Regatta. Posted on 1 Feb 2022