P Class Nationals: Biggest fleet in over two decades at Murrays Bay SC

Joe Leith worked his way through the fleet in the final to finish third and claim his first Tauranga Cup title © LSD

The general sentiment, as more than 50 weary sailors (and some equally weary parents) drifted away from the Murrays Bay Sailing Club on Sunday afternoon, was to try to maintain the resurgence in the P Class.

The Cassidy Construction Tauranga Cup attracted a field of 52 starters at Murrays Bay, the biggest fleet for the P Class nationals in a couple of decades. Notably, there were 18 females among that number, thought to be the biggest fleet of girls in a class whose history dates back to the 1920s.

Bella Jenkins (Kohimarama Yacht Club) did the double as first female in both the Tanner and Tauranga Cups while Blake McKinnon (Murrays Bay) won the Tanner Cup and Joe Leith (Murrays Bay) the Tauranga Cup.

There was a feeling of satisfaction in the Leith household on the morning after the final day, especially as dad Scott was event organiser and played a key role in the surge in interest in P Class sailing.

"I'm pretty exhausted but also pretty proud that everything ran like clockwork," Scott Leith said. "Everyone was really happy to be back racing again and to crack 50 boats for the first time in 20 years was really satisfying.

"The racing was pretty damn intense, with the top seven to 10 stern to bow all the way. It was probably the most competitive fleet for some time."

Bella Jenkins was first female in both the Tanner and Tauranga Cups - photo © LSD

That was highlighted in the results.

McKinnon edged the Tanner Cup, winning the final race to take the provincial title on countback from William Mason (Wakatere Boating Club). It was almost as close in the battle to find the top female with Jenkins finishing ahead of Charlotte Palmer (Charteris Bay Yacht Club) by one point.

The conclusion to the Tauranga Cup was also dramatic, especially as the wind shut down with the leaders only 200m out from from the finish line in the only race possible on the final day.

Joe Leith, who needed to finish in the top six to guarantee the title, was eighth midway through the race but worked his way through the fleet to finish third and claim his first Tauranga Cup title.

He finished four points ahead of Oli Stone (Kohimarama) with Will Leech (Charteris Bay) a further eight points behind in third. Jenkins emerged on top of the girl's fleet to claim the Naomi James Trophy, finishing 11 points ahead of Tessa Clinton (Wakatere) with Palmer third.

"I was just so happy and so relieved," Leith said. "It was a really shifty race and it could have gone any way. I was super-stoked when I crossed the line and knew I had won."

That prospect looked a lot more difficult when he lost a protest on the first day for a port-starboard incident and carried a disqualification on his scorecard but he sailed impressively on day two with two wins and a second.

"[The key] was just sailing my own race and not worrying about all the other boats around me, especially after the disqualification," he said. "The disqualification made me really determined to win and made the ending even better."

The Plimmerton Boating Club will host next year's event with the Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club due to host the 100th P Class national championships in 2024.

Scott Leith is optimistic about the immediate future of the class, saying that feedback from parents was that it remained a great boat, although challenging, for young sailors to learn their craft.

"There are about 65 active P Class sailors in New Zealand at the moment and to get about 80 percent of them at the nationals is a great result," he said. "The enthusiasm for the boat is there and I'd imagine the bulk of the top 10 from this year's regatta will probably do it again next year which will help."

Tanner Cup results

Tauranga Cup results