TOP CLASS: James Barnett is one of the favourites to win the Tanner Cup this week. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
TOP CLASS: James Barnett is one of the favourites to win the Tanner Cup this week. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club has high hopes for a talented group of sailors competing at the P Class Yacht Nationals in Plimmerton, Wellington, from Tuesday until Sunday.
The NZ Interprovincial P Class Championship for the Tanner Cup run from tomorrow to Thursday, with the individual NZ P Class Championshipfor the Tauranga Cup from Thursday to Sunday.
The Tanner Cup began in 1945 with an impressive honours board of winners including Tauranga's Jimmy Gilpin, Chris Dickson, Russell Coutts, Craig Monk, Dean Barker and Thomas Saunders.
This year the Tanner Cup rules have been changed so provinces can have multiple sailors competing rather than just one.
Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club centreboard chairman, Greg Scott, said this was due to Tauranga coach Gary Smith who has pushed for the change for years.
The Tanner Cup trials were held last November with James Barnett leading the way ahead of teammates Lachlan Dillon, Joel Kennedy, Max Scott and Hamish Elliott (Cambridge).
"We have a dedicated and focused crew going to the P Class nationals down in Plimmerton," Scott said.
"The guys have been training hard every Thursday night with Gary Smith. This entire crew is exciting. Watch this space as it wouldn't surprise me if we get a national title this summer."
Scott was confident the Tauranga sailors could do well.
"James is in 167 Wind Song, a fast boat. James is the most consistent and can sail fast in any weather conditions from two knots to 25. He would have to be my odds-on winner.
"Lachlan is in 942 X-Rated, a Ben Bax-built rocket. A Bay of Plenty champ 13 times, he is in my view our wildcard. If a few small things had gone his way, he could have won the Tanner Cup last year. This year he is older, stronger with good focus.
FOCUSED: Lachlan Dillon is part of a strong Tauranga Yacht Club team contesting the P Class nationals. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
"Joel is in 425 Suburban Reptile. Joel is our big wind sailor. When many are in survival mode in heavy winds, Joel is powering up his boat. Not bad in the lighter conditions as well.
"Max is in 6 Illusion, a very fast Waring-built cedar-ply boat with shape to die for. Max has shown so much improvement in each and every regatta. Being a light to medium wind sailor, when he has had his boat dialled in no one is quicker.
"Hamish is our Waikato champ in 404 Vengeance. Being a Cambridge sailor, Hamish's parents had to bring him over to Tauranga as much as they could to compete in waves."
The weather predictions for this week in Wellington are a mixture so the young sailors can expect light, medium and heavy conditions during the week.
The Tauranga crew were in good form at the Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta held in early December.
Barnett came first with a convincing performance, six points clear of his nearest competitor with Scott sixth and Dillon seventh. The regatta was highly competitive because only four races were competed because of light winds.
