Sailing: Hawke's Bay teen beats mum at nationals off Napier

Nina (left) and mother Rose Mannering are racing against each other in the Europe class nationals. Photo / Warren Buckland

It could easily have been a recipe for a serious case of gloating at the dinner table of Hawke's Bay sailing's Mannering family in Clive last night.

But 14-year-old Nina, who was fourth after the first two of seven races and nine places better than her mother Rose in the Europe class nationals being raced off Napier, knew better.

"I've been sailing for seven years and mum is just starting out in racing really," Napier Girls' High School year 10 student Nina said acknowledging the administration of regattas is more her mother's forte.

Nina also pointed out it is the first time for both of them in this class at national level.

"I prefer the starling class but I will still aim for a top-three finish in this regatta," Nina said.

The pair were pictured chatting between races in their 15-boat class out on the water yesterday. When Nina was quizzed on the advice she gave her mother she was quick to reply.

"I just told her to get to the start line as quick as possible."

The Mannerings' clubmate David Tucker will start today's third race in first place on the leaderboard. Horowhenua's Antje Muller is second and her partner and Horowhenua Sailing Club clubmate David Brown is third.

The Europe class is one of three being raced during the three-day nationals regatta which ends tomorrow. Nina's father Adrian Mannering, an uncle of Kiwis and Warriors rugby league veteran Simon Mannering, is skipper of second-placed boat Bush Singlet in the seven-boat Ross 780 class after three of seven races.

Another host club skipper, Karl Banks in Fine Entry, is leading the class. Mike Dunlop of the Evans Bay club in Wellington was third after yesterday's races, which Napier club commodore Paul Redman said were raced in ideal conditions.

"There was a light 8-knot breeze and the sea was reasonably calm."

The Hartley 16 class has attracted 23 crew who also completed the first three of their seven races yesterday. Manukau's Gareth Insley in Bizarre and clubmate Robin Williams in Saking Laundry will start today's fourth race in first and second places respectively on the leaderboard.

New Plymouth's Simon Holdt and his crew in Stratos were third yesterday. Holdt is one of five members of his family in action in the Hartley 16 class.

Skipper Paul de Munk and crew Paul Dunford who finished seventh in Tramp yesterday did the best of the host club crews in the class. Skipper Rob Hengst and his 13-year-old son Noah of the Napier Sailing Club were 17th in Windsong.

Noah has the honour of entering as the lightest sailor in the Hartley 16 class.