Percy's top chance for nationals

Hayden Percy reluctantly accepts the host club favourite's tag in the buildup to next week's Paper Tiger Catamaran Nationals to be raced in Hawke Bay.
"It never pays to talk yourself up before an event," Percy told SportToday after another gear check this week.
But the praise kept flowing his way from other Napier Sailing Club competitors in the 45-boat national championships.
The regatta starts on Tuesday and ends on Saturday.
"Take a look at the back of Hayden's boat ... that's all we see whenever we race him," chips in Scott Pedersen, another of the nine host club members in the regatta.
"He's more than 20kg lighter than me and that's a big advantage," Stuart Morrish said.
At 70kg, Percy should relish the 10-12 knot breezes expected for the regatta which caters for single-handed 4.7m catamarans.
He was 13th in his first crack at the nationals in Nelson last January.
Percy is also in form, having recorded a second placing at an event near Te Awamutu earlier this summer.
Pedersen's father Sel, a veteran of seven nationals, did the best of the Napier contingent in Nelson with an eighth placing.
"I would love a top 10 placing again as that would give us a berth in the New Zealand team," Pedersen snr said.
He was referring to the fact the top 10 finishers will be invited to represent New Zealand in a trans-Tasman regatta to be staged in Napier during Easter.
The Pedersens, Percy and Morrish are all aiming for a berth in the New Zealand team.
Percy and Pedersen jnr raced against their Australian counterparts last Easter in Australia.
"Next question," was their reply when asked how they went.
They recorded midfield finishes in extremely light winds.
"We've also got another incentive ... no Napier sailor has won this national title," said Pedersen snr.
Like many of the visitors in the nationals the Napier contingent will use this weekend's annual New Year's Regatta to tune up for the nationals.
"Hopefully the visitors don't become too familiar with what's required here ... we don't want too many of them qualifying for the New Zealand team," Pedersen snr said.
SportToday suggested the locals could work as a team to get as many Napier sailors as possible in the Kiwi team but Percy pointed out "there are too many rules to stop that sort of thing ... once we are out on the water it's very much an individual thing".
Pedersen snr said next week was another opportunity for the Napier club to prove it was the best in the country for hosting a national regatta.
"We're the third-biggest club in the country, we always have good racing conditions and we've got the best facilities on and off the water," he added.
Percy's brother, Nathan, a junior competitor, Thijs Calkoen, John Beavis, Chris Reid and Robbie Morrison will complete the Napier contingent.
In addition to prizes for the top junior and top female sailor, there are prizes for the top three open, B and C grade competitors.