YACHTING - More banter than wind ...

SHNAE HURNDELL
CHRIS REID and Emma Steiner face 11 months of "gentle reminders" of how lucky they were following their national Hartley 16s sailing regatta title win this week.
The reminders will come from their Napier Sailing Club clubmates Thijs Calkoen and Ian Cameron who finished second in the 14-boat three-day regatta which ended in New Plymouth on Sunday. The banter was flying between Cameron and Reid as they gave SportToday a run down on the regatta upon their return.
"Chris was lucky rough weather forced the cancellation of the last two races ... we could have got them," said Cameron.
"I don't know if Chris has told you ... the last race was shortened because the wind was dying and we were coming up fast," he said.
"Yeah there was a big sigh of relief," said Reid with a huge grin.
Cameron pointed out he and Calkoen, one of the more experienced crews in the class, were disqualified in one of the races for going over the start line too fast.
"We were equal on points at that stage," he said.
SportToday got the impression the only two Napier crews at the regatta had a great time off the water but on the water competition was fierce.
"You got it. We help each other out off the water and stayed together but once out on the water it was all on," said Cameron.
It was the first time for several years Napier crews had finished first and second respectively but several years ago Napier crews dominated the top five placings. While Reid and Steiner were first time national title winners Calkoen and Cameron have had two titles and three second placings during the last five years.
Cameron and Calkoen were in opposing crews until five years ago. Calkoen went overseas and while he was away Cameron sold his boat.
"When Thijs was away I sold his boat. It was one way of eliminating the competition ... when he returned he had to sail with me," said Cameron.
Reid and Steiner recorded two firsts, three seconds and two thirds in New Plymouth while Calkoen and Cameron collected three firsts, a second, third, fourth and the disqualification.
Naturally the two Napier crews are hoping for a repeat of their first and second placings at next year's nationals in Auckland.
"But the other way around," said Cameron.
"We'll see," said Reid.
* Hawke's Bay's James Sandall finished fourth in the Laser Open National Sailing Championships which ended in Taupo yesterday.
Sandall recorded seven top five finishes in the 12-race regatta including a win in the fifth race.
Aucklander Rod Dawson won the regatta. Sandall's next event will be the Grade 1 Sail Auckland regatta next month.