Taking the lead in the final leg of the final race secured the Tanner Cup for Canterbury sailor Riley Dean yesterday.
The win was Dean's third in six races and, with two counting seconds, increased his lead over runner-up Thomas Olds (South Canterbury) to a deceptively wide seven points.
After both Dean(seventh) and Olds (ninth) recorded their worst performances in shifty south-westerly airs at Lyttelton Harbour yesterday morning, Dean carried a useful advantage into the last race.
The P-class title seemed secure when the 16-year-old was third around the first mark, three places in front of Olds, and the afternoon easterly breeze favoured him.
"It went from six knots to about 12 at the finish," Dean said. "I made my gains when it got a bit windier, but I only led for about the last 50 metres."
Olds, who had beaten Dean for the South Island title at the same venue, eventually slipped to fifth. He still finished two points clear overall of Wellington's Josh Junior.
Final placings: Riley Dean (Canterbury) 7 points, 1; Thomas Olds (South Canterbury) 14, 2; Josh Junior (Wellington) 16, 3; Grace Nixon (Auckland) 22, 4; Kate Ellingham (North Harbour) 25, 5; Peter Burling (Bay of Plenty) 25, 6; Rowan Swanson (Wanganui/Manawatu) 30, 7; James Sandall (Hawkes Bay) 34, 8; Tom Lintern (Marlborough) 35, 9; Joshua Adams (Northland) 48, 10; Sam Meech (Waikato) 50, 11; Matthew Vincent (Nelson) 50, 12; Jake Hawker (Otago) 62, 13.
