2011 NZ Marine Industry Sailing Challenge goes to North Sails

The NZ Marine Industry Sailing Challenge 2011 was sailed in light North Easterly breeze on the 14th April. Many leading players in NZ's Marine Industry took this chance to show off their sailing skills and enjoy an afternoon’s camaraderie on the water.

North Sails made a flying start to the lee of the fleet and lead comfortably at the fist mark.

The beat from Orakei to North Head gave the crews an opportunity to apply their tactical skills. Hall Spars caught up to North Sails. And Ovlov Marine made the Ovlov Marine North Head buoy theirs with a tight lee bow tack to pick up three places on the starboard tackers.

Hall Spars and North Sails battled it out to the end at the front of the fleet.

Behind them were Brin Wilson Boats led by Nick Saull and the rapidly improving MGE Marine team with Cameron Dunn at the helm and Yachting Developments with Peter Busfield and his Marine Industry team close behind.

Then came Southern Spars on KPMG, Touch of Gloss and International Paints, Harken Fosters, Ovlov Marine and Volvo Penta, Club Marine and Lloyd Stevenson Boat Builders.

In the end North Sails just held out Hall Spars across the line to take the podium position.

So again we have a new winner – congratulations to Paul Murray and his North Sails team - perhaps next year will be Hall Spar’s turn.

 Thank you to Trish Macky for the photographs!

Eventual winner - North Sails with Paul Murray at the helm soon after the start

 

Garry Hassall's Hall Spar Team made sure that North Sails earned their win

Each year Brin Wilson Boats lead by Nick Saull climb further up the ladder

Cameron Dunn had the MGE Marine team hitting their straps second time out

Peter Busfield's Marine Industry team showed they will need to be watched next year

Brian Jones putting his Southern Spar team through their paces

 

Last years winner, Dale Pennington's Touch of Gloss Team taking this years race less seriously

 

 Garry Lock taking Harken close along the Devonport shore

 

 Inaugural winner, Ovlov Marine Volvo Penta with MRX Champion Phil Douglas at the helm

 

 Emily Kerr's Club Marine team with Don Salthouse on the helm and Grant Beck advising

 

The Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders team without Lloyd Stevenson and Simon Morely

The happy North Sails Team minus skipper Paul Murray

Click here for more photos from the day