Zephyr Nationals underway.

Surpassing the 46 entries of the last  National Zephyr Championship  held in Tauranga in 2015, the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat  Club are expecting  60 entries at the regatta starting this Sunday 24 through to the 27th Feb.

Top sailors from 15 to 76 years of age from throughout New Zealand are descending on Tauranga to join the 20 local sailors who are hoping that local knowledge will give them an advantage. With 5 past national champions entered including past Olympian and Emirates Team NZ sailors and coaches  it will be congested at the front of the fleet.  Locals such as current North Island Zephyr champion Mark Thomas will be looking to continue his form for a podium finish but will have to fend off current national champion Greg Wright from Wellington amongst others.

Commodore of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club and Olympic selector Andy Knowles will not  only be welcoming the out of town competitors and families but will also be a hot contender in his own Zephyr on the water as well.

The Zephyr yacht is a one person sailing yacht ,designed by New Zealander Des Townson in 1956 and is one of NZs most popular single person sailing yachts with over 300 wooden boats and 10 of the newly released fibreglass hull versions being sailed nationwide. Regular weekend and sometimes midweek racing with big fleets is held by yacht clubs in  Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland.

With more young and older people getting into sailing the Zephyr has proven to be an easy boat to learn sailing in and at the same time providing  one class design competition for the best of New Zealand sailors.

Anyone interested in taking a closer look at a Zephyr or even wishing to try their hand at sailing one are welcome to visit the action at the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat  club this week end.

Contacts:

President, Zephyr Owners Association - Peter Busfield ph 021676744 peterbusfield@outlook.com

Commodore, Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club - Andy Knowles ph 021 941504 andy@knowles.co.nz

You can follow the results on www.yacht.org.nz but results from Day 1&2 are here