Access Liberty Kiwi Cup Day One Report
28th January 2009
Access Liberty Kiwi Cup Day One Report news article
Kiwi Cup – Day One Report
27/1/09
Race 1 of the qualification heats started today just east of the Auckland Harbour Bridge in a south-westerly of 16 knots. There was 2 knots of tide with the wind, making the windward leg an uphill battle. Murray Mitchelhill (AUS) had a good start, but it was reigning Liberty World Champion Joshua McKenzie-Brown (NZL) who was first to the top mark. McKenzie-Brown held his lead for the remainder of the race, finishing 3 minutes ahead of Tim Dempsey (NZL) and Mitchelhill.
The second race saw the boats compulsorily reefed down under the Y flag due to a rain squall that also turned the breeze to the south. The first time around the windward-leeward course, Mitchelhill was ahead of McKenzie-Brown, but the young Kiwi champion had broken the gooseneck off his boom. Despite this setback, McKenzie-Brown managed to get past Mitchelhill over the next two legs and took another win. Ron Mellor (AUS) was third.
Reefs were left in for the final race, despite the breeze staying below 15 knots and remaining at 200 degrees. McKenzie-Brown, with a new boom fitted between races, led from just after the start and dominated throughout to take a third win ahead of Mitchelhill and Genevieve Wickham (AUS).
But the day was not over. Once ashore, the Jury protested McKenzie-Brown and Mitchelhill for not reefing within the band marked on each boom. The outcome of the hearing was both sailors carrying a two place penalty. McKenzie-Brown and Mitchelhill remain placed first and second in their qualification group.
Tomorrow sees the second group sail their qualification races, after which the competitors will be split into Gold and Silver fleets.
Sailability Auckland is hosting the inaugural Glenn Family Foundation Kiwi Cup this week. Racing is being conducted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championship, 2009, Single Person Keelboat (Non-Technical) is being held concurrently with an Access Liberty Open World Championship and Access Liberty Servo World Championship. A two-day qualification series is being followed by three days of Gold & Silver fleet finals.
ENDS
David Staley +61428514058 david@accessclass.org
Click this link to see the Results- Day One
