Rotomanu Lake, New Plymouth – 10-11 May 2025
Event Overview
The 2025 DF95 North Island Championships were held at Rotomanu Lake, New Plymouth, across the weekend of May 10-11. The event attracted 24 competitors, split into two fleets of 12, representing both local and visiting sailors. A full schedule of 16 races was completed, with competition remaining tightly contested throughout.
Weather and Racing Conditions
Saturday:
- The regatta opened with light and variable winds in the morning, creating challenging tactical conditions and testing sailors’ patience and adaptability.
- As the day progressed, the breeze increased and became gusty, providing dynamic and fast-paced racing in the afternoon sessions.
Sunday:
- Sunday morning was also patchy with light winds, but by 1pm the wind had arrived, allowing for good racing conditions through the afternoon.
Race Management and Course Setting
- Starts were generally clean, with very few individual recalls.
- The event ran with four top marks, requiring the Race Officer to announce which was Mark 1 and Mark 1A for each race. This approach was used to reduce the amount of time spent moving marks to accommodate wind shifts.
- On Saturday, the wind direction required the course to be set further away from the control area, which created visibility issues for competitors and officials. As a result, Rule 31 (Touching a Mark, per the Racing Rules of Sailing) was suspended for the day to ensure fair racing, since it was difficult to judge whether boats touched marks at a distance.
- On Sunday, the wind shifted more to the south/southwest, allowing the course to be set closer to shore. This resolved the visibility issues, and Rule 31 should probably have been reinstated for the second day, as it was once again possible to clearly observe mark roundings.
Umpires, Observers, and Rule Application
- Umpires and observers played a crucial role, with umpires gaining valuable experience as the regatta progressed, but had a lot of course to cover.
- The race officer focused on race management, delegating results handling to others-a move that was well-received and improved efficiency.
Expert Support
- Roy Greenwich, a respected authority and writer of ANZAM, provided key expertise, especially with rule interpretations and queries, which was invaluable to the event’s smooth operation.
Competition and Results
- The competition remained fiercely close throughout the event, with the final podium positions only decided in the last race of the day-a testament to the high level of racing in the fleet.
Final Results:
- 1st Place: Chris Wischnowsky
- 2nd Place: Graham Watson
- 3rd Place: Nigel Sibun
Competitor Feedback and Suggestions
- A suggestion was made to run three afternoon sessions instead of two full days, to better align racing with the most favourable wind conditions.
- The concept of introducing a development fleet for less experienced sailors was discussed. Options included assigning mentors or running single-lap races to integrate new participants without disrupting the main fleet.
- It was recommended that a competent, non-competing individual set the course, relieving the organising authority of this responsibility.
- Other suggestions from competitors included awarding medals to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the Silver Fleet, and using a gate at the top mark rather than a single mark with an offset.
Conduct and Atmosphere
- The regatta was characterised by well-behaved and friendly participants, contributing to a positive and enjoyable event for all involved.
- The overall goal of providing a fun and competitive environment was achieved, with positive feedback from competitors.
Action Items for Future Events
- Investigate the feasibility of running three afternoon sessions to maximize favorable afternoon wind conditions.
- Provide targeted training for observers to reinforce the importance of impartiality and prevent outside assistance.
- Two umpires might be better to enable full fleet coverage over the race course.
- Explore the introduction of a development fleet, potentially with mentoring or simplified race formats, to encourage broader participation.
- Assign course-setting duties to a skilled, non-competing individual to enhance fairness and reduce burden on the organising team.
- Consider awarding medals to the top three in the Silver Fleet.
- Evaluate the use of a top gate rather than a top mark with an offset to improve race flow and fairness.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to all competitors, volunteers, and club members who contributed to the success of this championship. The NPRCYC once again demonstrated its capability in delivering a high-quality regatta, and we look forward to future events at Lake Rotomanu.
Conclusion
Despite challenging wind conditions and some operational learning points, the 2025 DF95 North Island Championships were a resounding success. The event highlighted the strength of the local and traveling DF95 community, the value of expert support, and the ongoing need for development in race management and official training. The recommendations and action items identified will help ensure even better events in the future.
Place |
Sail No |
Skipper |
Club |
Total |
Disc |
Final |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Q5 |
Q6 |
Q7 |
Q8 |
F1 |
F2 |
F3 |
F4 |
F5 |
F6 |
GOLD FLEET |
||||||||||||||||||||
G 1 |
139 |
Chris Wischnowsky |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
46 |
20 |
26 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
G 2 |
33 |
Graham Watson |
N.Z.R.Y.A. |
50 |
22 |
28 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
G 3 |
43 |
Nigel Sibun |
N.M.M.S. |
57 |
23 |
34 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
8 |
G 4 |
181 |
Toby Lecher |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
64 |
22 |
42 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
G 5 |
61 |
David Bullock |
N.Z.R.Y.A. |
70 |
27 |
43 |
5 |
10 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
G 6 |
920 |
Kerrin Harrison |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
73 |
30 |
43 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
11 |
4 |
10 |
10 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
3 |
G 7 |
995 |
Kevin Robertson |
G.H.R.Y.C. |
81 |
30 |
51 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
DNF 13 |
G 8 |
200 |
Dave Lewis |
N.M.M.S. |
80 |
23 |
57 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
9 |
9 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
G 9 |
289 |
Billy Preston |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
95 |
35 |
60 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
DNF 13 |
11 |
3 |
11 |
6 |
11 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
G 10 |
21 |
John Beavis |
N.M.M.S. |
93 |
29 |
64 |
9 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
12 |
11 |
5 |
11 |
10 |
4 |
G 11 |
511 |
Todd Birrell |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
103 |
33 |
70 |
10 |
11 |
2 |
11 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
4 |
10 |
9 |
11 |
10 |
G 12 |
417 |
Trevor Bamforth |
N.S.R.Y.S. |
104 |
28 |
76 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
12 |
DNF 13 |
DNF 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
Place |
Sail No |
Skipper |
Club |
Total |
Disc |
Final |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Q5 |
Q6 |
Q7 |
Q8 |
F1 |
F2 |
F3 |
F4 |
F5 |
F6 |
SILVER FLEET |
||||||||||||||||||||
S 1 |
700 |
Wayne Harrison |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
76 |
30 |
46 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
RGA 6 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
5 |
6 |
S 2 |
280 |
Craig Canute |
N.M.M.S. |
85 |
29 |
56 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
6 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
9 |
2 |
8 |
1 |
8 |
2 |
S 3 |
74 |
Mike Ure |
N.M.M.S. |
85 |
28 |
57 |
5 |
10 |
10 |
6 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
S 4 |
102 |
Brendon Slingsby |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
90 |
29 |
61 |
6 |
9 |
10 |
DNF 13 |
10 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
S 5 |
80 |
John Campbell |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
93 |
32 |
61 |
11 |
6 |
11 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
S 6 |
77 |
Greg Schultz |
N.Z.R.Y.A. |
93 |
28 |
65 |
9 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
S 7 |
132 |
Murray Hunter |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
110 |
32 |
78 |
7 |
11 |
12 |
8 |
11 |
11 |
4 |
9 |
7 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
9 |
8 |
S 8 |
202 |
Peter Jones |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
110 |
30 |
80 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
6 |
10 |
10 |
4 |
8 |
10 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
S 9 |
379 |
Ian Pye |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
115 |
33 |
82 |
8 |
8 |
11 |
12 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
2 |
10 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
7 |
S 10 |
119 |
Jason Holdt |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
133 |
39 |
94 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
3 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
12 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
S 11 |
173 |
Roy Barber |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
128 |
33 |
95 |
12 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
11 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
3 |
10 |
S 12 |
501 |
Lui Robertson |
N.P.R.C.Y.C. |
179 |
39 |
140 |
11 |
DNC 13 |
DNF 13 |
DNS 13 |
DNS 13 |
DNS 13 |
12 |
DNS 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |
DNC 13 |