The 2016 Auckland Masters was held at Tamaki on Saturday 2 April. 

The fleet of 25 Full rigs and 9 Radials arrived to a promise of a building N to NW wind for the day. Unfortunately it was not to be and we never got much over 5 knots all day which, combined with an offshore power boat race through our course at lunchtime, resulted in only 3 races being completed before a rain squall completely killed the breeze for the day.

The light and patchy conditions made consistency almost impossible, with everyone getting caught in holes and unfavourable shifts at times. The first race started on time and in the Standards ancient local knowledge proved the difference with GGM and Tamaki commodore Bob Blakey somehow finding his own breeze in the middle of the course to take the lead at the half way point and carry on to an epic victory. Not to be outdone the next generation of Blakey made it a father and son double with Master Richard winning the Radials first race.

The fleet now alerted to the Blakey magic was on their toes for the second race, managing to relegate both Blakey’s down the fleet showing that even at Tamaki lightning doesn’t strike twice! Team Hamilton visitor Ken Atchison (AM) enjoyed an all the way victory in the Standards while AM Scott Leith managed to show the Radials that he was on form after all and the first race 3rd was an aberration. In the 3rd Race Chris Brodie (M) backed up a 2nd in Race 1 with a convincing victory in race 3 to take out the Standard trophy from Ken with former top Laser sailor Mark Oliver (M) getting back into a Laser after many years to start his training for the World Masters Games and secure 3rd overall. First GM was another Hamilton visitor Scott McDougall in 4th overall.

Whangarei visitor GM Roger Winton was victorious in R3 of the Radials but Scott’s second was just enough for him to come out on top by a point from Roger with Richard a couple of points back in 3rd the first Master.

So another strong Masters turnout for the Roast Beef sandwiches at the prize giving and thanks to sponsors Smart Marine and Watershed for some great prizes.

Nick Page