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Knots Racing wins Lighthouse 2023 New Zealand Match Racing Championships

by Ella Sagnol/RNZYS Media 30 Oct 2023 13:06 NZDT 26-29 October 2023
Lighthouse 2023 New Zealand Match Racing Championships - October 26-29, 2023 © RNZYS Media

World #7 Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL) and his Knots Racing team emerged victorious to secure the National Match Racing Champion’s title after a thrilling final against Cole Tapper (AUS) and his CYCA Youth Sailing Academy team.

Egnot-Johnson won the best-of-five series final 3-2, with Tapper showing a strong dominance, winning the first race and not conceding defeat until the fifth and final race where he came off second best in a tacking battle on the start line.

The Lighthouse 2023 New Zealand Match Racing Championships from October 26th to October 28th was hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) and saw six teams sail three round robins in stage one over Thursday and Friday before progressing into the final stages on Saturday. The event was raced in the Squadron’s fleet of Elliott 7m sports boats and attracted strong competition from across the pacific including Australia and New Caledonia.

Jack Frewin and his RNZYS Performance Programme team finished in third place taking out the petit final early with two back-to-back wins against New Caledonian team skippered by Tom Picot. The competitive experience gained this past weekend for Frewin and his crew including Sofia Higgott, Ollie Gilmour and Oliver Lloyd was an integral part of their build up at the 2023 Youth World Match Racing World Championship in Sydney this December.

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron wishes to thank Bucklands Beach Yacht Club for their support in providing berthing and a club room to house the event as continued contamination in the Waitemata Harbour caused by a wastewater overflow and rendered racing on the waters outside RNZYS unfeasible.

Full results can be viewed online www.matchracingresults.com/2023/nzl-match-racing-nationals

Final Standings:

Nick Egnot-Johnson, Chris Main, Zak Merton & Peter Soosalu – Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Cole Tapper, Max Brennan, Hamish Vass & Chelsea Williams – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
Jack Frewin, Sofia Higgott, Ollie Gilmour & Oliver Lloyd – RNZYS Performance Programme
Tom Picot– Cercle Nautique Calédonien
Kevin Le Dréau– Cercle Nautique Calédonien
Keily Thompson– RNZYS Youth Training Programme

About Lighthouse: Lighthouse is a new friendly and funky cafe opened in the grounds of Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron serving barista brewed Zephyr coffee, real-fruit ice cream, delicious food and tasty treats. Perfect to grab on the go or sit down and enjoy with waterfront views over Waitemata harbour and the Auckland bridge. Come and visit us today, pets welcome!

About the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron: The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) is one of New Zealand’s leading yacht clubs, with an illustrious history dating back to 1871. The RNZYS is the holder of the America’s Cup, after Emirates Team New Zealand defended the oldest sporting trophy in the world at the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland in 2021. The club offers a wide range of events and services; running thousands of races per calendar year, member events, private functions and world class dining opportunities. www.rnzys.org.nz

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