RS Feva Nationals: Mixed/Junior crew win RS Feva NZ Nationals at Murrays Bay
by Sail-World NZ 13 May 11:13 NZST
Finloe Gaites and Sofia Turner (bow) WBC/MBSC - NZ Nationals - RS Feva - Murrays Bay - May 12, 2025 © Justin Mitchell
www.justinmitchell.co.nz - Instagram: @jl_mitchell_
A Junior and Mixed crew of Finloe Gates and Sofia Turner turned a remarkable performance to dominate the NZ RS Feva National championships at Murrays Bay Sailing Club over the weekend.
Gaites and Turner won four of the eight races, finishing 10 points ahead of second-placed overall and top Youth crew Harry Strang and Thomas Linklater, with Nathan Soper and Lauchie Wills in third, one point behind.
The 48 boat fleet enjoyed S - SW winds all weekend, blowing between 10 - 18kns. It was sailed in conditions typical of the East Coast Bays of Aucklands North Shore - which consistes of a series of long sandy beaches interspersed by high sandstone cliffs - with the topography having a big influence on wind direction, and pressure.
While conditions were challenging for the sailors, it was equally so for the race management team trying to set making it hard for the Race Officer to set a fair course. It was a tough day for mark layers.
The 48 boat fleet, the largest two-person dinghy nationals held in New Zealand attracted 25 all-male crews, 16 all-female crews and 7 mixed crews, or 57 males and 39 female sailors - roughly a 60%/40% split.
The fleet was split into four on the overall leaderboard. Turner and Gaites were in a leagure of their own - sailing consistently with worst place of 5th in the opening race of the eight race series. Otherwise they were never out of the top three, with four wins from eight races.
A six boat group spanned by 22points, and comprising all male crews - and all youth with one exception - the 7th placed overall crew of david and Cameron Harris from Bay of Islands SC.
The van of the fleet was led by the 8th placed and second Mixed (Youth) crew of Rod English/Olivia James about 40 points astern.
Mid-way in that group was the top Female crew of Zofia Wells and Charlote Handley (GBC/MBSC) in fifth place on 36pts. They saved their best for the final race wheer they placed second.
The RS Feva Nationals followed the highly successful SailGP Inspire Program, sailed in mid-January - which attracted a slightly larger entry of 50 RS Fevas.
Five titles were contested as part of the 2025 Nationals with Finloe Gaites and Sofia Turner claiming the Mixed crew title.
Junior
1st Finloe Gates & Sofia Turner
2nd Noah Petersen & George Renall
3rd Thomas Hall & Sam Kandziora
Youth
1st Harry Strang & Thomas Linklater
2nd Nathan Soper & Lauchie Wills
3rd Ashton Cooke & Charlie Bridger
Female
1. Zofia Wells & Charlotte Handley
2. Elisa Currie & Juliet White
3. Lauren Arnold & Julia Nguyen
Mixed
1. Finloe Gaites & Sofia Turner
2. Rori English & Olivia James
3. Andrew Child & Lydia Burgess
Open
1. David Ferris & Cameron Ferris
2. Andrew Child & Lydia Burgess
3. Scotty Illingworth & Charlie Illingworth
Full results: sailwave.com/results/MBSC-NZ/RSFeva_NZ_NationalChamps2025.htm
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