Kiwi and Canadian Laser sailors take OKI 24 Hour Race

2:08 AM Sun 28 Mar 2010 GMT

'Glowfast sponsored one of the laser 4.7's racing for the first time in their own division in the OKI 24 Hour Race 2010' Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

New Zealander Jason Geale and top Canadian Laser sailor, Michael Leigh won the OKI 24 Hour race sailed on North Shore's Lake Pupuke over the weekend. They completed 94 laps of the windward leeward course, one lap ahead of Aaron Hume-Merry and Blair McLay.

Sailing the Smales Farm sponsored entry, Geale and Leigh were greeted by one of New Zealand's top sailors, Geoff Smale who put NZ sailing on the international map with a win in the Prince of Wales Cup, off Cowes IOW in 1958, followed up with period of domination in the Flying Dutchman class during the 1960's and 1970's.

Smale was a co-designer of the Rothmans Father and Son class, the original boat used in the 24 Hour Race and also adopted by the Murrays Bay Sailing Club as a kit-built two-handed class.

First sailed in 1967, the race took a nine year time out from 1996-2004, due to local council imposed restrictions on the use of the lake, however was revived in 2005 and has grown each year.

Third placed overall crew were Chris Steele (a former World Optimist champion) and Thomas Saunders, who also took the prize for top Youth crew.

Jason Geale and Mike Leigh in Smales farm (windward cross the finish line to win the OKI 24 Hour Race 2010 - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

Jason Geale (r) and Mike Leigh with Geoff Smale winners of the OKI 24 Hour Race 2010 - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

Jason Geale and Mike Leigh (l)are presented with their winners' trophies for the OKI 24 Hour Race 2010 by Geoff Smale and Peter Montgomery - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

Robin Ward (right) finished third in the masters division of the OKI 24 Hour Race 2010, having won the event back in 1971 when he was one of NZ's top OK Dinghy sailors - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo