4:49 AM Sun 22 Mar 2009 GMT
 | | 'Moko showing the great skill used to keep the P Class rudder (and many boogy boards this summer) - Mahia Regatta'
Peter Manson
Click Here to view large photo
|
Moko the dolphin a local identity at Mahia, a popular holiday town on the East Coast of the North Island in New Zealand, entertained young and old during the Wairoa Yacht Clubs annual Mahia Regatta
Approximately 20 sailors from Napier, Wairoa and Gisborne Yacht clubs had a great weekend on March 7/8 at the Wairoa Yacht Clubs, Mahia regatta.
The highlight of the weekend was the appearance of Moko the dolphin who came to play with the juniors. Moko is a free ranging dolphin that has befriended the local community and visitors over the past few years and really turned it on for the sailors.
In the light breeze on Sunday Moko was pushing the boats around, playing with their centre boards and some how managed to get the rudder off a P class which he then decided to play (see photo's) with for about an hour before a Starling sailor was able to get it back. Many visitors have lost boogy boards to Moko this summer.
 | Moko carries P Class rudder away from Starling sailor Awhina Milne and P Class sailor Rian Mayhead - Mahia Regatta - Peter Manson Click Here to view large photo |
Sailors were treated to 18-20 knot northerlies on Saturday and a 5-7 knot southwesterly on Sunday. The fleet was made up of 11 Division Two trailer yachts and some Lasers, cats, P's, Starlings, Opti's and a Firebug. Paul Dunford (Napier) won the Hartley Class, Gary Simmonds (Wairoa) won the Trailer Yacht and Awhina Milne (Gisborne) the Starling.
So a great weekend in a remote but beautiful part of New Zealand. Congratulations to the Wairoa Yacht Club for organising this event and the very social evening on Saturday night.
 | Moko teased sailors by coming up close and then racing away with the rudder for over an hour - Mahia Regatta - Peter Manson Click Here to view large photo |
by Tim Sandall
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
    |
