New Zealand Womens crews Aussie Matchracing Nats - Day 4

10:27 PM Thu 3 Sep 2009 GMT

'Stephanie Hazard and her crew of Susannah Pyatt and Miranda Powrie in action on Day Two - compasscard Australian Women's Match Racing Championship' CYCA Staff

Two New Zealand Womens teams are competing at the Australian Women's Match Racing Nationals: Stephanie Hazard - Helm, Susannah Pyatt - Main, Miranda Powrie - Bow; and Samantha Osborne - Helm, Jenna Hansen - Main, Raynor Smeal - Bow in the second crew.

They filed the following reports on Day 4's racing:

Today our team went on the water to support Sam Jenna and Ray in their final and were able to watch the racing from the umpire boats, it was a great experience.

We would like to thank the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Yachting New Zealand for their support. Also our Coach Graeme Sutherland.
Thanks Zhik for the team bibs....... they look awesome!!

Report from Jenna Hansen for Silver Sails Racing on the final day of the Aussie nationals is below:

Today was finals day.......... and we finished 3rd overall. Here is how the day unfolded.

The day commenced with Nicki Souter (current ISAF Match Racing World Champion) choosing us as her semi-final component.

We had a 12-15 knots breeze, choppy seas and a little bit of sunshine....... beautiful weather for match racing.

The first race was a win for us. We entered the start line from port and crossed ahead of Souter to windward with a nice left handshift, as we were unable to roll ahead of her, we ended up sitting in a luff for most of the start, untill choosing to lead back with about 1min 30s to go. Starting tight leeward of Souter and on the favoured side of the course, we were able to gain a small lead which we maintained for the rest of the race...

In race two we once again got the better start, being upspeed on split tacks. However we gave away our initial gains by getting too caught up in a tacking duel. Nicky led us around the top mark by about 2s. Downwind we made numerous attempts to overtake but ended up running out of race track. In the second upwind leg, Nicky build her lead up to 20s. Heading for home on the last downwind it was game on.. Again looking for every opportunity to attack, we led to the gybe and was able to give Souter bad wind for most of the run. In the last 10m of the race we were able to take all her wind and soak inside her to cross the finish line... Luckily for Souter the pin was favoured and she took race 2 by a mere 20s.

Into the 3rd and final race of the semi finals, we again had the winning start after a very tight pre-start circling duel. Again the left hand side of the course was very favoured and we were able to extend out lead. Unfortunately in the last 1/3 of the race Ray missed the hiking straps as she came flying out of the tack onto the rail. By sheer guts and determinations she was able to keep her feet on board and her hand firmly attached to the jibsheet. With some help from Jenna she was able to get back on board and we got moving again. In the next cross with Souter we were happy to see that we were still in the game and were able to keep bouncing her out to the unfavoured right hand side of the course. In the final cross of the upwind, we thought we would cross but at the last minute Souter got a piece of us and we were forced to take. The umpires ruled that we were tacking in her water and we acquired a penalty just before rounding the top mark. Despite rounding behind and with a penalty we stuck to our guns and took it to her once again downwind.

With similar tactics to the previous race we rolled Souter on the long starboard gybe and lead around the bottom mark by about 5s. This time the upwind was much less physical and only 3 tacks were completed in the entire leg. We extended our small led and after rounding the top mark well ahead attempted to complete our penalty by sailing outside the 2 boatlengths cirlce before hoisting our kite. Unfortunately as we turned down from our turn our bow re-entered the 2 boatlength zone and with Souter rounding the mark at the same time, she was unable to keep clear of us. As such we recieved a second penalty which we had to complete immediately.. However with Souter having some spinikar issues downwind it was still a full on fight down to the finish and despite having 2 penalties we finished within 2 boat lengths of her.

After all the excitement of the 3 semi final races the wind decided to die on us and the teams sat and drifted in the low cloud and rain till 4.30pm and unfortunately we were unable to sail the petite and grand finals.

Therefore we finished 3rd overall. We are happy to be so competitive with the Australians but look forward to getting even sometime soon.

The team feels that the place mirrors the solid preparation and training in the lead up to the regatta.
We felt our decision making, communication and boat handling improved throughout the regatta and we will take the lessons learny with us to America next week. Graeme Sutherland, NZL Squad Coach, was a great asset to the team in the build up and racing. His support and coaching was extremely valuable to the team.

Over the next few days the team will split and will meet in USA later next week for some training in the Olympic E6's and finish with the Buddy Melges Challenge Regatta. We will keep in touch with you all!

We would like to thank the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Yachting New Zealand for their support.
Thanks Zhik for the team bibs..... they look awesome!!

by Susannah Pyatt