In case you wondered why Owen hadn't visited earlier, it's because his wife's family live predominantly in Northland now.
But the more immediate celebrations last night belonged to him and Reed, a 45-year-old public servant, who upset regatta leaders Ashley Smith and Adam Kingston, who had a stranglehold over the first two days in the seven-race meeting with 55 boats in the field.
"We're very, very thrilled to win the New Zealand nationals," said Owen, disclosing Glen Cauley and Grant Olderston were the last Australian pair to win it, in 2005.
While Smith and Kingston are Brisbanites, Owen was adamant the Hong Kong champions were racing under their adopted country's banner.
Smith and Kingston slumped to eighth overall on Sake after a 36th placing in race six and were black flagged for breaking a start in the final outing yesterday.
"We all started very well and then the breeze changed around a lot and they all ended up right at the back of the fleet with some world champions around them, which worked out very well," he said with a chuckle.
Owen and Reed had harboured no fanciful ideas of winning when they started the final day yesterday in second place, five points adrift of the leaders.
"We don't really try to count numbers, so we aren't people who get too caught up in the technical aspects of how you have to beat people and, you know, the wind and the waves.
"We're just simple guys from the bush who just sail the best and hardest we can, so if it works out, it works out. We did today - we're very lucky that it did."
Owen said it so happened that they hung in for dear life while others encountered a few hiccups.
Asked if the nationals were a mock exam and the test begins tomorrow, he replied: "If they cancel the worlds tomorrow and use the nationals as the results, we'll be very happy."
They were fifth in Hong Kong four years ago at the worlds, which is held every two years and alternated between the two hemispheres.
The Aussies missed out on the previous worlds in France due to illness.
"My crewman is really the mastermind behind the whole campaign in the boat so I just have the simple job of steering so he runs all our tactics and boat speed and how we manage the boat.
"I just sit in the back and drive it. He's the manager of thw hole process, which is fantastic because he's very good at it."
Kiwi pair Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands were second.
Skipper Goodmanson and crewman Rowlands, of Charteris Bay (Lyttelton Harbour), on Ffortune, incrementally worked their way up from fourth place after scoring a fourth and 12th placings but were 14 points adrift of the winners.
Goodmanson and Rowlands have competed at six world championships but have yet to clinch the bragging rights although they have been sailing together since 2001.
They have been third twice, competed in 2005 in Auckland and 2007 in Majorca, and were fourth in Melbourne in 2009 in their last outing so Napier could easily be their moment of glory.
The Great Britain pair of Charles Apthorp and Alan Green were two points behind the Kiwis in third place on Foof.
