Kerikeri High crews are tops at NZ schools regatta

Two teams representing Kerikeri High School took first and second place in the Harken New Zealand Schools Regatta at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron base in Westhaven, Auckland.
Team 1 with O'Shea Butler (helm), Harris Bindon (main), Alina Hofstatter (trim) and James Ayr (bow) had a convincing lead after winning nine of the 12 races.
Team 2 with Nathan Laurie (helm), Sam Brierley (main), Andrea Hawtin (trim) and Klaus Ohlendorff (bow) fought hard to secure second place from a persistent Mahurangi College.
Erratic winds and frequent gusts made for some challenging competition in the Elliot 6 class keelers, with fine timing needed on the start line because of the river-like currents.
A week earlier, three teams from the school's sailing squad also took part in the Upper North Island Team Racing Championships.
Fifteen teams from Napier north entered the three-day event at Algies Bay in preparation for the Secondary School Team Racing National Championships being held in Taupo on April 11-16.
Team 1 fought off strong challenges from Saint Kentigern's College and a  Westlake Boys' team to claim first place overall, with Team 3  eighth  in the gold fleet and Team 2 third in the silver fleet.