Kerikeri sailors shine

A Northland town's success in the world sailing champs has been put down to a strong high school sailing programme and the efforts of an inspirational coach.

Two out of three medals won by New Zealanders at the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, held in Perth, Western Australia, went to sailors from Kerikeri.

In the final day of two weeks of racing, Kerikeri's Blair Tuke, 22, and teammate Peter Burling, 20, won silver in the 49er class on Sunday, while another Kerikeri sailor, 29-year-old Andrew Murdoch, claimed bronze in the Laser class.

The only other New Zealand medal was a bronze won by Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie in the Women's 470.

Proud mum Karin Tuke, of Dove's Bay, said winning bronze and silver in a world championships was an extraordinary achievement for two boys from Kerikeri.

"For Northland, the Far North and the Kerikeri Cruising Club, it's a pretty amazing effort."

The boys' medals would help the North end 2011 on a high note after a rough year marked by economic woes, fires and tragedy.

She put Kerikeri's success down to a strong sailing programme at Kerikeri High School and the influence of former sailing coach Derry Godbert. The retired high school teacher continued to mentor and encourage the boys, she said.

"Both Andrew and Blair hugely admire Derry. He had a big input in to the boys through the school and the cruising club, and he still supports them and follows their progress."

Andrew's father, Jim Murdoch, echoed those views and said he was proud of the boys' achievements.

"People see the end result, but it's a hell of a lot of hard work to get there," he said.

Yachting New Zealand's Olympic programme manager Jez Fansone said he was delighted with the results of the final day of racing, and the way the sailors had kept fighting right to the end.

Tuke and Burling had started in fourth position overall on Sunday, but climbed their way up to silver after finishing second in the double-point medal race.

Murdoch started the final day's racing in eighth place overall.

"Obviously things were really tight going into it, so I just had to sail my own race, and I was able to do that so I'm happy," he said.

During the championships New Zealand qualified for next year's London Olympics in nine classes.

Both Tuke and Murdoch are expected to be named to the Olympic squad.