Some of New Zealand's top A Class sailors blew into Rotorua this week.
The 2019 New Zealand A Class National Championships are being held on Lake Rotorua. The event started on Wednesday and, after four days of full-speed action, a national champion will be crowned tomorrow.New Zealand A Class Association president Brent Harsant said there were 16 competitors entered in this week's event and there had been a high calibre of racing throughout.
"We use A Class Catamarans which weigh 75kg all up, they're made of carbon fibre. Speed wise they can get up to 30 knots, so about 50kph," Harsant said.
Leading the way after the first two days was Nelson's Dave Shaw, who won five of the first six races.
Shaw represented New Zealand at the A Class World Championships last year and finished seventh. Team New Zealand stars and America's Cup winners Glenn Ashby, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke all competed at the same event. Ashby won the world title while Tuke and Burling finished third and fourth respectively.