Hazard leads day 1 of the LIVEsport Telecom New Zealand Women’s Match Racing Championships

Stephanie Hazard and her crew of Jenna Hansen, Susannah Pyatt, Nichola Trudgen & Sara Winther, had a fantastic day on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour winning all 8 of their races and sit atop the leader board at the end of race day 1.

Two round robins were completed meaning the five women’s teams raced each other twice, with one team having a bye each flight. Race Officer Mike Best pushed hard to get two round robins in today, due to inclement weather conditions forecast for Saturday.

Hazard who at just 21 has tasted successes with her recent match racing regattas. She and her crew come to this event off the back of a win in last weekend’s Musto Wellington Match Race Cup hosted by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club. Their team work from last weekend was used their advantage making clean sweeps in both round robins.

In second position overall with a total of 5 wins and 3 losses is Jessica McDowell (nee Smyth) who after a two year break from sailing has quickly proved she hasn’t lost her touch. In fact the 2009 NZ Women’s Match Racing Championships was the last event McDowell and her loyal crew competed at, which they won overall. McDowell also completed the double in 2009 winning the Women’s National Keelboat Championships, after which she purchased and now manages two gyms in Auckland but organisers and competitors were certainly glad to see her back racing this week!

McDowell’s three losses were to Hazard and 3rd placed Olivia Powrie.

23 year old Powrie is part of the 420 pre-Olympic Squad but has been sailing the Elliott 7’s during the RNZYS Wednesday Evening Series “I have been helming an Elliott 7 during the Wednesday Series and it’s been heaps of fun” commented Powrie.

Powrie lost to McDowell in Round Robin 1 by 7 seconds but bounced back in Round Robin 2 to take the win by 9 seconds. Powrie’s other losses were to Hazard and to Samantha Osborne.

Next overall is 24 year old Sam Osborne and her team who grabbed 3 wins and 4 losses from today’s racing. One win over Powrie, and wins over Danielle Bowater in both Round Robins.

Bowater and crew representing the RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme had a tough day on the water and were unable to use their knowledge of the boats to their advantage. They will certainly be re-grouping tonight and back tomorrow looking to get some wins on the board.

The schedule for tomorrow (Saturday) begins with Flight One Round Robin 3 at 10.00am.

Current standings
Stephanie Hazard – 8 wins / 0 losses
Jessica McDowell – 5 / 3
Olivia Powrie – 4 / 4
Samantha Osborne – 3 / 5
Danielle Bowater – 0 / 8

View photos here

For further information including crew lists, honour board of past winners and daily results, please visit the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s website: www.rnzys.org.nz

Or follow the links through: http://www.wimra.org/regatta_detail.asp?rk=391

(From the RNZYS Race Office: www.rnzys.org.nz)