Kiwis Level The Score

In an epic battle on the Auckland waters this morning, home star Simon DICKEY (NZL) beat Seve JARVIN (AUS) by seven seconds to tie the scores in round robin one of the ISAF Nations Cup Regional Final for Oceania.

It was another fantastic day at the ISAF Grade 2 match racing event on the Auckland Harbour and Principal Race Officer Harold BENNETT and his experienced Race Management team successfully completed the double round robin series. The breeze was very favourable and the only change was to move the top marks slightly to the left and to change from port to starboard rounding with the change of the tide.

Asked about his first race win against JARVIN, DICKEY responded, ‘He had the starboard advantage and the tide on his side as well – so it was always going to be tough to get the advantage back, but we just threw everything at him and ended up being right on his back and we won the start. We kept a cover on him upwind, and pretty much held the lead right through the race.’

JARVIN Fights Back

However the Aussie number 28 in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings was quick to respond. Lining up against DICKEY again in the following match and this time getting the better of his Kiwi rival.

DICKEY explained, ‘Yeah, the worst thing of the day was that second race. The round robin was reversed and this time we entered from the starboard end and he was late to enter so we took advantage of that and held control of the start. We won the start – won the first beat – beat him to the top mark, two to three boats lengths ahead round the top mark for the last time and then running down – in very fickle wind – we gybed into pressure – and that was really the race! We should have really stayed with him – and not given him that opportunity! That was really a lesson learned – so I guess he got us on countback with that one gybe away.’

Jess SMYTH had a great day on her home waters © Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

DICKEY‘s second loss of the day came against his training partner and top women sailor Jess SMYTH (NZL).

‘A Learning Experience’

Again DICKEY held an early lead, which, as he explains, he let slip away, ‘We were winning all the way around and I guess got a little bit casual towards the end and sailed the boat like a big boat to the finish. At three boat lengths from the finish we still had the advantage – I stuck the bow down, when I really should have kept the power on – but that is just getting used to sailing the smaller boat! I normally sail 34 footers or bigger. All a learning experience!’

John STANDLEY umpired one of the most interesting matches today, as New Caledonia’s Phillipe MAZARD came from behind to win the final match of the day by against Takumi NAKAMURA (JPN) by seconds.

These two sailors will line up again in the open semi-finals tomorrow, along with DICKEY and JARVIN. As the Australian won the double round robin he has choice of opponents. Meanwhile the two female teams, SMYTH and Ikuko SAKUDO (JPN), will sail off for first and second in the women’s competition and a place in the ISAF Grade 1 Grand Final.

DICKEY for one was keenly anticipating the crunch matches saying, ‘It’s going to be a tough five races tomorrow – bring it on!’

ISAF Nations Cup Regional Final – Oceania Results

Round Robin Standings

1. Seve JARVIN (AUS), 12-2
2. Simon DICKEY (NZL), 11-3
3. Jess SMYTH (NZL), 10-4
4. Takumi NAKAMURA (JPN), 8-6
5. Phillipe MAZARD (FRA), 7-7
6. Jan SIJP (COK), 4-10
7. Teva PILCHART (TAH), 4-10
8. Ikuko SAKUDO (JPN), 0-14

ISAF Nations Cup Regional Finals And Qualifying Crews

Group	Region	Host Nation	Host Club	Dates	Open Qualifier	Women’s Qualifier
Group A Open	Europe 1	Helsinki Finland	NJK Match Race Centre	15-18 June
Group A Women	Europe 1	Machico Portugal	Quinta do Lorde Yacht Club	2-7 May
Group B Open/Women	Europe 2	Izola Slovenia	Jadralno Društvo J/24	29 June-2 July
Group C Open/Women	Europe 3	London Great Britain	Queen Mary Resevoir	25-29 April
Group D Open/Women	Asia	Dubai UAE	Dubai International Marine Club	2-7 April	India Mahesh RAMCHANDRAN	UAE Bekky BRITTON
Group E Open/Women	South America	Rio de Janeiro Brazil	Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro	9-13 August
Group F Open/Women	North America	St. Thomas US Virgin Islands	St. Thomas Yacht Club	8-11 June
Group G Open/Women	Oceania	Auckland New Zealand	Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron	19-24 April

For a complete list of all the news from the ISAF Nations Cup 2006 CLICK HERE.