Naismith wins NZ KiteFoil Nationals in a keenly contested series
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz 13 Feb 2023 14:18 PST
14 February 2023
From left Justina Kitchen, Lochy Naismith and Hugo Wigglesworth - get the chocolate bars at the 2023 NZ Kitefoil Nationals at Taipa Sailing Club © NZ Kitefoil Assoc
Lochy Naismith (20yrs)(Wakatere BC) won a keenly contested NZ KiteFoil Nationals staged at the Taipa Sailing Club sailed over Waitangi Weekend.
Sailing in an open fleet Hugo Wigglesworth (16yrs) (Kohimaramara YC) was 1pt behind, with top womens sailor Justina Kitchen third overall in the open fleet.
Townsville sailor Breiana Whitehead, who placed 7th in the 2022 World Championships was fourth overall and provided a good international marker for the 13 sailor fleet.
Launching from picturesque Cable Bay, and jammed in between weather bombs which have plagued the North Island summer, the fleet enjoyed good sailing conditions for the first two days. Rain marred the third day, Waitangi Day, and only one race was sailed.
Five races were sailed on the first day, in a NE sea breeze, with a swell of 1.5-2metres running. At the end of the first day Andy Robertson led the 13 competitor fleet, after winning the last three races, and placing second and third in the other two sailed. However, three alphabet placings in the remaining seven races pulled the brother of top SailGP sailor, Phil Robertson, down the points table. With only two discard placings allowed, Robertson had to count one of his alphabet places, counting maximum points in his final score to place fifth overall.
Lochy Naismith asserted himself on the second day when six races were sailed, winning three races sailed in a 15-18 kt NE seabreeze, sailing again in a smaller swell of 1-1.5metres. He was the most consistent of the top group and was able to win the title by 1pt, despite being beaten by Hugo Wigglesworth in the final race.
Only one race was sailed on Day 3, sailed again in a NE breeze of 12kts, rain and a reduced swell of 1metre. Breiana Whitehead (AUS) produced her best form of the series to win Race 12, lifting her to within a point of Justina Kitchen, who scored maximum points scoring DNF in the Final race.
Whitehead was another consistent sailor, never finishing out of the top five, and performed better as the regatta progressed.
All the top five competitors sailed with were using Flysurfer VMG2 Kites from 15m² – 23m² in area.
The regatta was notable for two young sailors Toby Wigglesworth and Lucy Bilger stepping up into Open competition. Wigglesworth (13yrs) was also the youngest competitor in the event.
The regatta was conducted in the shadow and absence of Lukas Walton-Keim, New Zealand's top kite sailors who was unable to compete in the Nationals due to knee surgery. Medical events aside he was the defending champion and acknowledged pre-series favourite.
Both Lukas Walton-Keim and Justina Kitchen are continuing campaigns this year in Europe for 2024 Olympic qualification.