Lighthouse New Zealand Match Racing Championships 2023: Nick Egnot-Johnson wins again.
The 2023 title makes Egnot-Johnson a three-time event winner adding to his 2019 and 2021 victories.
Cole Tapper (5 AUS) and Nick Egnot-Johnson (7 NZL) in a pre-start battle in the first match of the finals at the Lighthouse 2023 New Zealand Match Racing Championships
Auckland, New Zealand – World #7 Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL) and his Knots Racing crew of Chris Main, Zak Merton and Peter Soosalu emerged victorious to secure the National Match Racing Champion’s title after a thrilling final against Cole Tapper (AUS) and his CYCA Youth Sailing Academy team. Egnot-Johnson won the best-of-five series final 3-2, with Tapper showing a strong dominance, winning the first race and not conceding defeat until the fifth and final race where he came off second best in a tacking battle on the start line.
The Lighthouse 2023 New Zealand Match Racing Championships from October 26th to October 28th was hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) and saw six teams sail three round robins in stage one over Thursday and Friday before progressing into the final stages on Saturday. The event was raced in the Squadron’s fleet of Elliott 7m sports boats and attracted strong competition from across the pacific including Australia and New Caledonia.
Jack Frewin and his RNZYS Performance Programme team finished in third place taking out the petit final early with two back-to-back wins against New Caledonian team skippered by Tom Picot. The competitive experience gained this past weekend for Frewin and his crew including Sofia Higgott, Ollie Gilmour and Oliver Lloyd was an integral part of their build up at the 2023 Youth World Match Racing World Championship in Sydney this December.
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron wishes to thank Bucklands Beach Yacht Club for their support in providing berthing and a club room to house the event as continued contamination in the Waitemata Harbour caused by a wastewater overflow and rendered racing on the waters outside RNZYS unfeasible.
Full results can be viewed online matchracingresults.com
Final Standings:
- Nick Egnot-Johnson, Chris Main, Zak Merton & Peter Soosalu – Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
- Cole Tapper, Max Brennan, Hamish Vass & Chelsea Williams – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
- Jack Frewin, Sofia Higgott, Ollie Gilmour & Oliver Lloyd – RNZYS Performance Programme
- Tom Picot– Cercle Nautique Calédonien
- Kevin Le Dréau– Cercle Nautique Calédonien
- Keily Thompson– RNZYS Youth Training Programme
