The 2017 Hutt City Windsurf Cup attracted some of the best sailors from the pacific as they competed to win the first stage of the Pacific Windsurf Cup. With sailors traveling from Australia, New Caledonia and even Russia the racing was high octane as professional sailors Laurence Carey, Fred Morin and Jack Holliday fought to be crowned champion.

The opening day of the event provided world class conditions where the famous ‘Windy Wellington’ provided what New Zealanders have grown to expect from the area. Strong winds ranging from 15-30knots throughout the day provided sailors with conditions to prove their dominance. From the outset the level was clear as Morin and Carey battled around the course where Carey took the opening victory from the New Caledonian. The close racing continued as the sailors had nothing to loose meaning everything was left on the water.

Carey and Holliday had the closest race of the event where Holliday was set to take his first victory against Carey leading into the final turn. Morin was nearby following in third but all eyes turned to Carey and Holliday leading into the final buoy turn. With nothing to loose Carey made a critical gybe to clinch victory on meters before the finish to confirm his position on the podium.

Australians Isaac De Vries and Julien Venation demonstrated the level of their sailing where Ventalons consistency provided himself with consistent second and third place results. This however was not enough to take a podium position where he finished one point behind New Caledonian Laurent Giovannelli in fifth place.

With seven rounds of racing completed the Morin and Holliday finished on equal points. This meant the sailors had to wait for the tie break rules to distinguish who would take second and third overall. New Caledonian Morin took second where his lower discarded results meant he would clinch the second over Holliday.

The international guests did not leave empty handed where the best team was to be crowned. With sailors in teams of three to seven consistency was key and the New Caledonians managed to narrowly take the title in front of the top New Zealand team (Team 10 – Laurence Carey, Jack Holliday, Luke Holliday, Angus Butterfield and Bernard Carey). Following close by was the Australian team (Julien Ventalon, Amy Fisher and Isaac De Vries) where they filled the podium to take third place.

Now all eyes turn to the next event of the Pacific Cup where competitors will be traveling to Hawaii in June to be apart of the prestigious Maui Race Series followed by Tahiti and New Caledonia in July and October.

Via Laurence Carey