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In one of the closest Javelin Regattas in recent years, Phil McNeill and Matthew Smith in Phlipnhel managed to beat Ross and Colin Shanks (Riders on the Storm) to take the 2006 Javelin Nationals title. Sailed in the waters near Bean Rock in Auckland, the regatta was held in predominantly North - North Easterly winds of between 15 and 20 knots. A very sloppy chop made boat speed difficult to achieve, and big holes in the wind had the fleet changing positions regularly.

Of the 9 races, 6 different boats claimed wins, with all boats having very even speeds, no boat showing much of a speed advantage on the wind, although Phlipnhel seemed to be able to gain 50m on every downwind leg which allowed them to recover from a few problems around the start areas.

Going into the last race, Phlipnhel held a 1 point lead from Riders on the Storm and Freckle Deckle (Nick Taylor / Geoff Copplestone), with Bungholio (Rob Fordyce / Craig Gilberd) a further point back. The racing was always going to be tight, with any of these 4 boats able to take the title if things went their way. At the top mark, all 4 top boats rounded closely together, with Flying Circus (David Brown / David Feek) getting into the action as well.

This tight racing continued, lead changing around a bit until the last leg when Riders on the Storm caught an inside gust to sail around Phlipnhel to wind the final race, unfortunately for them, Phlipnhel came in 2nd not far enough back to cause them a problem gaining the championship. Freckle Deckle and Bungholio crossed opposite ends of the line, on different gybes at full speed, Freckle Deckle came in 3rd near the finish boat, a boat length, and less than a second ahead of Bungholio at the pin end.

With the wind now gusting up over 20 knots, and the sea lumpy the scheduled crews race was postponed, with all sailors contemplating a cool ale at the bar instead.

Click here for final results.

Started in a light North Easterly Breeze in a strong in-coming tide, the fleet worked their way up the Okahu Bay wave fence aiming for a top mark of 9-Bouy. Bungholio (Rob Fordyce / Craig Gilberd) had the windward position from a pin end start and held an advantage over the fleet for the first 1/2 of the leg until the wind started to die out.

Phil McNeill and Matthew Smith in Phlipnhel took a gamble and headed out into the tide early and found some wind beside North Head to round the mark 1st while the rest of the fleet were scattered to all ends of the harbour searching for wind. Phlipnhel lead into the bottom mark where the race was shortened and finished, followed by Bungholio.

The Wellington Crew of Richard Bell and Todd Gilbert in Psycho finished in 3rd after the East Coast crew of Ross and Colin Shanks went around the wrong end of the finish line letting them sail through unopposed. An embarrasing moment for Colin Shanks after reminding the OOD to put up the Starboard rounding flag at the start and then trying to race a Port course.

2006 Sanders Cup 11^th – 13^th April 2006
Congratulations to Phil McNeill and Matthew Smith from Northland, winners of the 2006 Sanders Cup. For a race by race commentary and full results of the Sanders Cup, click here.

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