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2002 NZ Racing Nationals
2002 NZ Racing National Champ Clayton Dougan with Gareth Wood
(Pic by Richard Lai.)
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The Canterbury Windsurfing Association 2002 Course Slalom Racing Nationals
Clayton Dougan (AHD/Neil Pryde) wins 2002 NZ Racing Nationals !!!
Day 1and 2:
Saturday:
The building wind allowed for two course races, each won by Clayton Dougan (AHD/Neil Pryde), after David Holt (Starboard/Gaastra) won the first race, but got disqualified after a protest.
Sunday:
High winds, racing on 9.0's for most, saw one course race, again won by Clayton Dougan, before format switched to Slalom. Of the 3 rounds, Clayton Dougan won one round, with joint winners David Holt, Peter Arnold and Gareth Wood in round 2.
The above comments are UNCONFIRMED statements, trying to put together fragmental information we are hearing. After 2 days, it looks like Clayton Dougan is leading, with David Holt being right up there and Gareth Wood also doing very well. It looks like we've got 3 Wellington sailors in the top 5.
Bronwyn Ward, the only female participant at this year's racing nationals, is doing quite well and is beating some of the guys!
Day 3:
Monday:
No wind today, but a confirmed status that Clayton Dougan (AHD/Neil Pryde) has established a good lead in the overall standings. Further top contenders at this stage are Wellington Sailors David Holt, Gareth Wood, aswell as Peter John and Jono Squires from Auckland. The outlook is for Southerlies which can be very volatile in CHCH, and theres 2 days of Racing left, so anything can happen.
Day 4:
Tuesday:
No wind again.
Day 5:
Wednesday:
40 knots, rain , huge chop and very cold. Racing been called off due to severe conditions.
COMMENT:
It's all over. No racing today means the provisional results have become the end results, which means Wellington sailor Clayton Dougan is the 2002 Racing National Champion. Everyone we have spoken to has confirmed it's been an intense battle with a very high level of competition, which was higher than in any of the years before. One could tell that the top sailors had put a huge effort into testing the gear, doing the preparation and working on the fitness level. With the sail sizes used these days in racing, the fitness factor is becoming more important than ever.
Some of the highlights, which have been confirmed by various sides:
- Clayton Dougan first ever to win the Racing nationals on a production board and sailing very consistent with great control, showing his outstanding allround ability.
- David Holt's board speed in course racing. In one race he started last after falling, and overtook the whole field. (Despite him being disqualified for that race due to a protest, we reckon that's still a bloody awesome achievement and shows his great speed)
- Nick Hunn going really well, especially in some of the Slalom races. Unconfirmed reports indicate that in fact he even won one or more slalom heats.
- Gareth Wood sailing very consistently and coming in 2nd overall, only to loose it by countback to Jonathan Squires.
- Bronwyn Ward being the only woman in the field, keeping up the spirit and also sailing really well on the race course.
2002 Racing Nationals provisional results:
1st Clayton Dougan (AHD/Neil Pryde)
2nd Jonathan Squires (Styrotech/Neil Pryde)
3rd Gareth Wood (AHD/Neil Pryde)
4th Aaron Smith
5th Peter John
6th Dave Holt (Starboard/Gaastra)
7th Luke Watson
8th Terry Beentjes
9th David Gould
10th Derek Teensma
Other Wellington sailors:
12th Nick Hunn
19th James Thomas
20th Woo Norris
20th Boogie Vierth
24th Paul Cooper
28th Brownyn Ward |
Clayton Dougan on his new Neil Pryde RS Racing 11.0 sail and AHD Formula NT95 board.
(Pic by Richard Lai)
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