NZ Match Racing Championships: Dean Barker and Gavin Brady at the finals

[Source: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron] BMW Oracle’s Gavin Brady will face Emirates Team New Zealand’s Dean Barker in the first to win 3 final, which will begin at 1030am on the Waitemata Harbour on Sunday morning.

Brady, who was the top qualifier from the Round Robin Series, chose to sail the young star of the regatta, Adam Minoprio. Brady showed his experience and beat the 21 year old Minoprio 2–0 to confirm his place in the finals.

In the other semi final Chris Dickson, 3rd qualifier from the rounds was left to race Dean Barker who won all his races on Saturday to take the last semi final spot.

Dickson beat Barker by 14seconds in Race One and Barker won race two by 19seconds. In the final sudden death race, Barker split with Dickson off the start. Dickson headed towards the Westhaven Marina seawall and Barker out into the greater tide of the middle of the harbour. The crowd which had formed upstairs at the Squadron Clubrooms were getting closer and closer to the edge of the deck as the two boats converged on the top mark. Barker was in front at the first top mark rounding by 10 seconds meaning the middle of the harbour had paid off. At the bottom mark Barker’s lead had decreased slightly and as they rounded again Barker headed out into the harbour and Dickson to the wall. The crowd was now silent as the two teams split again and completed their finals tacks heading into the top mark for the last time. Barker again cleared Dickson and had extended his lead to take the race by 38 seconds.

Graeme Sutherland, who won last weeks qualifier series, finished strong taking 5th place overall for the regatta gaining another 2 wins today. In his final race of the regatta Sutherland beat Adam Minoprio by 7 seconds.

Laurie Jury who also came through from the qualifier series finishes 6th overall just 2 points behind Sutherland.

A big win for Phil Robertson, the youngest helmsman in the regatta, representing the Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme over Youth Programme graduate Simon Minoprio, their first win for the regatta.

Racing beings at 1030hrs on Sunday and there is fantastic viewing from the Westhaven Carpark and seawall.

Finalists
Dean Barker (Emirates Team New Zealand)
Gavin Brady (BMW Oracle)

Petit Finalists
Adam Minoprio (Blackmatch)
Chris Dickson (BMW Oracle)

Chris Dickson racing during Saturday's semifinals. Auckland, 25 November 2006. Photo copyright Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Chris Dickson and Dean Barker racing during Saturday's semifinals. Auckland, 25 November 2006. Photo copyright Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron