Tigers Fly on Wellington Harbour

The 2011 New Zealand Paper Tiger Nationals are currently under way on Wellington Harbour. Sailing out of Evans Bay Yacht and Motor Boat Club 50 ‘tigers’ took to the water Tuesday for the start of 5 days of action packed racing.

The famous Wellington wind which cools down the rest of the city’s holiday-makers is what these yachties are counting on for a tough competition. The sailors, who have gathered from across the country, will compete in 11 races over 5 days to decide the national champion. With 5 past National Champions sailing, New Zealand Paper Tiger Owners Association President, Mark Hatch is expecting a week of intense competition, “The Paper Tiger fleet is a very competitive one, the overall winner could be any one of a number of skippers who in the past have proved themselves to have the ability at this level of racing.”

After two days of racing two-time defending champion Bob Preston of Nelson is leading the pack with Mark Bell of Auckland hot on his heels. As expected the racing has been tight and with high winds forecast for the rest of the week the excitement of the competition may still be to come.

The Paper Tiger is a 14-foot single-handed catamaran designed by Ron Given of New Zealand in 1968. It is widely sailed in New Zealand and Australia and known for its speed and agility.

Ends

© Scoop Media