BMW Auckland Regetta

BMW Auckland Regetta

Winds gusting over 30 knots tested the competitors in the opening day
of the BMW Auckland Regatta today and saw one of the hot favourites in
the open multihull division capsize.

Frantic Drift, skippered by Olympic sailor Dan Salter with Nathan
Handley and two up-and-coming Olympic class sailors Blair Tuke and
Peter Burling on board was flipped coming into the finish of the
opening race.

The yacht ended upside down in the water. With help from two umpire
boats, Frantic Drift was righted again. Nobody was injured and the
yacht was soon under tow back to Westhaven.

"Conditions were certainly testing," said regatta director Ross
Markwick of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. "The sailors had
their hands full in gusty conditions, but we saw some outstanding
displays of seamanship."

Racing comprised a course from Northern Leading to Eastern Beach,
followed by windward leewards. Sixty yachts in nine divisions are
competing in the regatta, which continues tomorrow and finishes on
Sunday.

Three races were completed today and the provisional results on
General Handicap have the following yachts leading their divisions:

A Div: BMW Yachtsport

B Div: Sure Thing

C Div: Azure

D Div: Cool Change

E Div: Tiago Iti

Open multihull: Taeping

8.5m multihull: Lucifer

Y88: Slipstream III

For full results, please see the event website:
www.bmwaucklandregatta.co.nz

Racing this weekend will take place off Northern Leading and Eastern
Beach and will comprise a mix of windward-leeward courses and harbour
courses. 2010 BMW AUCKLAND REGATTA

ENDS

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