Macleans College secure fifth place at New Zealand Secondary Schools Keelboat Regatta

The event featured Elliot 7 keelboats, generously donated by Emirates Team New Zealand to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron as part of their initiative to promote youth keelboat sailing and inspire the next generation of sailors.

The first day of racing saw teams navigating the qualifying rounds, with the Macleans College team delivering a strong performance. Their consistent results secured them third place in their pool and a coveted spot in the gold fleet, reserved for the top 10 teams.

Finals day presented challenging conditions, with light, shifty winds making tactical decision-making crucial. Macleans College started strong with a third place finish in the opening race, setting a positive tone for the day. However, a pre-start incident in race two involving Takapuna Grammar School resulted in a penalty for the opposing team but left Macleans College with a delayed start. Despite rounding the first top mark in last place, the team displayed resilience, fighting back to secure seventh place. In the final race, a well-executed performance earned them fourth place, ultimately securing an impressive fifth place finish in the national regatta.