Toyota NZ Optimist Nationals New Plymouth YC – Day 4 – Zofia Wells wins
by Sail-World.com/nz 7 Apr 07:47 PDT
4-7 April 2026


Zofia Wells (GBC) – 2026 Toyota NZ Optimist National Open champion – New Plymouth YC – Day 4 – April 7, 2026 © Ian Pye



Glendowie BC’s Zofia Wells (15yrs) has added the NZ Open Optimist title to her already impressive record. She dominated the fleet, winning seven of the 11 races in which she sailed.


She adds the NZ Nationals trophy to her growing collection. Her achievements in the past 12 months include winning the 2026 Tanner Cup—the NZ interclub Open regatta in P-class. in France. She was the skipper of the top female crew, who also finished second overall in the Open fleet, at the 2025 RS Feva World Championship.


The light winds that have dominated the regatta gave way to gusts of 20 kts on the final day. Wells proved to be more than competitive in the 43-boat Gold fleet, winning the last race of the series and her seventh win of the 11 races she sailed. That last race win increased her winning margin to 18 points over Napier Sailing Club’s Blake Duncan, who also had a good day in the fresher breeze, winning the first of three races sailed, and placing second in the next race (Race 10).


Jake Dickey (also from Napier SC) had a consistent day to be 6 points behind Duncan for third overall.


Ally Burfoot (Taurange) had been in the top three until the final day, but dropped back to fourth overall. She still achieved a massive improvement, moving up 50 places from 6th in the Silver fleet at the 2025 Optimist Nationals.


In the White fleet for developing sailors, Carter Jack (Murrays Bay SC) took the title by 6pts over Ellie McDowell (Tauranga YPBC) and Missy Renall (Wakatere BC). McDowell and Renall were tied on overall points. McDowell won second place after the prescribed tie-breaking mechanism was applied.


The performance of female sailors was a notable feature of the regatta. Two girls are in the top four in the Gold fleet. The White fleet saw a similar story. The top four places were evenly split between male and female sailors.


The series was sailed in Open, Green, and White fleets. There were 153 boat entries from four countries: New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and France/New Caledonia.


Of the international entries, Jack McGuire (Royal Queensland) is the top international competitor, finishing 9th overall. Leo Gillard (SRC Noumea) remained in his overnight place of 14th overall, with Carli Brodie (Laucala Bay, Fiji) in 33rd in the 43-boat Silver fleet.


For full results in all fleets www.sailwave.com/results/NPYC


Photos and videos available on Facebook and Instagram @npyachtclub or in ‘Event Photos’ on the regatta website www.npyc.co.nz/events/opti-nats