Toyota NZ Optimist Nationals New Plymouth YC – Day 3 – Wells makes her mark
by Sail-World.com/nz 6 Apr 06:02 PDT
4-7 April 2026
The fleet return to shore – Toyota NZ Optimist Nationals – New Plymouth YC – Day 3 – April 6, 2026 © Ian Pye
Glendowie BC’s Zofia Wells continues to make the front running after the third day of racing at the Toyota NZ Optimist Nationals, being sailed from New Plymouth Yacht Club.
An unstable breeze prevented the full race schedule being sailed, in all fleets, but two races were completed for the Gold fleet. Wells consolidated her position at the top of the leaderboard with a 2nd and 1st place, and now leads the series by a healthy 15pt margin after three days of racing.
Blake Duncan (Napier SC) moved up to lie second overall, recording a 4th and 2nd place to lie 3pts clear of Ally Burfoot (Tauranga YPBC). Burfoot won the first race of the day, but dropped to 9th in the second and last race of the day.
The Silver and White fleets were able to complete only one race.
All fleets were sent back to the shore at 1300hrs, after the breeze fizzed out completely.
A quick run through the leaderboard reveals that the results are split 50/50 between male and female sailors in the White fleet, across both the Top 10 and Top 20 overall – maybe the tide is turning. Of course, two of the top three overall in the Gold fleet are female sailors.
The racing concludes on Tuesday.
The series sailed in Open, Green and White fleets has attracted 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, lying 9th overall. Leo Gillard (SRC Noumea) moved up the points table to be 14th overall, with Carli Brodie (Laucala Bay, Fiji) in 31st 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
