2nd for Osborne and crew in Women's Match Race Regatta

The New Zealand Women’s Match-Racing team of Samantha Osborne, Raynor Smeal and Keryn Henderson (pictured left) have finished in second place at the 2010 Harken Women’s International Match Racing Regatta in Sydney, Australia.

The kiwis won their semi-final against Olivia Price and crew who were sailing on home waters, by 2-0, and went on to face another Sydney team led by Lucinda Whitty in the final of the Harken Women’s Match-Racing Regatta. Whitty and crew took the regatta win with a 3-0 victory in the final, but the official report explains it was no easy win for the Aussies.

“Three closely fought matches against Samantha Osborne later, Whitty was declared the winner of the Harken Women’s International Match Racing Regatta. It was the last match of the day that had everyone talking. Whitty and Osborne displayed some of the best match racing skills and tactics; using obstructions on the course and ‘dummy tacks’ to try to outwit each other. Whitty was to win by only seven seconds after a tight spinnaker run to the finish line.”

“It was a shifty day out on the Sydney harbour and racing was close,” reports the kiwi team after racing concluded yesterday.

“For us, it's now back home where we will be training for the next month before heading overseas for our next World Cup event in Hyeres, France.”

Ten teams were competing at the ISAF Grade 3 event including four from New Zealand, five Australian teams and one from the USA. Next best placed of the kiwi teams was Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Kat Stroinovsky.

New Zealand’s Final Placings

2nd Samantha Osborne, Raynor Smeal & Keryn Henderson
5th Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen & Kat Stroinovsky
6th Danielle Bowater, Bianca Cook, Hannah Osborne & Katie de Lange
9th Anita Trudgen, Hana Maguire, Hannah Scott-Mackie & Heather Trudgen

See the regatta website for full results, more photos, and the wrap-up report.