Slam Dunk finally breaks Bridesmaid tag

Burnsco Travellers Series #1 © NZ Elliott 5.9 Class Association

Slam Dunk's Stu Clark, Stu Molloy and Cam Horne won Burnsco Travellers Series #1 held over the weekend 17 and 18 May at Lake Rotoiti.

A small but competitive fleet of 8 boats competed, run by the Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron with International Race Officer, Paul Davies.

Racing got under way on Saturday with a slight delay, in a light north westerly 6-8 knots in sunny conditions and typical lake conditions, with 10-15 degree shifts.

Slam Dunk signalled their intentions winning Race 1 with Reggae Shark and the ever present RnR, Craig Satterthwaite sailing with his daughter Gretel and Bart (Richard Bearda) rounding out the podium.

The class legend, Dave Cochrane on Zoot Allures, with local crew Darrell Civil and Garth Weinberg, winning races 2 and 3, with Slam Dunk and RnR having podium finishes in these two races. Slam Dunk won races 4 and 6 with RnR winning race 5. This left Slam Dunk with a 3 point buffer over RnR, with 5 points back to Zoots after the completion of six tight fleet races.

With four races on Sunday, Slam Dunk was determined to take out the regatta but RnR was out to make amends for a disappointing Nationals for their standards. Zoots would need to keep a watch out for the wily Brian Kent on Nevis, 3 points behind in 4th place.

With rain in the forecast Sunday afternoon racing was brought forward half an hour. Race 7 started after a delay as the wind shifted through 40 degrees to the left in a northerly 4-6 knots with overcast conditions but was going to be very tricky sailing with 20 degree wind shifts and differing pressure as the wind came over the hills of Lake Rotoiti.

Slam Dunk won race 7 to ease the pressure coming from RnR who finished 3rd and Zoots 2nd, keeping in touch. Zoots won race 8 with Nevis 2nd and RnR 3rd. Slam Dunk finished 5th, slightly opening the door for RnR to make a comeback.

RnR took out race 9 with Zoots 2nd and Slam Dunk 3rd. This left Slam Dunk with a 3 point buffer over RnR, with one race to go.

At the top mark of race 10 RnR was in the lead and Slam Dunk was back in 5th. If they finished this way, it would leave Slam Dunk with the slimmest of margins over RnR for the regatta. RnR was still leading at the bottom mark with Slam Dunk making up one place downwind. The bulk of the fleet headed right for the last beat. Nyx, who was OCS and in 8th place at the bottom mark, went left, hooking into a huge leftie shift and pressure, went around the top mark just behind Reggae Shark and Slam Dunk behind Nyx.

This was the finishing order for race 10, giving Slam Dunk the regatta with RnR and Zoots rounding out the podium.

A big thank you to Paul Davies for running a great regatta in some testing times for the Race Officer. Also, a big thanks to Jimmy O'Callahan providing the start boat and laying marks with Murray.

The 2025 Burnsco Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series now heads north to Marsden Cove 14 - 15th June.

Results can be found here elliott59.weebly.com/results.html Follow results and pictures online www.facebook.com/elliott5.9 and for more information on the Elliott 5.9 Class Association visit www.e59.org.nz.