Sailing success

By OBHS | Posted: Monday February 27, 2023

Year 13 student Zach Stibbe's sailing career is set to soar!

Last weekend Zach competed at the Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta held at the Torbay Sailing Club in Auckland.

The Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta is the country’s premier youth and Olympic classes event and regularly attracts a strong field of international competitors alongside New Zealand’s top dinghy sailors.

With a strong breeze on Friday, racing was reduced to 2 days. Zach competed in the Under 19 category in a field of 33 racers over a variety of classes. Racing in the ILCA 6 fleet, he won the division and finished 4th overall at the completion of the regatta.

Zach generally trains on his own and is up early cycling for fitness before heading to school. With limited opportunity in Dunedin, he often travels to Christchurch in order to train with a youth squad based there.

As a result of his success, Zach has been selected in the New Zealand SailGP Development Squad and will participate in the Inspire Programme being held in Christchurch mid March. Here he will be involved in WASZP racing.

His goal for this year is to qualify for the 2023 NZL Youth World Sailing Team. The trials are in October and the Worlds are being held in Brazil in December.

Congratulations on your success Zach, and all the best for the exciting time ahead.