Lake regatta a family affair

Sir Russell Coutts watches  his son Mattias race in Wanaka Yacht Club’s Roys Regatta and...
Sir Russell Coutts watches his son Mattias race in Wanaka Yacht Club’s Roys Regatta and Endurance race at the weekend. Photos: Kerrie Waterworth
Sons of Sir Russell Coutts, Michael (16) and Mattias  (12), check their gear on Saturday.
Sons of Sir Russell Coutts, Michael (16) and Mattias (12), check their gear on Saturday.
Mattias Coutts, of Auckland, son of world champion New Zealand yachtsman Sir Russell Coutts,...
Mattias Coutts, of Auckland, son of world champion New Zealand yachtsman Sir Russell Coutts, races across Lake Wanaka on his Waszp sailing craft on Saturday.

Wanaka Yacht Club’s annual New Year regatta at the weekend attracted entries from around the country, including the sons of New Zealand yachting legend Sir Russell Coutts.

Michael  and Mattias Coutts  were two of the 40 entrants  in the annual Mitre 10 Roys Bay Regatta, Endurance race and NZ Freshwater Etchell championships on Friday and Saturday.Michael, who won division one in the main regatta, said there were high expectations, being the son of the world champion yachtsman, "but to be honest I don’t really think about that; I just go out and  have fun".

He said Lake Wanaka was "awesome" for sailing as it had a lot of wind shifts.

Younger brother Mattias, who sailed a foiling boat, won a prize for "persistence".

Sir Russell, who led his country’s team to its first America’s Cup victory in 1995, learnt to sail in a P-Class on Otago Harbour,  and competed in the Lake Wanaka regatta in his early teens in 1978.

He said he "loved" coming to Wanaka and conditions for sailing were "really, really good".

"It’s better than a lot of people realise."

Sir Russell runs training workshops and coaching sessions around the country, as well as sponsoring young sailors in New Zealand and from overseas. 

Wanaka yacht club commodore Jeff Mercer said having Sir Russell at the regatta was very encouraging for the younger sailors, and he was often on a boat on the water giving them advice.

Mr Mercer said he was "very, very happy" with the regatta and it was a great success.

Entrants came from the North Island,  Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, Southland, Queenstown and Wanaka.

Results: Main regatta division 1 winner,  Michael Coutts, of Auckland;  division 2 winner, Alex Bruce, of Dunedin;  line honours, Jeff Mercer.

Endurance race winner,  Alex Bruce, of Dunedin; second division, Gavin Stevens, of Wanaka.

kerrie.waterworth@odt.co.nz 

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