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Rod DAVIS (NZL) with his Emirates Team New Zealand crew of Tony RAE, Grant LORETZ, Chris WARD and Richard MEECHAM have 'done the impossible' by beating Dean BARKER on the Waitemata harbour on Sunday!

It was nail-biting racing as DAVIS won the first, BARKER the second, BARKER the third, DAVIS the fourth as the final went down to the very last race in the best of five series.

The start was even and during the day the breeze had increased to over 20 knots. This increased breeze tested the crew's and DAVIS's crew were up to the challenge. At the top mark DAVIS was around first but BARKER was close behind, just a boatlength in it. DAVIS had a good hoist and as the spinnaker set, the boat lurched towards the bottom mark. BARKER and team did the same and were right on DAVIS' transom. The spectators watching around Westhaven marina and from the Members Bar deck at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron were leaning out over the rock wall and balcony to gain a better line of sight! The race was extremely close!

At the top mark for the second time DAVIS again rounded the top mark in front and kept just in front of BARKER to win the race, win the regatta and win the New Zealand Match Racing Championships for the second time!

In the petit-final Chris DICKSON (NZL) and his young crew won the first race against Laurie JURY (NZL). JURY then went onto to win the next two races in the strengthening breeze and secure third spot in the regatta.

All the competitors commended the Race Committee and Umpires for the excellent job they did through out the series! And all involved are looking forward to next year already!

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron - www.rnzys.org.nz