After an intense seven race series, Cameron Thorpe and his Hard Labour team have taken out the 2022 Farr 1020 National Championship Series hosted
by the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club with the support of Burnsco and Mount Gay Rum as sponsors.
Seven Farr 1020’s raced in a mix of conditions, testing the entire fleet and providing some epic racing for the close-knit community of sailors.
Raced over two days, the fleet saw a mix of conditions – everything from 5 knots with a slither of sun, to 14 knots with rain. Fog blanketed the fleet on
the second day of racing, proving that Auckland does have multiple seasons in a day.
2022 Farr 1020 National Championship Series. © Adam Mustill – Live Sail Die
While the fleet was small in size, they were feisty in all other aspects, making for some close and intense racing across both the Saturday and the Sunday. The commentary from
on board each boat clearly showed the intensity levels, but it was Cameron Thorpe and his Hard Labour crew that kept their cool, taking six guns of the
seven-race series.
“The team was fantastic, and we have had such a great weekend of racing,” said Thorpe.
Winning six of the seven scheduled races, Thorpe said that his team outdid all expectations, having had little time on the water together prior to the event. However, it was the
first race on Sunday morning, race five of the series, that hindered the lads from securing guns for every race, and then luck fell their way in race six where an abandonment gave
them a second chance.
2022 Farr 1020 National Championship Series. © Adam Mustill – Live Sail Die
“The first race on a Sunday morning is always a struggle for us, I don’t know why, it might have something to do with Saturday night, but yeah, we just take a bit to warm up on
Sunday mornings!” laughed Thorpe, with his crew nodding with agreement in the background.
Flashwave, with Andrew MacDonald at the helm took that race after finding the wisp of a breeze soon after the start. A good effort for them after having halyard issues on Saturday
resulting in a crew member being launched up the rig to fix the issue during the race.
Also shining on Sunday was the crew from Shortie with a second and third in the first two races to secure fourth overall. A solid effort for this team.
Rainbow IV helmed by Alan Smith, another seasoned 1020 skipper, sailed consistently for third place overall with a solid Saturday and good results on Sunday to threaten second
going into the last race.