The stunning Kai Iwi Lakes, located around three hours north of Auckland, set the stage for the 2026 New Zealand IOM North Island Championship over 21–22 March, delivering a regatta defined by challenging conditions, tight racing and a classic trans-Tasman battle.
Three Australians made the trip across the ditch, with Glenn Dawson, Sean Wallis and Doug Allen taking on a strong New Zealand fleet at one of the country’s premier inland venues. From the outset, conditions proved anything but straightforward. Day one was dominated by light and highly variable breezes that kept sailors constantly on edge. At times, competitors found themselves completely becalmed on one side of the course, only to watch the fleet on the opposite side sail through with pressure, leading to dramatic swings in position throughout the racing.
After seven races, Dawson had mastered the tricky conditions to take a four-point lead into the overnight break. Chasing hard behind was a tightly packed group including Ian Vickers, Graham Cross and Dave Panting, while Wallis sat just a further point adrift in fifth, keeping the Australians firmly in the hunt.
Sunday began in similar fashion with a light southerly, and with the completion of Race 8 the qualifying series was decided. At this point, Vickers had edged into the lead with a two-point advantage over Dawson, while Wallis remained well placed in third, just three points further back. As the day progressed, the breeze shifted to the south-west and built into mid A-rig conditions, transforming the racing into a faster, more physical contest and setting up an exciting finals series.
In the end, it came down to the narrowest of margins. Vickers held on to claim the title, with Dawson finishing just one point behind in second after a consistently strong regatta. Wallis completed the podium in third, rounding out an excellent Australian showing, while Allen also secured a solid Gold Fleet result in sixth.
Away from the water, the regatta was equally memorable. Saturday night saw competitors enjoy “Cloughy’s Cook Up”, with a fantastic spread of beef, chips and coleslaw, accompanied by plenty of banter among the 60 sailors and supporters in attendance. The Kiwi–Aussie rivalry was in full voice, with plenty of laughs and friendly competition continuing well into the evening.
The event was exceptionally well hosted, with the North Shore Radio Yacht Squadron, in conjunction with the Kerikeri Radio Yacht Squadron, delivering a first-class championship. Race Officer Terry Valder, supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, ensured the racing ran smoothly despite the testing conditions, providing a regatta that was both competitive and enjoyable for all involved.
While the Australians ultimately fell just short of victory, the performances across the fleet showed they were more than capable of matching it with the best New Zealand sailors. With just a single point separating Dawson from the title, it was a reminder of how fine the margins are at this level — and a strong sign of more close contests to come across the Tasman.
Full Results - https://radiosailing.org.au/index.php?arcade=results-test&eventid=21413