SPORT Messing about in boats
What started as a hobby on Lake Taupo, has taken Year 13 student Rupert Limbrick to world sailing championships in the United States and Portugal.
Messing about in boats or, more expressly, sailing them, has fascinated him since he was about 8 years old. “My grandparents had a place at Taupo, and that’s where I first started sailing.” It became more serious when he came to College, when good friend and now co-captain of the College sailing team, Matthew Bayley, encouraged him into the sport. The two have since represented College in three national secondary schools’ team sailing regattas. In 2018, Rupert was selected to compete for New Zealand at the 420 World Championships at Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
He spent three weeks there with sailing partner Max McLachlan from Christchurch, with whom he sailed for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. “We were one of seven New Zealand crews in the competition – and one of them won it. It wasn’t us, but what I learnt is how good you have to be when you’re sailing with the top sailors in the world. “You can’t make any mistakes, and it makes for a lot of pressure. We were used to sailing in much rougher conditions, so when we found ourselves in very light conditions we struggled a bit. You need to be much more delicate in your handling of the boat.”
In July this year, Rupert again competed at the 420 World Championships, held at Vilamoura on the Algarve, Portugal. This time his sailing partner was Ben Baynes from Lincoln University and they achieved a better result. “On the first few days it was quite windy, more similar to our New Zealand conditions, and we did well, coming second in the Silver Fleet after six races.” The pair then sailed another five races in lighter conditions and finished 15th in the fleet, and 60th out of 89 crews. “It was a huge learning experience and we were fairly pleased with how we did.” Rupert has now moved out of the 420 Class and this season will sail a Paper Tiger out of the Charteris Bay Yacht Club. College sailing club has provided him with great experience, he says. “Master-in-Charge Steve Everingham has helped me a lot in my time at College and so has Kim Buchanan, our coach.” Rupert plans to study engineering at the University of Canterbury next year, but will not be lost to sailing. “I want to continue sailing at inter- dominion level if possible, and a long-term goal is to build a boat. In the future, I’d also love to be involved in the development of an America’s Cup boat.”
College Issue 37 2019
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