The King Report
3.7 Nationals 2025
Yacht racing is a funny old game.
At the 2024 nationals in Bay of Islands Paul Moriarty sailed consistently well. Had a bit of luck go his way and won the national title having only won one race.
In 2025 at Maraetai Derek Snow did virtually the same thing. Sailed consistently well, only won two of nine but had the title in the bag after eight races.
My personal hot pick prior to win the title and the Farr Cup, Lincoln Fraser, won four races but could only finish third.
Lincoln looked untouchable in a breeze. But was undone by a broken tiller extension. One of several I note.
The old adage, “to finish first, first you must finish” rings true.
2025 nationals were held at Maraetai Sailing Club. On the relatively sheltered waters of the inner Hauraki Gulf south of Waiheke Island. Local sailors call this area “The back paddock”.
Relatively sheltered, not too much tide flow, sort of stable wind. Nice place to sail.
MSC put on a good event for the 3.7’s. We had 27 entrants, J14’s had 18 boats. Cherubs had 14. Ramp was a bit busy but well organised.
Some of the trolley retrievers were a bit critical of the lack of effort by competitors to have visible numbers on their trolleys. Fair enough too.
My boat trolley has a highly visible orange “lolly pop” with the number on. Only a small charge for the design rights for anybody interested.
MSC race officer surprised us at the briefing by announcing a 12 race series. In the end we had a 4,3,2 race series. Nine races was enough for me.
Day one.
Opening race in 8-12 knots. Following three races in 15-20 knots.
Race one.
Derek first away at the pin end (as usual). Led all the way. Too good.
The usual suspects from the 2024 nationals chased hard, stayed close but not many passing lanes.
Paul, Lincoln, Joe Batchelor and Mike Jones 2,3,4 and 5 respectively.
Races 2/3/4
Breeze up to 15-20 knots, few gusts a bit stronger.
Lincoln has replaced his 2024 nationals wing mast with a CTech HM rotating mast and was absolutely smoking. Derek reckoned whoever won the start won the race. Lincoln nailed the starts and won three on the trot. Derek 3 x seconds so also going pretty good.
I was sailing recently rebuilt #67. Been in a shed 30 years. Good dacron sail but sporting a 40 year old alloy fixed spreader non rotating rig. I would get in a reasonable position on the line but got run down soon after. Dirty air, tack clear, starboard tacked, low speed tack and soon find myself tail end or thereabouts. Very competitive fleet.
By the fourth race there was a bit of attrition with only 17 boats finishing.
Paul Moriarty broke a trapeze fixture dropping him in the tide. DNF race 4.
Mike Jones broke an upper rudder gudgeon. DNF. Tony Fausett in #192 had his tiller extension disconnect (no electrical tape, eh Tony), then sink to the bottom. The extension, not Tony. 1 x DNF, 2 x DNC.
I bailed before the start of race 4 when I couldn’t get the reef in due to jammed halyard. Capsized once and was a bit weary.
End day one. Lincoln on 6 points, Derek 7, ever consistent Joe on 15 and Gavin Auld next on 25.
Notable mention Tim Nasey in wing masted #174 beating three boats for a dogged 14th place race 4.
I assisted Derek up the ramp at end race 4. He admitted his body was protesting some.
Day 2
Similar forecast. 8-12 early, rising to 13-16 knots later. Three races completed.
Race five proved pivotal.
I recall Paul led off the start. Pretty sure he led all the way. Derek close behind but couldn’t catch up. Lincoln doing well in the lighter condition holding fourth (?) close to the finish. However, coming out of a tack he hooked on (so he thought, but not actually), pushed out and tipped in the water. Lincoln was holding his extension which promptly broke. He finished race five but dropped four(?) places finishing 8th.
The trip to the ramp to affect a tiller repair meant he missed race six scoring a DNC.
Recovered well to win race seven but that 8th in race five was now a counting race. It certainly didn’t help Lincoln’s cause when Derek won race 6 in Lincoln’s absence.
End day two with one race drop. Derek on 10, Lincoln on 15, Paul 17, Joe on 19 then gap to Mike Jones on 36, Gavin Auld 37 and Allan Paine on 38.
Notable mention for Tony Faucett in #192. Much improved 9th in race 7.
During the post sailing de-brief beer and burgers Lincoln made the somewhat ironic comment that “Perfect execution wins regattas”. How true.
Broken tiller extensions were a bit of a theme. Race six I was smoking into the top mark on port. De-wired to dip between incoming starboard tackers when Alex in #37 capsized in front. I dipped, but not enough. Got speared by #37 mast tip and swept off my boat. Breaking the tiller extension in the process. Alas, back to ramp, with the aid of Jim Molloy from the J14 fleet made a good repair and back for the next race. While on the ramp Andrea in #363 sailed in missing a side stay.
Also missing a race were Paul Carpenter with a broken rudder mount.
Jackson Grimmer sheared his tiller off at the stock. Somehow he finished the race. Then effected a good repair by sawing off the broken bit, end for end the remaining tiller piece and fixing it in the stump on the stock. All good!
I recall Eamon Withers also put a centreboard size hole in James Winton capsized sail. However, with plenty helping hands, by day 3 everybody was back on the start line.
Day 1 and 2 we sailed a windward leeward first two loops with a triangle to finish.
Start line was maybe third way up the beat with the windward/leeward gate a bit upwind of the start. As a result the beats were pretty short. The start line was square to the windward mark but the windward mark was to the right of directly upwind. In race 6 for instance a maybe 3 minute starboard tack to the left bought me above the layline. Not much opportunity to pick shifts upwind nor find a passing lane. In race six, day two we had a general recall. By the time we restarted maybe 4 mins later the earlier starting J14s were rounding the leeward gates. We all arrived at the windward mark together. Very crowded.
But some epic reaches in the 0.5m waves. I note Alex in recently acquired, wing masted #37 smoked me on one reaching leg. Going pretty good.
Day 3. 3 – 8 knots. Two races.
Relatively short windward/leeward, triangle course.
Have no idea who won the starts but Paul Moriarty showcased his light air skills to win both finishes.
The series was all over after race 8 when Derek scored 2nd. Extinguishing any chance for Lincoln to make an unlikely comeback.
The highlight on day 3 for me was Werner Henning in fibreglass #244 picking the right side of the course up the first beat. Got to the top mark first and only got passed on the penultimate leg for a meritorious 2nd place and top 10 finish overall.
Day three also saw light air specialist Lucia Chagas in Keith Paine built #382, 8th and 4th for 14th overall and first female skipper.
Notable mention Derek who got buried at the start of race 9. Ended up back in the pack before deciding, with the title sewn up, an early shower was a good option.
All credit to “The Snowman” Derek Snow who sailed pretty tidy to pick up his 6th national title. Still a couple short of class stalwart John Elliot’s 8 wins. But closing in.
Seems to me the class is in good heart. Few old faces, plenty new faces and lots of enthusiasm.
Special mention also for Paul Carpenter. Absolute class legend and now deservedly life member of the 3.7 association. Still competitive as ever.
Credit to the committee and a committed bunch of enthusiasts at Wakatere, New Plymouth, the Swinney’s at Paramata and others scattered around the country.
I like Turangi for the 2026 contest and Lyttelton in 2027. See you there.
As always these are but my opinions. Observed from a little further back in the fleet this year.
Not necessarily accurate nor well observed!
Donald King
1st - Derek Snow Wakatere
2nd - Paul Moriarty New Plymouth Yacht Club
3rd - Lincoln Fraser Wakatere Boating Club
1st FEMALE - Lucia Changas Hamilton Yacht Club
1st YOUTH - Ethan Lecher New Plymouth Yacht Club
1st VETERAN - Lincoln Fraser Wakatere Boating Club
1st GRAN VETERAN - Mike Jones Wakatere Boating Club
1st GREAT GRAN VETERAN - Derek Snow Wakatere Boating Club
1st HANDICAP - James Swinney Paremata Boating Club
KENNETT CUP - Tim Nasey
GRAND PRIX - Paul Moriarty
CAN OF THE CONTEST - Alex Dunning
POTTY - Donald King
3.7 Nationals 2025
Yacht racing is a funny old game.
At the 2024 nationals in Bay of Islands Paul Moriarty sailed consistently well. Had a bit of luck go his way and won the national title having only won one race.
In 2025 at Maraetai Derek Snow did virtually the same thing. Sailed consistently well, only won two of nine but had the title in the bag after eight races.
My personal hot pick prior to win the title and the Farr Cup, Lincoln Fraser, won four races but could only finish third.
Lincoln looked untouchable in a breeze. But was undone by a broken tiller extension. One of several I note.
The old adage, “to finish first, first you must finish” rings true.
2025 nationals were held at Maraetai Sailing Club. On the relatively sheltered waters of the inner Hauraki Gulf south of Waiheke Island. Local sailors call this area “The back paddock”.
Relatively sheltered, not too much tide flow, sort of stable wind. Nice place to sail.
MSC put on a good event for the 3.7’s. We had 27 entrants, J14’s had 18 boats. Cherubs had 14. Ramp was a bit busy but well organised.
Some of the trolley retrievers were a bit critical of the lack of effort by competitors to have visible numbers on their trolleys. Fair enough too.
My boat trolley has a highly visible orange “lolly pop” with the number on. Only a small charge for the design rights for anybody interested.
MSC race officer surprised us at the briefing by announcing a 12 race series. In the end we had a 4,3,2 race series. Nine races was enough for me.
Day one.
Opening race in 8-12 knots. Following three races in 15-20 knots.
Race one.
Derek first away at the pin end (as usual). Led all the way. Too good.
The usual suspects from the 2024 nationals chased hard, stayed close but not many passing lanes.
Paul, Lincoln, Joe Batchelor and Mike Jones 2,3,4 and 5 respectively.
Races 2/3/4
Breeze up to 15-20 knots, few gusts a bit stronger.
Lincoln has replaced his 2024 nationals wing mast with a CTech HM rotating mast and was absolutely smoking. Derek reckoned whoever won the start won the race. Lincoln nailed the starts and won three on the trot. Derek 3 x seconds so also going pretty good.
I was sailing recently rebuilt #67. Been in a shed 30 years. Good dacron sail but sporting a 40 year old alloy fixed spreader non rotating rig. I would get in a reasonable position on the line but got run down soon after. Dirty air, tack clear, starboard tacked, low speed tack and soon find myself tail end or thereabouts. Very competitive fleet.
By the fourth race there was a bit of attrition with only 17 boats finishing.
Paul Moriarty broke a trapeze fixture dropping him in the tide. DNF race 4.
Mike Jones broke an upper rudder gudgeon. DNF. Tony Fausett in #192 had his tiller extension disconnect (no electrical tape, eh Tony), then sink to the bottom. The extension, not Tony. 1 x DNF, 2 x DNC.
I bailed before the start of race 4 when I couldn’t get the reef in due to jammed halyard. Capsized once and was a bit weary.
End day one. Lincoln on 6 points, Derek 7, ever consistent Joe on 15 and Gavin Auld next on 25.
Notable mention Tim Nasey in wing masted #174 beating three boats for a dogged 14th place race 4.
I assisted Derek up the ramp at end race 4. He admitted his body was protesting some.
Day 2
Similar forecast. 8-12 early, rising to 13-16 knots later. Three races completed.
Race five proved pivotal.
I recall Paul led off the start. Pretty sure he led all the way. Derek close behind but couldn’t catch up. Lincoln doing well in the lighter condition holding fourth (?) close to the finish. However, coming out of a tack he hooked on (so he thought, but not actually), pushed out and tipped in the water. Lincoln was holding his extension which promptly broke. He finished race five but dropped four(?) places finishing 8th.
The trip to the ramp to affect a tiller repair meant he missed race six scoring a DNC.
Recovered well to win race seven but that 8th in race five was now a counting race. It certainly didn’t help Lincoln’s cause when Derek won race 6 in Lincoln’s absence.
End day two with one race drop. Derek on 10, Lincoln on 15, Paul 17, Joe on 19 then gap to Mike Jones on 36, Gavin Auld 37 and Allan Paine on 38.
Notable mention for Tony Faucett in #192. Much improved 9th in race 7.
During the post sailing de-brief beer and burgers Lincoln made the somewhat ironic comment that “Perfect execution wins regattas”. How true.
Broken tiller extensions were a bit of a theme. Race six I was smoking into the top mark on port. De-wired to dip between incoming starboard tackers when Alex in #37 capsized in front. I dipped, but not enough. Got speared by #37 mast tip and swept off my boat. Breaking the tiller extension in the process. Alas, back to ramp, with the aid of Jim Molloy from the J14 fleet made a good repair and back for the next race. While on the ramp Andrea in #363 sailed in missing a side stay.
Also missing a race were Paul Carpenter with a broken rudder mount.
Jackson Grimmer sheared his tiller off at the stock. Somehow he finished the race. Then effected a good repair by sawing off the broken bit, end for end the remaining tiller piece and fixing it in the stump on the stock. All good!
I recall Eamon Withers also put a centreboard size hole in James Winton capsized sail. However, with plenty helping hands, by day 3 everybody was back on the start line.
Day 1 and 2 we sailed a windward leeward first two loops with a triangle to finish.
Start line was maybe third way up the beat with the windward/leeward gate a bit upwind of the start. As a result the beats were pretty short. The start line was square to the windward mark but the windward mark was to the right of directly upwind. In race 6 for instance a maybe 3 minute starboard tack to the left bought me above the layline. Not much opportunity to pick shifts upwind nor find a passing lane. In race six, day two we had a general recall. By the time we restarted maybe 4 mins later the earlier starting J14s were rounding the leeward gates. We all arrived at the windward mark together. Very crowded.
But some epic reaches in the 0.5m waves. I note Alex in recently acquired, wing masted #37 smoked me on one reaching leg. Going pretty good.
Day 3. 3 – 8 knots. Two races.
Relatively short windward/leeward, triangle course.
Have no idea who won the starts but Paul Moriarty showcased his light air skills to win both finishes.
The series was all over after race 8 when Derek scored 2nd. Extinguishing any chance for Lincoln to make an unlikely comeback.
The highlight on day 3 for me was Werner Henning in fibreglass #244 picking the right side of the course up the first beat. Got to the top mark first and only got passed on the penultimate leg for a meritorious 2nd place and top 10 finish overall.
Day three also saw light air specialist Lucia Chagas in Keith Paine built #382, 8th and 4th for 14th overall and first female skipper.
Notable mention Derek who got buried at the start of race 9. Ended up back in the pack before deciding, with the title sewn up, an early shower was a good option.
All credit to “The Snowman” Derek Snow who sailed pretty tidy to pick up his 6th national title. Still a couple short of class stalwart John Elliot’s 8 wins. But closing in.
Seems to me the class is in good heart. Few old faces, plenty new faces and lots of enthusiasm.
Special mention also for Paul Carpenter. Absolute class legend and now deservedly life member of the 3.7 association. Still competitive as ever.
Credit to the committee and a committed bunch of enthusiasts at Wakatere, New Plymouth, the Swinney’s at Paramata and others scattered around the country.
I like Turangi for the 2026 contest and Lyttelton in 2027. See you there.
As always these are but my opinions. Observed from a little further back in the fleet this year.
Not necessarily accurate nor well observed!
Donald King
1st - Derek Snow Wakatere
2nd - Paul Moriarty New Plymouth Yacht Club
3rd - Lincoln Fraser Wakatere Boating Club
1st FEMALE - Lucia Changas Hamilton Yacht Club
1st YOUTH - Ethan Lecher New Plymouth Yacht Club
1st VETERAN - Lincoln Fraser Wakatere Boating Club
1st GRAN VETERAN - Mike Jones Wakatere Boating Club
1st GREAT GRAN VETERAN - Derek Snow Wakatere Boating Club
1st HANDICAP - James Swinney Paremata Boating Club
KENNETT CUP - Tim Nasey
GRAND PRIX - Paul Moriarty
CAN OF THE CONTEST - Alex Dunning
POTTY - Donald King
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