Thursday 17 March 2011

Waka Racing ready to kick off new season


Waka Racing. Image copyright Waka Racing.

by Waka Racing

After a good long break back home in New Zealand. The batteries are fully recharged, with the team rearing to get out on the water racing again.

A number of big changes have occurred since the end of last season. Firstly, the team has recruited a fifth member with bowman Hayden Goodrick joining the team full time. This is a huge boost with the team now having a ‘tight five’ to build consistency in teamwork and performance. Hayden brings a lot of experience part having been part of the sailing team for BMW Oracle Racing in the 2007 America’s Cup and since being involved in a number of big boat programmes around the globe. He raced with Waka Racing for their last three regattas of 2010, when the team really started to hit their straps. The plan is to build on this in the 2011 season.

Check out Hayden’s profile at www.wakaracing.com/HaydenGoodrick

The next exciting development is that Waka Racing now has a World Match Racing Tour Card for the 2011 season. This will mean they are the youngest team on the tour and the only one from New Zealand. This is a big step as it allows certainty in guaranteeing entry to events and the ability to plan ahead. The first event is Match Race France 10-15 of May.

At this stage the team is full steam ahead chasing sponsorship and training hard to launch a big assault at the World Match Race Tour. The build up to this starts next week with the highly prestigious, Congressional Cup. This is a Grade 1 event, held by the Long Beach Yacht Club, in California.

Team line up for Congressional Cup:

Skipper: Phil Robertson
Tactician: Garth Ellingham
Mainsheet: Andres Soriano
Pit: Sam Bell
Trimmer: James Williamson
Bow: Hayden Goodrick

Keep up to date with what Waka Racing are up to on their website www.wakaracing.com, Facebook www.facebook.com/WakaRacing and Twitter www.twitter.com/wakaracing.

Waka Racing would like to welcome back Tax Management NZ as a sponsor for 2011.
Also a big thank you to Frontend, Spy Optic, RNZYS, Devine Consultants, PredictWind, and Wells & Co for their support.

WAKA RACING is Phil Robertson, Garth Ellingham, James Williamson, Sam Bell and Hayden Goodrick.

Waka Racing