6 May, 2025

Three in a row for WGHS yachties

Westlake Girls High School won the girls division at national secondary schools teams racing champs held at New Plymouth last week – its third title in a row.
The Westlake team (above left to right): Kiera Dimock, Charlotte Handley, Emily Turner, Jess Handley, Julia Nguyen, Bella Jenkins, Danielle Robertson, Gretel Satterthwaite, also finished sixth overall.
Captain Jess Handley said the nationals “were a super cool event and the result was amazing for us”.
The Westlake yachties were the only girls team in the eight-strong Gold Fleet. Handley said it was “great to get some victories over some of the boys teams”.
But a win over Westlake Boys High School, which came second in the regatta, was a step too far, with the girls losing three races against the neighbouring school.
Handley said the local derby match-ups were hard fought, with both teams having respect for each other.
She said her team had shown marked improvement over the last three years of winning its three girls titles. In its first year it competed in the Silver Fleet, as it did last year, when it placed second overall at that level. This year it qualified through Auckland champs to step up to the Gold Fleet competition.
The Westlake girl’s team will be back on the water soon, training for the inter- Dominion trans-Tasman secondary schools regatta to be held in South Australia in the September school holidays.

• A mixed Takapuna Grammar School team finished fourth overall.

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