Meet the fleet for the 2026 NZL 29er National Championships! With entries now locked in, we’re set for a stacked weekend of racing at Royal Akarana Yacht Club from May 28 – June 1.
The fleet features a strong mix of experienced campaigners, new pairings and some of the country’s top youth sailors, including crews preparing for Kiel Week and the 29er World Championships later this year.
Jules Humez & Oscar Taleb (FRA 2647 – New Caledonia)
Travelling from New Caledonia, Jules and Oscar bring international experience into the fleet and will add another benchmark against the top New Zealand crews.
Bella Jenkins & Jess Handley (NZL 3521 – Kohimarama YC/Murrays Bay SC)
Jess and Bella are two of New Zealand’s most exciting young 29er sailors. Jess has won the Youth Trials twice across two different classes — the 420 and the 29er — and is a New Zealand 29er national girls champion, while Bella’s standout achievements include winning the Naomi James Trophy three times.
Hugh Kensington & Keaton Lay (NZL 3024 – Kohimarama YC)
Keaton skippered Saint Kentigern College to victory at the 2026 NZ Secondary Schools Keelboat National Championships, while Hugh comes from one of New Zealand’s most celebrated sailing families, with strong results in the Starling & P Class, looking to follow in brothers Sean & Rowan’s footsteps in the 29er class.
Callum Noyer & Callum Hyde (NZL 2778 – Kohimarama YC)
“The Callums” have a strong background in doublehanded classes, winning the Junior NZ National Championship title at the RS Feva Nationals held at RAYC, then took that form to the world stage — winning the Junior World title at the RS Feva World Championships in Italy, finishing fourth overall in a fleet of 209 boats and looking to take that experience into this regatta.
Brooke Mundy & Lucy Fillary (NZL 418 – Nelson YC)
Representing Nelson Yacht Club, Brooke and Lucy make the trip north. Brooke takes her experience from the Opti Fleet and both girls are active in team racing for their colleges.
James Currell & Robert Abel-Pattinson (NZL 2718 – Royal Akarana YC/Kohimarama YC)
A recent pairing that have been working hard to get ready for the nationals, training out of RAYC. James’ experience draws on RS Feva & Cherub racing while Robert comes across from the singlehanded junior pathways.
Ewan Brazle & Toby Clark (NZL 2710 – Manly SC)
The Manly pairing come into this regatta in top form – Ewan is one of New Zealand’s most exciting young sailors, having won back-to-back under-15 O’pen Skiff world titles before making the jump to the 29er. The step up has been seamless — the pair claimed the Top Open U17 title at the 2025 29er European Championship at Lake Garda and were second overall after day one of the NZ Youth Championships last year, putting themselves firmly on the radar as ones to watch on the international stage.
Julia Nguyen & Sienna Miekle (NZL 2777 – Kohimarama YC/Murrays Bay SC)
Two promising young sailors, Julia and Sienna have been quietly building impressive records across the junior classes. Julia has competed internationally in the last year, competing in Asia in the ILCA 4 while Sienna has been a consistent performer in the Optimist fleet. Both are ones to watch as they continue to move up through the pathway.
Nelsen Meacham & Oli Stone (NZL 3496 – Wakatere BC/Kohimarama YC/Royal Akarana YC)
Two of New Zealand’s most accomplished youth sailors who have joined forces in the 29er this season. Oli brings 420 World Championship gold fleet experience, while Nelsen and his previous crew were right at the pointy end at the 2025 29er Europeans at Lake Garda, finishing 11th in a 251-boat fleet. A combination with serious pedigree — ones to watch. They come into the regatta as one of the form teams of the season after winning the 2026 29er Autumn Regatta with 8 race wins from 9 starts.
Dahlia Fyfe & Kate Howse (NZL 3052 – Kohimarama YC/Manly SC)
Two talented young sailors making their mark across multiple classes. Dahlia claimed the top female and under-17 titles at the 2025 O’pen Skiff national championships, and at just 13 was part of a group of young sailors who sailed Cook Strait — among the youngest ever to do so. Kate brings strong Starling pedigree, finishing third female at the 2025 Starling nationals. A pairing with plenty of talent and ambition between them.
Blake Batten & Hugo Smith (NZL 3021 – Royal Akarana YC/Kohimarama YC/Murrays Bay SC/Waiuku YC)
A new pairing this season making an immediate impression. Blake and Hugo claimed the 29er title at the 2026 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland despite only sailing together in the class for a few weeks — beating a field that included 2025 national champions. Both bring strong individual records to the boat, with Blake finishing second and Hugo third at the 2025 NZ Youth Championships with different crew. Blake also retained the prestigious P Class Tauranga Cup this season.
Greta Hutton & Amelia Higson (NZL 3372 – Murrays Bay SC/Kohimarama YC/Royal Akarana YC)
Greta has been a standout in the junior classes, winning the P Class Centenary Trophy outright and competing at the front of the Optimist fleet, while Amelia claimed a bronze medal at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships alongside Tessa Clinton in the 420. A pairing with plenty of firepower.
Matteo Barker & Leo Brown (NZL 3022 – Royal Akarana YC/Murrays Bay SC)
A formidable combination. Matteo is a two-time NZ Optimist national champion who finished 10th at the 2025 Optimist World Championships in a 281-boat fleet before making the step up to the 29er, while Leo brings strong Starling pedigree with national event wins. Both have been carrying big expectations from their form, and they backed it up by running near the front of a world-class fleet throughout the 2026 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland. They will be looking to push the top end of the fleet this coming weekend.
Will Leech & Tim Howse (Charteris Bay YC/Kohimarama YC/Royal Akarana YC)
Two of New Zealand’s most decorated youth 29er sailors joining forces this season. Will won the 2025 NZ 29er national championships and represented New Zealand at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships, placing second at Kiel Week in the lead-up. Tim’s previous crew won the 2025 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland by a single point over Will’s — so there’s plenty of shared history and competitive fire between them. Tim jumping back into the youth class from Moth campaigning brings some experience with him too.
Will Fyfe & Cam McGlashan (NZL 3438 – Murrays Bay SC)
Two sailors with impressive pedigrees. Will represented New Zealand at the 2025 Optimist World Championships in Slovenia and won the P Class title at the Sir Peter Blake Regatta, while Cam raced with newly crowned 49er world champion Seb Menzies when they won the 420 World Championships — one of New Zealand’s most celebrated youth sailing results in recent years.
Harry Draper & Nate Soper (NZL 3025 – Murrays Bay SC/Royal Akarana YC)
A new pairing in preparation for this regatta – Harry took out the 29er fleet at the Secondary Schools Fleet Racing regatta with Nelsen Meacham, while Nate helped Westlake Boys win the 2026 Auckland Secondary Schools regatta and claimed the ILCA 4 & Starling national titles this season.
Harry Draper & Nate Soper (NZL 3025 – Murrays Bay SC/Royal Akarana YC)
A new pairing in preparation for this regatta – Harry took out the 29er fleet at the Secondary Schools Fleet Racing regatta with Nelsen Meacham, while Nate helped Westlake Boys win the 2026 Auckland Secondary Schools regatta and claimed the ILCA 4 & Starling national titles this season.
Riley Hunter & Luke Shaw (NZL 50 – Torbay SC)
Two sailors with strong secondary school racing credentials. Luke skippered Long Bay College to the silver fleet win at the 2026 NZ Secondary Schools Keelboat National Championships. Riley brings complementary dinghy experience to the combination.
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