Bella Jenkins started her sailing season strongly, winning the Naomi James Trophy for the Top Girl at the P-Class National Championship in Tauranga for a record-breaking third time. With a handy lead, Jenkins was beaten in the 7th race of the event, but she fought back strongly in the 8th and final race to cement her record third consecutive win at the 100th Tauranga Cup. The young Year 10 student was a member of the champion Interdominion Regatta Team that won the Australasian School Girls title for Westlake Girls last September.

Following the P-Class Nationals, Jenkins headed south to Charteris Bay in Christchurch for a Starling pre-nationals regatta last week. At the South Island Age Group Regatta, Jenkins finished 1st Girl and 1st overall, a confidence-boosting result before the New Zealand Starling Championship held at Charteris Bay over Waitangi weekend. Jenkins narrowly missed out on the Girls’ podium, finishing 4th against tough competition. Fellow Westlake Girls teammate Jess Handley finished just behind her in 5th. The students will now join the school team for the New Zealand Keelboat Harken Cup and the Auckland Secondary Schools Team Racing Championship in March.