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Young sailor Blake Batten is sailing at the top of his game.
Batten recently achieved a rare milestone in New Zealand dinghy sailing, successfully defending his Tauranga Cup P Class National Champion title.
A Waiuku Yacht Club member, Batten’s latest win follows his first Tauranga Cup victory in
2025, placing him among an elite group — just the tenth sailor in the event’s 83-year history to win the prestigious trophy back-to-back.
The Tauranga Cup has a rich history dating back to 1940. The trophy’s long legacy includes only brief interruptions during World War II and the 1948 polio epidemic. This year’s regatta was hosted by Kohimarama Yacht Club.
It’s been a great season for Batten. Not only did he win back-to-back titles in the Tauranga Cup, but he was also awarded the 2025 U16 Sportsman of the Year at the Counties Manukau Sports Awards and the 2025 Emerging Talent Award at the Yachting NZ Excellence Awards.
The 15-year-old has been sailing for seven years, taking up competitive sailing five years ago at age 10.
“I love the tactical side; it is fun, and I like meeting people from different backgrounds.”
While he learned to sail with Waiuku Yacht Club, his favourite sailing spot is Murrays Bay on
the North Shore of Auckland.
After racing two seasons in P Class, Batten now moves into the youth classes due to his weight and height.
“I’ve transitioned from Optimist and P Class … I’m now sailing a singled handed dinghy called a Starling and, in the double-handed youth boat called 29er Skiff.”
When the Franklin Times caught up with Batten, he was busy preparing for the
Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta, hosted by the Torbay Sailing Club from January 30 to
February 1. He will be sailing in the 29er class.
There are 150 sailors from 14 different countries, across 114 boats, in an even split of youth sailors to Olympic classes.
