China Team

Phil Robertson. At only 25 years old, Phil fronts WAKA Racing, a tight team of top young sailors, and has already won many major regattas. He is currently placed 8^th worldwide in the World Match Racing Tour, and is aiming for number 1. In addition to this, Phil has placed in the top 3 in over 20 races in the past 2 years as skipper.

Sailing has been my life since the age of 10 when I started racing competitively. I have progressed through the New Zealand yachting scene since then, racing in all New Zealand’s dinghies at a very high level achieving great results throughout. At age of 16 I preferred the challenge of team sailing and joined the very prestigious and successful Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth training Programme. In my time there I went to many International match-racing regattas locally and overseas in Australia and the US.

Since then I have put together and lead a match racing team called Waka Racing. All members want to take their sailing to the top level by competing around the globe. We have made a huge impression in the sailing scene with our best achievement to date, winning the Australia Cup, beating Ben Ainslie, Mathieu Richard and Ian Williams in concession. Our world ranking has risen from 56^th – 9^th over two years and are now competing on the World Match Racing Tour.

My main focus over the last few years has been on match racing, with the goal of winning the World Match Racing Tour by 2013. We have achieved every goal we have set to date.

Back in NZ I have sailed on many different keelboats ranging from 20ft- 50ft. My main strengths would be Helming, Trimming and calling Tactics. I am a natural born leader and thrive in a team environment.

I have a small amount of multihull experience, all in 2011, sailing Naccra F20’s and F18’s.

Other achievements:

*RNZYS Youth Training Programme Graduate 3 Years, 2004-2007
*RNZYS Youth Training Programme most outstanding Performance 2005-2006 and 2006-2007
*Sea Safety Survival Course 2008
*National Certificate in Carpentry

*1^st BMW Amateur Sailing World Final 2010 (skipper)

* Seahorse Magazine “Sailor of the Month” (Jan 2011)

Top Match Racing Results

2011:

3^rd Chicago Match Race

3^rd Match Race Germany

3^rd Open de Espana

4^th Bermuda Gold Cup

2010:

1^st Australia Cup

1^st New Zealand Match Racing Nationals

1^st Asian Match Racing Champs

1^st Knickerbocker Cup

3^rd Berlin Match Race

1^st Korea Match Cup Qualifier

1^st BMW Sailing World Final

2009:

1st     Selection for Rimini Race Week

1st     Warren Jones Regatta

1^st      Asian Match Racing Champs

1^st      Chicago Match Cup

2^nd      Detroit Match Race

3^rd      Knickerbocker Cup

6^th      Monsoon Cup, World Match Racing Tour

2008:

1st     National Bank Cup (Coke Cup),
2nd    Ficker Cup
2nd    NZL Nations Cup Trials

2007:

1st     Coke Cup, RNZYS,
1st     Centerport Youth International,
2nd    NZL Youth Nationals

2006:

1st     Warren Jones Youth Regatta (Trim)
3rd     Governors Cup
3rd     Coke Cup
3rd     Centerport Youth International

Other Results

3^rd      Cowes Week, IRC 1 (helm)

1^st      BMW Sailing Cup World Final (helm)
2nd    IFDS B1 Blind World Championships 2009(sighted Tactician)
4th     Young88 National Champs 2009 (Tactician)
1st     Young88 Division BMW Race Week 2008 (Trim)
2nd    NZ Keelboat Nationals 2007 (trim)
1st     Farr 727 National Champs 2007 (helm)

Ocean Racing

Rolex Fastnet Race 2011

Auckland – Fiji Race 2008
Coastal Classic 2006 and 2007, 2009, 2010