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Sunblock Overboard

7 February 2012

 

Last week a friend and I sailed the Elliot 12 Future Perfect from Kerikeri to Auckland. Overall it was an exceedingly enjoyable outing on a fine vessel in good weather.

 

But on the first day we had a little fun. On our way over to Urupukapuka the large bottle of sunscreen slipped under the dodger and went overboard. We sailed on for a minute or two then decided to use it for a man overboard drill.

 

I noted the compass course then tacked and headed back on a reciprocal. A couple of minutes later we sailed to within a boat length of the bottle. Terry asked me why I didn’t hit the man overboard button on the GPS. I guess because I wasn’t used to it, the GPS was downstairs and with only two on board we didn’t have a spare person. Food for thought.

 

Once it was located I turned to a reach, then gybed and made my approach. I like to come up to the man overboard with the wind at about 60 apparent. I used to teach this maneuver in J 24’s and consider myself to be reasonably skilled at boat handling. I overshot by about two and a half boat lengths. No big deal, spin around and do it again. This time I missed by only one boat length. The bigger, faster boat needed more room to shake off momentum.

 

We were getting bored now, so Terry jumped in the dinghy and grabbed errant bottle of sun block. I did one more loop and came back for him in the dinghy. Only missed by half a boat length this time.

 

So what did we learn?

 

If our bottle of sun block had been a human, they probably would have drowned.

 

Even if you think you know what you are doing, it pays to practice, and do it again every time you are in charge of a new boat.

 

Practice man overboard drills under sail, there’s a high probability that’s how it will happen in real life.

 

These things have no brakes, aim to come in short, then tweak the sheet to bring you up to the target.

 

It was a humbling experience. Get out and practice. When we were cruising as a family it was a rule that we always went back for hats etc that went overboard. And we became pretty good at it. But if you change boats you need to start all over, because every boat handles differently.

 



Sail Auckland 2012 becalmed on final day

7 February 2012

Date: 7 February 2012
By: Kristine Lederis


There were no races completed today in the 470, 420, Laser, Laser Radial and Finn, so final results in those divisions are the ones that remain from yesterday. The RS:X, SKUD 18 and 2.4mR were the lucky three classes to finish both of their races as scheduled, and the 29er and 49er skiffs had just one.

“It was a beautiful day for doing anything outside- except sailing” Blair Tuke said after coming in from his single 49er race with sailing partner Peter Burling. “They had to shorten our race by one lap so we could finish, there was only between one and four knots of wind”.

Peter and Blair are two of the twelve NZL Sailing Team sailors that have been selected to represent the country at the London 2012 Olympics. Although they were only racing against one other boat in this regatta, the time back on the water proved valuable.

“It took us a while to get back into racing. The choppy water of the long weekend was a bit different than what we’re used to” Peter said. “The weekend was really shifty and testing conditions for us, and it was good to see all the international competitors here, even though they weren’t in our fleet”.

All of New Zealand's selected Olympic representatives for the London 2012 games finished first in their respective fleets.

As it was all week, racing in the RS:X 8.5 was extremely competitive on its final day. Australia’s Jessica Crisp demonstrated her experience and fitness, winning both of the races on Tuesday. Jannicke Stalstrom of Norway was hanging around the top five all week, but finally pushed through with two good results to finish the regatta in third, tied in overall points with Kohimarama Yacht Club’s Steffanie Williams in second.

In the Men’s RS:X 9.5 fleet, World Champion Dorian Van Rijsselberghe also showed his class by finishing up the regatta with two first place finishes today to leave him second overall. Regatta leader from the previous three days, Richard Stauffacher, had an OCS result (over the start line early) which sadly bumped him back to third overall. Tae Hoon Lee of Korea has won the RS:X 9.5 by just one point over Dorian.

Paul Francis of the Takapuna Boating Club won the final five races of the Paralympic 2.4mR class, and with this finished as top boat in that division. Paul Francis is one of the two sailors (the other is Brett Willcock of Charteris Bay, Canterbury) campaigning for selection to the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The next major event for these two campaigners is Holland’s Delta Llyod Regatta in May.  

The Royal Akarana Yacht Club and their team of volunteers from several other Auckland Sailing Clubs have pulled off a fantastic regatta, feedback from the sailors has been top notch. They will now start planning for Sail Auckland 2013, also to be held The Landing at Okahu Bay.

Getting in behind Sail Auckland is a team of dedicated sponsors including The Orakei Marina, Auckland Council, The Lion Foundation, Te Waihou Reserve New Zealand Spring Water and DB Breweries.

Sail Auckland 2012 FINAL STANDINGS
Olympic Classes

Laser top three
1st NZL Andrew Murdoch- 12pts
2nd KOR Jee Min Ha- 26pts
3rd NED Rutger Van Schaardenburg- 27pts

Laser Radial top three
1st NZL Sara Winther- 17pts
2nd NZL Logan Dunning Beck- 28th
3rd NZL Andrew McKenzie- 32pts

470 top three
1st NZL Paul Snow-Hansen & Jason Saunders – 10pts
2nd NZL Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie - 29pts
3rd KOR Chang Ju Kim & Kim Ji Hoon - 35pts

Finn top three
1st NZL Matt Coutts- 8 pts
2nd NZL Karl Purdie- 19 pts
3rd NZL Brad Douglas- 24pts

RS:X 9.5 (Men) top three
1st KOR Tae Hoon Lee- 30pts
2nd NED Dorian van Rijsselberge - 31pts
3rd SUI Richard Stauffacher- 39 pts

RS:X 8.5 (Women and youth) top three
1st  AUS Jessica Crisp NZL- 25pts
2nd NZL Steffanie Williams- 34pts
3rd NOR Jannicke Stalstrom- 34pts

49er top two
1st NZL Peter Burling and Blair Tuke- 14pts
2nd NZL Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski- 21pts

Paralympic Classes
2.4 metre top three
1st NZL Paul Francis - 14pts
2nd NZL Brett Willcock- 18pts
3rd NZL Josh McKenzie Brown- 26pts

SKUD18 top two
1st NZL Tim Dempsey and Jan Apel – 12pts
2nd NZL Russell Phillips and Quentin Smith- 17pts

Other Invited Classes
420 top three
1st NZL Erica Dawson and Vicky Francis- 18pts
2nd NZL Gemma Jones and Tomer Simhony- 30pts
3rd  NZL Taylor Burn and Oscar Rovick- 31pts

29er top two
1st NZL Trent Rippey and Alex Munro- 13pts
2nd NZL Markus Sommerville and Jack Simpson- 19pts

Access 303
1st NZL Robbie Love and Katy Kenah- 8pts 

Flying 15 National Championship
1st NZL Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands- 12pts
2nd NZL Ben Lowe and Kate Gilbert 22pts
3rd NZL Craig Coulam and Adrienne Rekke- 23pts

Access Liberty National Championship
1st  Brendan Tourelle- 14pts
2nd John Buchanan- 18pts
3rd Michael Jones- 29pts

Daily results can be found online the event website www.sailauckland.org.nz and facebook page www.facebook.com/SailAKL

 



OKI 24-hr Race Attracts Olympians and America’s Cup Fleet

6 February 2012

Auckland (February 2, 2012):  The North Shore’s beloved OKI 24-Hour Race begins more than a month early this year on Saturday, February 18, meaning more international sailing stars will be competing for the winners’ podium, one that has been shared by the likes of Dean Barker, Chris Dickson and Russell Coutts since the race began in 1967.

“This year, we have two laser Olympic candidates, Andrew Murdoch and Sara Winther, competing along with elite sailors from Team NZ, Prada Luna Rossa and Oracle,” says Murrays Bay Sailing Club Commodere, Craig Moss.

The OKI 24-Hour Race is a competition for laser sailors held on Lake Pupuke and run by Murrays Bay Sailing Club, a club with a rich history of sailors recognised through national championships, America’s Cup regattas and the Olympics.

“This is an opportunity for local young (and not so young) sailors to race alongside some of the best America’s Cup sailors,” says Moss.

From howling 30-knot southerlies to 2 knots of shifting breeze in the middle of the night and everything in between, the OKI 24-Hour Race is a test of man and boat against the elements.

Sailing is non-stop through the night, in crews of two competitors per boat, with each team member sailing for a maximum of three hours before required to rest for a minimum of one hour.

The winning team is the one that completes the most number of laps within the 24-hour period. Race sailors include every shape and size from 14 years up to 70 years of age.

The event is spilt into five categories: Open Class, Youth (under 19 years), Women’s and Masters’ (over 35), and Endurance athletes. All competitors from each class can be in the running to win the overall OKI 24 Hour Race trophy.

A second event, the OKI 6-hour race runs just prior to the 24-Hour event and is an optimist dinghy race for children aged 9-15 years and gives young sailors a chance to participate with their heroes in the Legends Race, which starts at 4pm and finishes at 7pm. America’s Cup heroes from Team NZ, Oracle and Prada will be in this race.

Timings:

Endurance Race: (2pm – 2pm)

Optimist Dinghies/6-hr Race: (7am to 1pm Saturday 18 Feb)

24-hour Race: (2pm to 2pm)

Legends Race (4pm – 7pm Sat 18)

The events are fundraisers for Murray’s Bay Sailing Club to develop youth sailing and local business Comworth, distributor for OKI fax and telecommunications products, has been sponsoring the race since 1989.

www.murraysbay.org / www.comworth.co.nz



Sail Auckland 2012 begins with ideal conditions

5 February 2012

After much anticipation, Sail Auckland 2012 has begun in near perfect conditions for 237 sailors in the Olympic, Paralympic and other invited classes. 


 Competitors prepare for the first days racing at the Landing at Okahu Bay (RAYC). Photo by Suellen Hurling 

The Royal Akarana Yacht Club and a team of over seventy volunteers put on three races for all classes (and four for the skiffs) on four courses scattered off the shores of Tamaki Drive with moderate easterly breezes. The NZL Sailing Team members were in fine form at the top of all Olympic classes they are racing in, although it is only day one of this four day regatta.

“Today was good. I got a 1, 1, 2” Sara Winther, selected Olympian for 2012 and New Zealand Laser Radial National Champion currently sits at the top of the Laser Radial fleet.  “Having the mixture of top youth and masters in the fleet here is great. It’s the best thing for me at the moment really, because it pushes me that much harder”. 

Scott Leith, two times Laser Radial Apprentice Master World Champion was in hot pursuit of Sara Winther around the course all day, and was the one who stole the lead from her on the last race.  “I was a bit deep at the top mark because I got caught up in a few boats. I did have a good comeback to climb my way back up to second, but Scott was just too far behind” Sara said.

Andrew Murdoch got three bullets in the Laser Full Rig while Paul Snow Hansen with Jason Saunders in the 470 and Natalia Kosinska in the 8.5m RS:X are all sitting first overall.

Sail Auckland this year is also home to the Flying Fifteen and Access Liberty National Championships. Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands currently sit atop the Flying Fifteen fleet, closely followed by local sailors Craig Coulam and Adrienne Rekke.  John Buchanan of Auckland leads the Access Liberty fleet after the first three races.

There are seventeen entries for the Flying Fifteen National Championships, and eleven in the Access Liberty fleet, sailed by athletes with a disability.
“To have eleven liberties is excellent, that’s a good sized fleet”. Tim Dempsey is campaigning toward the 2012 Paralympic games in the SKUD 18, but is also involved as racing coordinator for the Access Class Association.

“There were some pretty exciting finishes there!”Sailing in the faster SKUD 18 Skiff which finished a few minutes ahead of the Liberties, Tim was able to study the other boats as they crossed the finish line in close competition. “The upwind finish is always more exciting because there’s one more chance to pass rather than just following the downwind”.

This weekend Tim with sailing partner Jan Apel are only racing against one other pairing as there are only two boats in the country. “Last year we had five SKUDS at Sail Auckland because we had a sponsored container from Australia”.

Getting in behind Sail Auckland is a team of dedicated sponsors including The Orakei Marina, Auckland Council, The Lion Foundation, Te Waihou Reserve New Zealand Spring Water and DB Breweries.

Sail Auckland 2012 Provisional Results
Day 1 - Olympic Classes

Laser top three
1st NZLAndrew Murdoch – 3pts
2nd NZL Andrew Maloney- 8 pts
3rd KOR Jee Min Ha- 13pts

Laser Radial top three
1st NZL Sara Winther- 4pts
2nd NZL Scott Leith- 11pts

3rd NZL Andrew McKenzie- 15pts

470 top three
1st NZL Paul Snow-Hansen & Jason Saunders – 4pts
2nd KOR Chang Ju Kim & Kim Ji Hoon- 10pts
3rd NZL Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie- 15pts

Finn top three
1st NZL Matt Coutts- 3 pts
2nd NZL Brad Douglas- 8pts
3rd NZL Karl Purdie- 10 pts

RS:X 9.5 (Men) top three
1st SUI Richard Stauffahcer- 5pts
2nd NED Dorian van Rijsselberge -7pts
3rd KOR Tae Hoon Lee- 12 pts

RS:X 8.5 (Women and youth) top three
1st  NZL Natalia Kosinska- 6pts
2nd AUS Jessica Crisp- 7pts
3rd NZL Justina Sellers- 12pts

49er top two
1st NZL Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski- 6pts
2nd NZL Peter Burling and Blair Tuke- 7pts

Day 1-Paralympic Classes
2.4 metre top three
1st NZL Brett Willcock- 5 pts
2nd NZL Paul Francis- 6 pts
3rd NZL Josh McKenzie Brown- 7pts

SKUD18 top two
1st NZL Tim Dempsey and Jan Apel – 3pts
2nd NZL Russell Phillips and Quentin Smith- 6pts

Day 1- National Championships
Flying 15 National Championship top three
1st NZL Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands- 4pts
2nd NZL Craig Coulam and Adrienne Rekke- 5pts
3rd NZL Murray Gilbert and John Burgess- 11pts

Access Liberty National Championship top three
1st John Buchanan- 4pts
2nd Lindsay McGregor- 7pts
3rd Michael Jones- 10pts

Day 1 - Other Invited Classes
420 top three
1st NZL Erica Dawson and Vicky Francis- 3pts
2nd NZL Taylor Burn and Oscar Rovick- 10pts
3rd NZL Olivia Mckay and Gen Saunders- 20pts

29er top two
1st NZL Trent Rippey and Alex Munro- 5pts
2nd NZL Markus Sommerville and Jack Simpson- 7pts

Access 303
1st NZL Robbie Love and Katy Kenah

Full results can be found online the event website www.sailauckland.org.nz and facebook page www.facebook.com/SailAKL

Racing continues on Sunday  from 11:00



New meaning for Wet Suit

4 February 2012



Here's Des

3 February 2012



Today's News

30 January 2012

Is that there will be no news, until Friday at the earliest. the boss is going sailing - Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



BoI Wrap Up

28 January 2012

 

Saturday January 28, 2012

 

Perfect timing – a few showers graced our shores at 1700 hrs Friday evening January 27,2012; boats were safely back in harbour at the end of four days of  on-the-water rivalry in the Bay of Islands. The final race day was just about perfect with 12-15 knot winds gusting 20 or more.

As ‘Bicky’ from North Sails commented “Getting all nine races completed over the four days is fantastic; even arranging a perfect weather pattern with the Beach Party at Roberton Island on Thursday when the wind dropped off. That’s what I call organisation”.

There were nine protests overall, but perhaps that shows the intensity of competition on the water.  Peter Montgomery, our presenter at Prize giving made this point when he said “The Bay of Islands Sailing Week is special to New Zealand yachting. Where else can you sail to a tropical island for a Beach Party during a race week; where else can the some of the ‘biggest and best boats” competing in the same regatta as such a variety of yachts in C,D and E Divisions, the Sports Boats, Cruising boats, Young 88, Elliott 5.9s , need I say more.”

Generous Spot prizes were donated: A Cotton Blossom Cruise – Great Escape Charters x 3 – Tanoa Hotel Paihia accommodation at the luxury Russell Cottages – and a pack of goodies from Burnsco. Not to forget the Westpac spinnaker won by Bandit (Elliott 5.9).

And so it’s time to pack up; take down the tents on the Opua Marina, return the race huts to store at Carters; toilets, trash pickups all organised, dismantle the bar and the stage. Fold away sponsor banners - and it’s time for the committee and volunteers to go home. First Committee Meeting is in June 2012 to prepare for Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2013 – see you there.

 

All results – photos (still being loaded Saturday) – video link etc on the website: www.bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz



BoI Sailing Week

27 January 2012



Here's Des

26 January 2012



BoI Sailing Week

26 January 2012

 

Patience pays off at Bay Regatta Race Day 3

Beach Party at Roberton Island

 

There was zero wind at the scheduled start of 1030 hrs. Little puffs frustrated the boats as they watched for an expected  notice of delay.  Gerry Martin (Race Officer) waited patiently (about one and a half hours), when sure enough the local sea breeeze kicked in.   A Division started with a N.E. of 5-8 knots, a bit patchy, but the breeze picked up to 10 knots by the top mark.  The course for all boats on ‘Beach Party at Roberton Island Race Day’ was finally set -  with a 2 mile beat to the top mark – then 1.5 mile reach to Long Island  - 1 mile to the finish  just off from Roberton.  Gerry was proud of his patience and his course “This could have been a disaster;  the boat skippers were getting pretty edgy. But we’ve given them a ‘bxxxxy good race finishing at their party on time”.

Pre-race fun and games: V5 took out one of their floor boards and crew members water skiied – at a fast pace.  Diving from high places took place all over the bay.  Some boats took the time to ‘canter and clean’. It was a busy place.

Roberton Island Beach Party was a hoot. The Wind Warriors provided lots of shore-side entertainment.  Food and refreshments were offered from the barge – while the Furious Three  played their hearts out with lively music to satisfy the mass.

Friday’s weather looks to be a bit livelier. Maybe not so good for the photographers but the boats are here to race – so ‘bring it on’.  And don’t forget to check out YouTube…..

 



So Long Bob

26 January 2012

After 40 years Bob McDavitt is retiring from Metservice.

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/videos/6316862/Bob-McDavitt-retires

 

Here's hoping he really enjpoys many long years of retirement.



Port Expansion Plans

26 January 2012

Here's an idea of what tehy are suggesting for Auckland Harbour. Lots more plus discussion here.

 

 

 



Auckland Tauranga Race

26 January 2012


 


Full NOR here

 



BoI Sailing week

25 January 2012

 

 

WEDNESDAY 25:

Another beautiful day in paradise. All divisions got their first races away before noon with winds fluctuating between 4 and 9 knots SSW. Racing yachties always want more wind and the breeze did pick up in the afternoon.

Each year we look out for our youngest competitor.  This year Tony and Nina Kiff’s boat ‘Wetherley’ is the winner with their apprentice tactician pictured below – In this shot he’s not happy with the foredeck work and is making it known……

 



BoI Sailing Week

25 January 2012

Another beautiful day in paradise.  All divisions got their first races away before noon with winds fluctuating between 4 and 9 knots SSW.

Passage Divisions had some tight racing around the 9-Pin Rock – footage of this is on our YouTube link where you can see for yourselves the very clever ‘inside manoeuvre pulled off by Charles St Clair Brown on Antaeus – he’ll tuck that one away for future story-telling. Results for the day are also on the website along with photos – the day’s racing photos viewable from the link to Ocean Photography. www.bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz .

 

David Nathan on V5 is thoroughly enjoying the regatta - today winning their share of line honours. Interviews with Skippers on today’s racing will take place in the North Sails Tent – and forwarded later this evening.

 



Takapuna readies for another World Championship

25 January 2012

Takapuna Boating Club is about to host their fourteenth world championship event: The 2012 470 Junior World Championships kick off on 26th January 2012. With the Pre-worlds event now done and dusted, this popular sailing club on Auckland’s North Shore is ready for the main event to start.

Photo by Christine Hansen
 
“We’re quite accustomed to running large scale world championship events, but this one has been during a more difficult funding environment than most due to the Rugby World Cup.” Takapuna Boating Club’s commodore Evelyn Johnson is satisfied that now everything has now fallen into place before the event begins. 

“We’ve been very fortunate to gain some sponsorship and this event wouldn’t be happening without the support of our volunteers, the Auckland Council, SPARC, Victoria Cruising Club Trust and Lion Foundation in particular.”

The 470 Class Junior World Championships begin for more than thirty boats from thirteen countries on Friday 27 January, including three NZL women’s entries and six NZL open entries. Full racing commences Saturday 28th January and continues through until the medal races on Friday 3rd February, 2012.

As at any world championship event, the competition is predicted to be fierce. Many of the teams entered for this event have just finished the ISAF World Sailing Championships in the 470 class (all ages) in Perth.Several of the New Zealand entrants have previously represented New Zealand at the ISAF Youth Worlds, including James Turner, Ben Goodwin, Sarah Berry, Emma Berry, Vicki Francis, Erica Dawson and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher.

Sarah and Emma Berry, sisters from Wellington’s Worser Bay Boating Club have been quiet on the local scene lately, but have medalled at a World Championship in the 420 class off Takapuna Beach in 2007. 

“I love sailing at Takapuna, it’s one of my favourite places and there’s always a great breeze”. Emma Berry is looking forward to getting back into the 470 class for this event with her sailing partner and sister Sarah. “We’ve both been concentrating on University lately... I am going into third year of Law and Sarah is going into second year of design.”

These two young women have a long record of sailing together both within New Zealand and internationally and much of their success is due to the strength of their relationship. Emma explained: “It’s really good sailing with my sister.  In 2007 at the Takapuna 420 World Championships we sailed our best because we got on ridiculously well and we’re getting along quite well at the moment too.”

There is another team of siblings to look out for at this event, Australian juniors Matthew and Robert Crawford were the winners of the pre-worlds event which ended on January 22nd. The Crawford brothers were closely followed by New Zealand’s two selected Olympic 470 teams, Paul Snow Hansen with Jason Saunders, and Jo Aleh with Olivia Powrie.

Both of these high performance teams from the NZL Sailing Team are older than the age allowance for this event. To be eligible to compete in the 470 Junior Championships, athletes shall not have attained his or her 22 birthday before the end of the year of the Championship.

New Zealanders Luke Stevenson (Tauranga) and Sam Bullock (Takapuna) are another one of the NZ crews to watch, having gained one of the top junior results at the 2011 470 Class World Championships at Perth in December, and a fifth place finish at the Takapuna pre-worlds event despite some gear breakage. Gareth Moore (Christchurch) and Ben Goodwin (Napier) are in a similar situation coming back from Perth, and straight into a fourth place finish at the regatta this past weekend. A new combination of James Turner (Auckland), who also competed in Perth, has teamed up with 420 World Championship Class Silver medallist Finn Drummond (Auckland) will also be a team who could make an impression as the regatta progresses.

Planning for this event has been approximately 18 months in the build up, and could not be possible without the support of numerous sponsors and volunteers. There will be a team of approximately 80 volunteers assisting on and off the water led by Principal Race Officer Ian Clouston and Race Secretary Janet Watkins.

“This event simply could not exist without the support of Auckland Council, SPARC, YNZ, Oceanbridge, Harken, OKI and the Lion Foundation.” Takapuna’s Commodore Evelyn concluded “ We also wish to thank Murrays Bay Sailing Club and Torbay Sailing Club for the use of their RIB’s for Race Officers, and also to Sailutions, Harken and The Water Shed for their contributions toward prizes for the competitors”. 

Schedule of events:
27 January: Practice Race 3:00pm
27 January: Opening Ceremony 7:00pm
28 January- 2 February:  Racing commences, 11:00am daily
3 February: Medal Race
3 February: Closing Ceremony 5:00pm

Head down to Takapuna beach and enjoy the atmosphere or watch the action 27th Jan – 3rd Feb 2012! Or follow the action live online the 2012 470 Junior World Championships Facebook Page.



BoI Sailing Week

24 January 2012

You Should Have Been Here

 

Sailing Week 2012 day #1 was blessed with a clear blue sky, a South Easterly at 10 knots, and sixty eager crews ready to take on the world.

The working crew on Westpac One started THEIR day with engine failure in both engines – rectifying one engine pretty quickly to do the job.  Engine #2 took a bit more work with all things back to normal soon after the first start.

As the writer – my day was pretty special; a working experience on the RIB Oceanphotography.  I can assure you muscle and tummy exercises are not necessary after a day chasing racing yachts at speeds of up to 30 Knots - in a variety of flat and very bumpy seas. I can now understand the effort and exerpertise shown in photos taken by Will Calver.  Thank you Will.

 

At pin end Division One Race One, V5 stepped out with both Wired and M1 Snapping at her heels. As the first major race for Kia Kaha, she showed a conservative stance at the start.

At first rounding Wired had the lead, Ice Breaker and V5 both working hard and fast in ‘catch-up mode’. The fleet of 8 speeding yachts were a major part of the spectacle of our Bay of Islands.

Next mark Wired had a good lead – still with V5 on her tail. Kia Kaha and Ice Breaker had a close encounter at the mark, Kia Kaha obviously starting to find her form. 

The breeze had increased during the race, but slowed to 6-8 knots for the finish.  V5 tipped the scales coming in first over the line, Kia Kaha 2nd with Wired in 3rd place.

 

We slipped across to shoot the ten competing C and D Divisions. The breeze down to 3-5 knots – puffs at 6-7 knots. A clean start with Stratocaster leading the fleet, Simply Red and Tongue Twister hot on her heels.  Solveig, a modified Soling, competed in the Regatta two-handed. Well done Steve Hardcastle and mate. Results from opening day are on www.bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz