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Here's Des

10 November 2011



Squealer

10 November 2011

 

Hi David,

 

We took “Squealer” (formerly ”The Butcher”) for her first sail last night. Just a quick spin up the harbour and back. Looks very promising! A few things to tidy up over the weekend before we are race ready.

 

Mods included a new keel, 2m retractable prod, cockpit modifications and a new motor. Keen to get on the race course!

 

Brian 

 

 

 



Squid's Big Brother (proas are male)

10 November 2011



Cruiser Attacked in Pago Pago

8 November 2011

Thanks to Latitude 38:

November 7, 2011 – Pago Pago, American Samoa

Disturbing news has come out of Pago Pago, American Samoa. According to the Samoa News, as well as independent cruiser reports, on October 27, Kimball Corson was savagely beaten aboard his Lake Pleasant, AZ-based Fair Weather Mariner 39 Altaira by two assailants. The two suspects were seen paddling what appears to have been a piece of floating dock on Pago Bay toward Altaira around 11:30 p.m. The witness called police because she knew Corson, 70, lived aboard.

Authorities say that after boarding the boat, the men — both in their early 20s and both on probation from previous crimes — found Corson asleep below and began beating him. Corson reported that he was trying to fight off the attack when one of the men wrapped a strap around his neck and started choking him, but that he was able to wedge his fingers between the strap and his throat. As Corson continued to struggle, the suspects reportedly dropped the strap and wrapped an electrical cord around his neck. He told police that he remembered thinking, "So this is what it's like to die."

In the meantime, the local marine patrol had reached Altaira. According to the police, both suspects jumped off the boat, and one started swimming away, while the other hid between Altaira and her dinghy. Both were apprehended, though police say both resisted. Corson was whisked to the hospital, where he was treated for broken teeth, a broken upper jaw, and multiple bruises and lacerations, receiving a total of 29 stitches to his head. According to one cruiser report, he'll be staying with friends ashore before moving back to Altaira.

The two suspects, Jason Muasau and Vatia Tugaga, have each been charged with first degree assault, first degree burglary and felonious restraint, as well as resisting arrest — all felonies. Bail has been set at $100,000 for each. There is no known motive.

The attack has sent shockwaves through the cruising community, as Pago Pago is well known as a friendly and welcoming port. One cruiser identified only as Gary said, "Nothing like this ever happened here before. All the cruisers are in shock. This is the friendliest place we have ever been — really nice, helpful people and I'm sure they will not go easy on guys that go against the traditions. This place is still far safer than any place in the U.S."

- latitude / ld



Coast Guard Cruise

8 November 2011



Police and Combined Services Sailing Regatta

7 November 2011

As per the attached flier, the NZ Police Sailing Association is holding its annual Police and combined services regatta on the afternoon of Friday, 25th November on Waitemata Harbour. This event is open to all Police, emergency services (Fire, Ambos etc) and forces personnel (Army, Airforce, Navy), and is held with the assistance of Richmond Yacht Club. It is sponsored by the Police Association and a number of other other businesses.

Any of the aforementioned organisations personal who wish to register their interest in the event are invited to contact either the writer, or Senior Constable Ian Clouston via email preferred.

Entry form and costing (approx $25 per yacht) will be sent to the skipper of each participating yacht.

Just to make this event more interesting, a bottle of rum will be put up for the BEST DRESSED crew.

Nick Davenport
Treasurer
nicholas.davenport@police.govt.nz

R(Ian) CLOUSTON
Auckland Police Dog Section
Commodore
richard.clouston@police.govt.nz

 

Police Regatta 2011



Renal Failure

1 November 2011

 

With bad weather forecast over the next couple of days experts are suggesting she could be about to break up, there is still some oil on board (about the same amount that has already been leaked) , and the winds are onshore. Plus what happens to all the remaining containers?



New Zealand Spars and Rigging Media Release

1 November 2011


 

31 October 2011

 

New Zealand Spars and Rigging congratulates Ross and Campbell Field on Leg 1 Global Ocean Race victory

 

Ross Field wanted to work with new companies when he embarked on his campaign to race two handed around the world in a forty foot boat, and he elected to team up with New Zealand Spars and Rigging, when it came to readying BSL for the mammoth voyage.

 

Now BSL has taken victory in the 7,300 mile first leg from Palma, Mallorca, to Cape Town, after 32 days, 17 hours and 13 minutes at sea.

 

“We and Fineline wanted to support Ross. We have developed products together, and supplied the boat with new aft rigging, furling stays and custom components. We will also be sending product to the boat as it is needed during the various stopovers,” says Managing Director, Richard (Bart) Bearda.

 

Ross, a former Volvo Ocean Race winner, who is sailing with his son Campbell, is well known as being one of the most discerning skippers in the world, and every aspect of his campaign is well thought out.

 

The Global Ocean Race website reports that prior to the delivering the boat to the GOR start in Palma from Lymington on the South Coast of England, the Fields had raced BSL once in the Rolex Fastnet Race and GOR Leg 1 was an eye-opener for two highly-experienced sailors, but newcomers to Class40: “It’s a really startling boat, quite amazing,” says Ross. “Sometimes, it just kept going faster and faster and you had to wonder when the limit would be reached.” There was one major crash that the duo will always remember when they feared the mast would be lost, but there is no major damage. “The boat is immensely strong and the only breakage has been due to our errors,” confirms Campbell. “Nothing has failed on board.”

 

Their Class40, BSL, was formerly known as Desafio Cabo de Hornos, and placed second in the inaugural Global Race in 2008-2009.

 

The race started on 25 September 2011 in Mallorca, and stops off in Cape Town, Wellington, Punta del Este and Charleston, before it finishes in Mallorca.

 

 

www.nzrigging.com



Mini Transat Winner

1 November 2011



Cruising Open Day

31 October 2011

Sunday 6 November 2011 10:00am - 2:00pm

Westhaven X marina

The Cruising & Navigation Association of New Zealand (CANANZ) will display several of their member's yachts on X marina at Westhaven from 10am until 2pm on Sunday 6th November 2011. You are invited to come and meet the owners and view yachts that have cruised the Pacific Islands and further afield, as well as boats that are suited to cruising the Hauraki Gulf.

One of our members will take anyone interested for a one hour cruise on the Auckland Harbour on Southern Spirit, his 55 ft Ketch leaving at 11:00am and 1:00pm.

We will have a free BBQ too.

CANANZ was established in 1978 before the advent of GPS. We hold meetings on the 2nd Monday of each even month, usually at Richmond Yacht Club, Westhaven starting at 1930 hrs. We feature a speaker who presents their recent expedition, some aspect of yachting, navigation, meteorology, or a related topic. Members may borrow from our library of 400 books as well as specialist magazines, audio and video tapes. We hold two weekend cruises around the Hauraki Gulf annually, and send a regular newsletter to all members. More information: www.cananz.org.nz

Phone Basil Orr             021 867 367     



David Raison wins the Transat 6,50 onboard TeamWork Evolution

31 October 2011

David Raison has won the singlehanded Transat 6,50 on his innovative boat TeamWork Evolution. His achievement will be a milestone in the world of yacht racing.

Salvador de Bahia, Octobre 30, 2011 — David Raison crossed the arrival line at 18 :43 UT; he sailed the 3120 miles long second leg between Madeira and Salvador de Bahia in 17 days, 6 hours and 13 minutes, at an average speed of 7,53 knots. The skipper from Lorient beats the previous record on this course by twenty minutes.

 

David Raison took the lead soon after the Cape Verde Islands. He sailed superbly and kept the lead since crossing the Doldrums. He crossed the arrival line 130 miles ahead of his direct opponent, Thomas Normand, and 330 miles ahead of the pack.

 

David’s boat, with her strange looking round nose, has proved to be excellent on this difficult course, and especially when sailing between 60 and 90° from the true wind, where she was simply unbeatable, achieving speeds up to one knot superior to her opponents.

 

« When I saw that I was ahead of the fleet coming out of the doldrums, I thought “this race is for you! Don’t mess it up, don’t fall in the water, don’t break the boat”, said David Raison soon after the arrival. “This boat is fast and exceptional; she helped to compensate some tactical mistakes. Sometimes, I was even slowing down because the boat was banging hard. I slept better last night. I wanted to be in good shape today, I didn’t want to miss the arrival… This was my fourth transatlantic race and my last goal was to finish before nightfall and see Bahia under the sunlight. Tonight I can enjoy a nice big piece of meat in the restaurant; it’s fantastic!”

 

David’s victory is in line with the history of the Mini Class, who has seen innovations such as canting keels, ballasts or carbon masts, used today on all race boats. Nobody knows yet whether this type of boats will be seen on other, bigger classes in the future; yet one thing is sure: everyone is going to have to think about it.



Vovlvo Ocean Race

30 October 2011

They have had the first in port race already and will be getting ready to sail somewhere soon. The Volvo media machine pours out enough material to swamp out little website, so I'm putting the race coverage here.



Helly Hansen

29 October 2011



The Fields and BSL take first place in GOR Leg 1

29 October 2011

 

At 05:13:25 GMT on Friday 28 October, Ross and Campbell Field took first place in Leg 1 of the double-handed, Class40 Global Ocean Race (GOR) crossing the finish line in Cape Town after 32 days 17 hours 13 minutes and 25 seconds and 7,300 miles of racing from Palma, Mallorca, on their Verdier-design Class40 BSL averaging 9.3 knots and finishing 89 miles ahead of Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron on Campagne de France.

Following a final sail change off Lion’s Head, swapping from spinnaker to jib, BSL beat on port tack passed Signal Hill and across the finish line off Cape Town shortly after sunrise. GOR Race Organisation officials boarded the Class40 to congratulate the duo and check that the engine seals installed pre-start were in place before the Fields dropped their sails and motored into Victoria Basin, through Alfred Basin and into the GOR Race Base at North Wharf in the V&A Waterfront Marina.

Clearly exhausted, showing signs of significant weight-loss, but on characteristically good form, Ross and Campbell Field admitted that they had little left to give: “We’re absolutely stuffed, I’ll be honest,” said Ross shortly after berthing at North Wharf. “It’s all due to Halvard and Miranda as they’re clever sailors and know where to position their boat,” he continues. “We knew that we’d have a chance to peg them back once we got into the Southern Hemisphere and the reaching conditions suited our boat, but we had to push really hard – it’s absolutely crucial. If you don’t push 120 per cent, you’re gone and – fortunately – Campbell did excellent work on the weather.” Campbell Field reckons that if Campagne de France had extended over 40 miles ahead, the door would have shut: “There’s always more pressure when you’re chasing,” he believes. “At times we were hanging on by our fingernails.”

Prior to the delivering the boat to the GOR start in Palma from Lymington on the South Coast of England, the Fields had raced BSL once in the Rolex Fastnet Race and GOR Leg 1 was an eye-opener for two highly-experienced sailors, but newcomers to Class40: “It’s a really startling boat, quite amazing,” says Ross. “Sometimes, it just kept going faster and faster and you had to wonder when the limit would be reached.” There was one major crash that the duo will always remember when they feared the mast would be lost, but there is no major damage. “The boat is immensely strong and the only breakage has been due to our errors,” confirms Campbell. “Nothing has failed on board.”

Other than work on the sails and strengthening up some pieces on the boat, there’s little preparation before the start of Leg 2 to Wellington, New Zealand, on Sunday 27 November. “The main objective is getting some rest,” he continues. “We were getting weaker and weaker and although our muscles weren’t atrophying, we just had less and less strength.” Despite the fatigue and potential recovery time, there are no regrets: “It’s just a fantastic event and a brilliant concept,” adds Ross of his sixth circumnavigation race. “It’s disappointing that boats pulled out just before the start, but they’re missing out on the best sailing in the world and we’re loving it!”  

For the complete update, click here.



Oops

28 October 2011

By email

Hi David,

 

Just thought I’d drop you a quick email and point out that there are considerably more than 14 kiwi’s in the Volvo Ocean Race.

I know for a fact that there are seven (equivalent to Camper) on board Team Sanya, not just one. Amusingly, this means that the boat nicknamed the “Fruit Salad” (thanks to its garish paint job) is full of kiwi’s!

 

And in the forums:

 

where did that article on the homepage come from? Sanya has 7 kiwis onboard

Mike Sanderson
Cameron Dunn
Chris Main
Andy Meiklejohn
Richard Mason
Ryan Houston
Dave Swete

how many kiwis have they missed on the other boats?

 

 

 

Well, the answer is "straight from the Volvo media centre".

 

Nice to know you lot are both well informed and observant. Cheers.

 

 



BAY of ISLANDS SAILING WEEK

28 October 2011

                  January 23 - 27, 2012

              REGATTA RAMBLINGS 

                                                                      Issue #5 October 2011                                             

  OK – the Rugby World Cup is over – and we won it.....so let’s go sailing.

 Time to think about winning at Bay of Islands Sailing Week January 2012

Things to do for the Regatta

Go to “Enter now’ on the website. You want to know who you’ll be sailing against?  So do “they”. REMINDER: The Early Bird Special is for entries received by December 31, 2011.

Arrange Mooring: Opua Marina (09)4027124 enquiries@opuamarina.co.nz

Accommodation: Paihia Tanoa Hotel (09)4027911 or Google Paihia/Opua

Lunch orders from the Opua store.  Contact Murray for an order form with selections/prices:  (09)402-7575   opuastore@paradise.net.nz

                             ---------------------------------------------------------------

The Furious Three’s dynamic music is confirmed for Roberton Island; that day we have a shorter race - time on the beach for ‘fun – food – drinks.

As advised last year we have Heavy Weather Courses to use ‘if needs be’; racing goes on (99% of the time). It’s always a skipper’s decision ‘to race or not to race’. For 2012 we are looking for perfection please Mr Weather Man.12-18 knot winds, sunny skies, and white caps……..

Speaking of Heavy Weather Courses:

 Andrew Hurst editor of Seahorse November Issue 2011 tells it like it is…QUOTE “The breeze in Porto Cervo when this year’s races were cancelled averaged 25 – 28 kt – there were bigger gusts of course and seas were steep. But without wishing to go down the road of “back in the days”, this is utterly pathetic. Event organisers, and also, in the case of the largest yachts, insurance underwriters must be made to understand that this ’girl’s blouse approach’ to yacht racing is self defeating. If races are cancelled when the wind blows a little, then designers and builders will make their boats lighter and more fragile accordingly, That is why there is so much fall-out whenever today’s Big-Day Boat fleet (which is what these boats mostly are) tries a longer course: the Fastnet, the Middle C Race, even something softer like the Giraglia.” END QUOTE

And the boats having entered and raced all 9 regattas to receive free entry to Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2012?   Mr Wolf, Kantime, Nexus. And they’ll be back for #10.

   Bay Regatta racing boats – from small to large – room for everyone

 

 

The Bay of Islands Sailing Week Race Committee: Ray Haslar, Andrew Riddell, David Hope-Lewis, Lesley Haslar, Alan Jones, Annette Jones, Michael Briggs and our Event Coordinator, Melanie McDiarmid. Suggestions and comments are always appreciated.    info@bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz

                             Lesley Haslar for Bay Of Islands Sailing Week


VOLVO OCEAN RACE GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW!

28 October 2011

 

  • Auckland Port staff in Alicante for final planning meetings
  • Fourteen Kiwis in the 2011/12 Race
  • TVNZ to show Race coverage
  • Media accreditation for Auckland Stopover now open

The 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race gets underway in Alicante, Spain, tomorrow (Saturday 29 October) with the opening In-Port Race followed one week later by the Start of Leg 1 to Cape Town.

 

Auckland Stopover Port Director Tom Mayo is in Alicante for final planning meetings with Volvo Ocean Race HQ staff, the shore crews of the six competing boats, other Stopover Port Directors and the organisers of the travelling elements of the Race Village.

 

"It's the last planning and conference opportunity for all the Stopover Ports before the Race starts and we're getting answers to a lot of questions," says Mayo. "The Alicante Race Village looks fantastic and it's invaluable for us to examine the infrastructure in detail as we enter our final phase of planning. We have 132 days before the fleet arrives in Auckland."

 

KIWIS IN THE RACE

New Zealanders are in the crews of five of the six competing boats with a total of 14 Kiwis competing in the Race. Emirates Team New Zealand entry CAMPER has seven Kiwis aboard,  PUMA Ocean Racing has three, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing two and Groupama Sailing Team and Team Sanya one apiece.

 

The New Zealanders are:

 

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing: Craig Satterthwaite (watch leader), Justin Ferris (helmsman/trimmer)

 

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand: Stu Bannatyne (watch leader), Daryl Wislang (bowman), Tony Rae, Rob Salthouse, Adam Minoprio, Andrew McLean (helmsmen/trimmers), Hamish Hooper (MCM/medic)

 

Groupama Sailing Team: Brad Marsh (bowman)

 

PUMA Ocean Racing: Kelvin Harrap (helmsman/trimmer), Brad Jackson, Tony Mutter (watch leaders)

 

Team Sanya: Mike Sanderson (skipper - and winner in 2005/6)

 

TELEVISION COVERAGE IN NZ

TVNZ is the offical broadcaster of the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race in New Zealand and will be screening extensive coverage on TV1.

 

The schedule  for the first two Legs (subject to change) is:

 

2.30pm on Sunday 30 October: In-Port Race, Alicante

3.00pm on Sunday 6 November: Race Preview and Start of Leg 1

3.00pm on Sunday 4 December: Finish of Leg 1

3.00pm on Sunday 11 December: In-Port Race, Cape Town

11.00pm on Monday 12 December: Start of Leg 2

2.30pm on Sunday 1 January: Update programme

 

All the programmes will also be available on demand via the TVNZ website www.tvnz.co.nz as soon as possible following broadcast. 



Ross and Campbell Field gunning for the GOR Cape Town finish line

28 October 2011

In the 15:00 GMT position poll on Thursday, Ross and Campbell Field leading the double-handed, Class40 Global Ocean Race (GOR) fleet on BSL are just 117 miles from the finish with an ETA of early Friday morning at the Cape Town finish line with an 87 mile lead over Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron on Campagne de France in second.

While the final miles for the leading pair of Class40s has been exceptionally tough with squalls delivering two knockdowns for BSL, the pack of four Class40s strung out in a line 670 miles across the middle of the South Atlantic remain frustrated by the collapsing high-pressure system blocking their route to the finish.

After 32 days and 6,700 miles of racing through the Mediterranean and North and South Atlantic, the final route into Cape Town has been exhausting for the Fields on BSL and Mabire and Merron on Campagne de France. Having opted for a southerly approach to the finish in the hope of finding stronger breeze, the Fields found between 20-48 knots with sustained periods of 30-25 knots. “We wiped the poor old boat BSL out twice and one time was a real beauty,” reports Ross Field on his last day at sea in Leg 1. Running under a fractional spinnaker in around 28 knots, Campbell Field spotted a squall and the spinnaker was swiftly swapped for a headsail. “We did everything correctly and prepared for a squall of 35 knots max, but it just kept increasing to 48 knots and we were charging, up over waves, through waves, down waves at speeds of over 20 knots and then, finally, I planted poor old BSL into the bottom of a huge roller and she came to a grinding halt,” Ross continues. “She tipped over on her side, keel flapping in mid-air, and I thought the rig was going to be blown out of the boat and land on Table Mountain.”

However, the mast stayed vertical: “We got BSL back on her feet and we were off again,” he confirms. “Man, she is a tough boat, and a pleasure to sail,” adds Ross. “I have said to Campbell on many occasions that BSL is the most incredible reaching boat that I have ever sailed on - sometimes it’s like she is on rails and just goes faster and faster until you start thinking - when is this boat going to slow down - bloody amazing!!”

For the complete update, click here.



Here's Des

27 October 2011