Gold Cup Race 1

Gold Cup Race One Report – 27 September

The forecast looked like light winds for most of the day, but the Met Service did issue a strong wind warning which proved to be absolutely correct as the day progressed.

The starting line up was Dirty Deeds, Exodus, Taeping, Need for Speed and Akarana Express. Nice to be out stretching the boats round the Gulf again.
The start was at 9am off Orakei Wharf in very light northerly conditions. We all semi-drifted/sailed across the start line towards North Head when a light North Westerly began to fill in. The organisers selected Course 2, an intermediate length course of 44 miles. The fleet got off to a slow start but soon the north westerly filled up the Rangi channel. Tai Ping managed to even do some wheelies on the way out towards Rangitoto. All boats were quite close passing Rangitoto beacon. They then followed a tight reach across to Billy Goat Point on Motutapu. Taeping led the charge across there with Exodus, Need for Speed and Dirty Deeds having a close race. The first three boats were all sporting red Gennakers for this 2008/2009 season! Could make for a nice “group” shot. Need for Speed was lurking very close behind.

Around Billy Goat Point, it was a light run followed by a reach around the back of Motutapu across to Navy Bouy off Browns Island. This manky old buoy is not easy to find by sight so recommend that it is a good one to have in the GPS if you can find it on the chart.. Exodus carried a Gennaker up most of the way across there and gained a small jump on Dirty Deeds, which was not close behind.

Once around Navy Bouy it was a slow run down to Passage Rocks. Tai Ping took an inshore gybe and seemed to come out in good breeze. Exodus and Dirty Deeds sailed almost neck and neck all the way down to Passage Rocks. A daring in shore move and early gybe saw Exodus come out around Passage Rock just marginally in front of Dirty Deeds. This was a very exciting mark rounding and tested all crews nicely. Need for Speed was not far behind.

By now, there was a definite threat of an increasing westerly breeze on the horizon. Taeping had a good jump on the windward leg up towards Browns Island with Exodus and Taeping battling it out 2nd and 3rd at this stage. Both boats remained close for a long windward beat all the way to Browns Island. The wind increased with Exodus conceding the need to reef the main and lost some time. By now, the extraordinarily compact Need for Speed was flying up wind and must have recorded the fastest windward beat from Passage Rocks to the finish. They looked very impressive with a full main and small jib coping extremely well with the increasingly fresh westerly breeze. Exodus had to change headsails again in Motuihe channel and saw Need for Speed scoot past like a mosquito on speed. Dirty Deeds was also coping well with the freshening conditions and had increased their lead over Exodus.
By about 1.30 pm the threatened westerly wind came in with full fury, justifying the Met Services high wind warning. It proved a good hard slog for all the boats to the finish where conditions off Orakei wharf were really appalling. With wind against tide kicking up a nasty inner harbour chop. Taeping finished in very fast time of 5hrs 20mins with Dirty Deeds, Need for Speed, Exodus and Akarana Express following. Handicap places were also fairly close, with Need for Speed taking handicap honours and Tai Ping taking line honours.

This series promises to be interesting, with the next four races all overnight races. The next race, the 72 mile Gulf Race starting at 19:30 on Friday 10 October. Good warm up for the Coastal Classic.
Matthew Flynn. Exodus.


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