Extended Race news!

TUTUKAKA FEEDER RACE

It was decided to run this race to Tutukaka this year to get the boats going to the Bay of Islands Regatta further up the Coast on the first day. This proved to be a good choice, and an enjoyable race to Tutukaka on Saturday. Borderline and Tigre left earlier in the morning to make their way up the Coast, and we met Tigre in Tutukaka later in the evening.
This Way Up, Exodus, Charleston and Putiki Express all started off Orakei Wharf at 9am. The wind was north to northeast which made for a light beat all the way up to Kawau. Putiki Express decided to call it a day and came home but the rest of us battled on in light windward conditions.
By 2pm we were just off Cape Rodney with a long beat still to get up to Tutukaka in the northerly breeze. Luckily off Cape Rodney the wind eased direction allowing a single board right through to Tutukaka with sail right up the rum line. This proved to be an exciting leg in increasingly strengthening conditions.
Exodus had led the fleet all the way up by “working the coast” but just literally minutes before the finish Charleston overtook Exodus to take line honours. Exodus a very close second with This Way Up just a few minutes behind. This was an exciting 70 mile windward race, rewarded with a good meal and a few drinks in Tutukaka later on in the evening. Top marks to Charleston’s delivery crew, heard to comment afterwards “Why did none of the other boats have crew sitting to leeward, getting wet.”

Bay of Island Race Week

We had an excellent fleet and some very close racing in this Classic regatta. Well done to all boats who sailed up, its well worth the effort. Its a great place to race and all boats were seen to be going really well and enjoying the conditions. Weather conditions were interesting, varied and challenging but also windy on two of the days which made for some very exciting and high speed multihull action. Unfortunately This Way Up was hit by a Stewart 34 right at the start of the very first race of the regatta, which caused substantial damage, requiring the boat to be immediately hauled out. We were all very disappointed at this outcome as the team had worked so hard to get This Way Up looking very good and going very fast. This is a real setback for them.
Fortunately, the offending boat admitted liability immediately and has insurance to cover this situation. This was an unfortunate loss to the fleet as This Way Up would definitely have featured in the results. Vodafone won on line for all races, but the line prizes for second and third were closely contested between Charleston, Taeping, and Triple 8. There was a classic battle also for line honours between the 8.5s with Dirty Deeds taking four of the races and Lucifer three.
The final series results were Team Vodafone Sailing first on line with Triple 8 second and Taeping third. The handicap battle was also close. Six different boats won first place in seven of the races, but showing good form and consistent sailing Lucifer won the overall handicap class. Exodus, despite a penalty as a result of an arbitration following a protest by Team Vodafone sailing finished second with Taeping close behind in third. Dirty Deeds was just two points behind in fourth. The protest by Team Vodafone Sailing was in response to a situation where several boats came into the start line in windy conditions above the lay line with no rights.
The only boat to protest was Team Vodaphone Sailing, but several boats were involved and we should all be mindful of avoiding these situations in future.
This is a critical situation particularly important in windward leeward starts as several boats nearly collided, so all skippers are urged to make sure they are very familiar with the rules on start lines, particularly with events such as the BMW Series coming up. This is critical for safety of the competitors and their boats and for the overall enjoyment of the racing. If you are uncertain of any of the rules please ask. The last Friday’s racing in particular had some very heavy weather and some spectacular sailing. This was a boat breaking, gear busting day, with 30knots and big seas, which always gets a big smile from Kenny Fyfe after the racing. Conditions were at the top end for windward leeward racing, but all the boats did extremely well and some very high speeds were recorded. The social aspect of the regatta was excellent, with the Opua Tent again providing great after race ambience and our fleet supported the bar very well.
The full results on a race by race basis and overall series results are on the Bay of Islands Regatta website. Thanks to Ray Haslar and a very friendly team up there, they made us very welcome. Also great to have fleet support from Jason and Ron, once again showing us where the top mark, and catching some very good fish! Another successful regatta at which the Multihull fleet made a large impact.

Conditions for the return trip on the Saturday immediately after were not favourable so most boats chose to remain there and arrangements have been made to return all the boats home. For those looking to come back this weekend suggest we liaise at this stage, Saturday looks reasonably promising for the return trip.

Wednesday Night Racing

There is a race tonight for those in town but it is expected the fleet may be a bit on the light side.

Anniversary Day Reminder

A reminder that there is a harbour race on Anniversary Day, this Monday. As mentioned the organisers advised us that Oracle’s new AC45 are interested in competing, although as at today still unconfirmed. So far a number of boats have said they will enter and its a good opportunity to join this historic Auckland event. Make sure you enter shortly.

Mahurangi Weekend

Mahurangi Weekend is a traditional weekend at which boats gather to enjoy cruising in company. It is an informal weekend with very much depending on what all the boats wish to do, but the suggestion is that the boats gather in Mahurangi on Friday Night /Saturday and enjoy each others company. Depending on the weather they will travel across to Kawau and return home on Monday. Watch the weather as the current predictions are not particularly favourable. But if you are going to Mahurangi then have a pleasant weekend. Exodus will still be returning from the Bay of Islands, hopefully in time to make it back for Monday’s race.

PS: Don’t forget coming up is the Squadron’s night race to Kawau next Friday followed by a race on Saturday around Kawau, always a very popular weekend. Of particular interest is the prospect to win the one year lease on Martello Rock and if someone wins it this year we definitely must organise some form of Club function on the Rock itself.

PPS: Check out the three new Nacra 20’s now rigged and ready to race for Oracle at Okahu Bay. It is expected there will be a lot of small cat racing out of there over the coming months.

Matthew Flynn
Commodore