Racing News 14th July

NZMYC Racing News

Race 5 of the RNZYS Winter series. Once again a good fleet mixed with the larger keel boats for what promised to be high speed reach out of the start line in a medium north westerly. The starting sequence was not easy to observe, but with the fleet going away first getting the 5 minute gun is critical. Exodus had to dodge two large keel boats right in front of them on the start line or else leave a nice series of holes. This was met with a considerable amount of cursing from the crew trying to get the gennaker up at the same time!
Dirty Deeds got a fine start up by the pin end and made Taiping learn the hard way that if you haven’t got room, you haven’t got room! Further down the track they also showed X factor that sometimes large does have to give way to small. The fleet took off down towards Orakei Wharf with a tight gennaker reach to almost the mark. X Factor, Taeping, Dirty Deed and Helvetica were the first round Orakei. It was an immediate beat up to Saltwater buoy off Rangitoto in a slowly increasing Northerly. Some of the fleet sailed out to the middle of the harbour and others, such as Exodus and Ocean Pacific went right into the shore of Rangitoto which gave flat water and slightly lifting breeze allowing Exodus to pass just in front of Helvetica for the mark rounding at Saltwater. There was then a nice gennaker ride down to North Head followed by a beat back out. By now the wind had increased and the fleet was mixing it nicely with the rest of the keel boat fleet who were now going round for the first time. Looming in the distance was a very ominous looking rain cloud which promised some kind of wind change. As the leaders approached North Head for the ride back up the harbour a light westerly closed in meaning a beat to the finish. That paid off for the boats nearer the front who had less distance to sail on the wind. The boats nearer the back had to beat further back and that was reflected in the handicap results.
Dirty Deeds was catching Taiping, while Exodus and Helvetica were having a very close battle on the beat upwind. Helvetica led Exodus round the last mark from Bayswater to the Harbour Bridge for a close tussle. Exodus got a lucky lift and passed Helvetica just before the finish. There was just 25 seconds between them at the finish on a close race indeed.
Most crews were, by this stage, pretty wet from very heavy rain and all convened back in the squadron for the usual tales! There is an excellent turn up by the multi sailors, family and friends in the club after these races so its a good chance even if you have not raced to come down and hear the stories.
Dirty Deeds, Ocean Pacific and This Way Up shared the honours in division M,. Taiping X-Factor and Exodus shared the honours in division N. Taiping was first on line in division N, and Dirty Deeds in division M. The series is proving very close with Dirty Deeds, Epsom Salts and Attitude in the first three places in division M, and Taiping, Exodus and Helvetica holding the first three places in division M. X-Factor is very close. The handicap series, with just three races though is still very open for any of the boats.
On line Dirty Deeds has a commanding lead in division M, and Taiping the same in division N. The course set by the squadron was an excellent one and there was plenty of action on the mark roundings as usual. The next race will be on Saturday July 26th.

There is a meeting this Tuesday night after the general committee meeting to discuss what looks to be a very exciting summer series program with some new ideas and exciting events to encourage enough as many multi-hulls as possible to sail and race this summer.