Update and Race news

We had fine end to the RNZYS winter series in blustery conditions with some very fast sailing, and close racing. The 2011 series was well attended and we had 16 boats enter a varying number of races. Well done to Steve and his team on Hyper for a handicap win for the series, a consistent set of results and a big effort. You need to be entering most of the races to get a series win for sure. This Way Up , came second showing some blistering form, and the biggest nose dive we have ever seen them do just off Orakei wharf in the last race was spectacular. Nice recovery Mike. Third was Attitude, also showing lots of excellent and consistent speed. Taeping took out the series on Line, well done to Dave and the team, always out there and going well. A well deserved second on Line was Timberwolf, showing blistering speed up on the foils and looking really good going into the summer. This Way up scored a third, so a nice outcome as well for TWU featuring in the line and handicap podium places.

The Simrad 2 handed series finished on Saturday with the 100 mile Gulf race. Reports of a very fast trip back from Little barrier, thats what gulf sailing is all about. Triple 8 was first in at 10.15pm , nearly 1.5 hours ahead of the first A div boat, so an excellent time. Second in was Charleston and less than 7 minutes was Timberwolf in third at 11.pm. A nice handicap win for Voom, with Hyper second and Triple 8 third. The overall results will be announced at the prizegiving, and everyone is encouraged to attend , SSANZ do a great job with this very popular series, and who knows might even give us a division in the two handed RNI one day.

Remember its the annual Singlehanded race this Sunday. The one armed paper hangers trophy is up for grabs, the defending champion Bobo on Dirty Dees will not be there, so a chance for a new name on the trophy. The NOR and SI are attached.1100 am start. Come and support the sailors at the end of Orakei wharf. The after match function is at the self styled home of single handed sailing, Swashies.

Remember to get your entry in for the 2011Coastal Classic, only 7 weeks away. Get the team organised and spread the word. Check your cat 3 certificate is up to date. If you need one, contact Tim Clissold, and if there a few we could get Tim to do a few boats at once. The RNZYS is organising an early morning buffet breakfast pre race, so a great chance to have big feed, coffee and all meet pre race so put that into your programme. This year will be the party and prizegiving on the Saturday night.

I just recently had the pleasure of a weeks racing with Team VodafoneSailing at the Audi Hamilton Island regatta. It was an awesome week. I had the pleasure of being assigned to the grinders, a reasonable ask for an old office boy, who usually just sits at the back( mostly) not getting wet, but loved the physical challenge and great crew works makes sailing this boat seriously good fun. There are times when there is a fair bit on! Expect some good reports in next months Seahorse under the Australia section.
The boys had a tough trip across to Australia, the Tasman in winter is not for the faint hearted but they were well rewarded with some great winter sunshine sailing up the coast and over to hamo. Its a big effort to get organised and over there, but I expect their effort has done a lot to show the otherwise conservative approach to date of the mainstream clubs that a M division is the way ahead. Sailing past their glamour boat, the 100ft Wild Oats X11 doing over 30 knots on a reach was a real thrill. But just being there, sailing in shorts and T shirt in the middle of our winter in 20-25knts SE breezes was spot on. Thanks to Simon and the crew for inviting me, I would love to put Agir in the container and get over there myself one day. Ps I forgot to mention the après sailing activities. There is an extensive programme , where else can you finish a days racing, get down to the pool, swim up to the cocktail bar, order a drink at happy hour, then head into town for a few cold ones on a golf cart. Nice.

Bit of a gap in the programme now to get the lawns done, do some DIY, get the boats ready, enjoy some rugby, but roll on the summer season. There is heaps coming up.

Matthew Flynn