Winter Race programme and race update

Good luck to all those boats racing to Tauranga over Easter weekend. For everyone else going cruising have a great time and the weather looks like a bit of a mixed bag, but there is nothing like getting out there.

*The link at the bottom of the page will take you to the NZMHYC 2011 Winter Programme and Series. This follows a similar format to last year, and note there is a combined series for those boats who are able to compete in at least one Rum Race, one Simrad and six Saturday races . Note that one race day three and seven we will be racing windward /leewards, and after the BMW these will be popular days for sure. Just need to leave a bit earlier to get out to the start area. See the SI. Will be doing them with the sports boats. Obviously the more you do the better your prospects are as the results continually show. The first race is Saturday 30 April which is the Harbour Course with a start time of 12.55. Please get your entries in early. Details on the RNZYS website. This is always a great series to get through Winter and we have had excellent numbers in the last couple of years.

*This month’s club night looks to be really interesting with Peter Hustler kindly agreeing to come and talk. Peter has all sorts of very interesting experiences and it would be great to have a big turnout to listen to Peter . No doubt there will be a few stories from Easter as well so look forward to seeing you all next Thursday in the Club.

*Our own Summer prize giving will be next Club night 26 May. There are lots of prizes to give out for what has been a very full and exciting Summer programme so put this date in your diaries now. There are lots of boats winning prizes so we look forward to a big turnout.

*You may all know, the RNZYS race to Fiji includes a multihull division. Start is 4 June 2011 so get out and support our entries. This is an excellent opportunity for those who wish to ramp up their programmes to include offshore racing so give this some thought for the future. There are at least two multihulls entering which is a great development for us. There is an excellent boat tracking package being provided for each entry, so we can all watch progress on a very regular basis. This is a race we should definitely try and develop more entries in the coming years. What a great place to end in, Musket Cove.

*The RNZYS Summer prize giving will also be held shortly. There are some excellent prizes to be won by our division, and further details will be provided as to the winners of all the various RNZYS multihull trophies shortly. Details of that event are being circulated by the RNZYS shortly. Next Summer we would like to have more entries in the Commodore Cup. It’s an excellent series with an interesting set of races suitable for all our boats.

*For a hot cruising trip, enjoy a sail up past herald island to the Riverhead pub. Now renovated and offering good food, and a nautical ambiance, watch for overhead wires but highly recommend by a club member. Sounds like a club afternoon could be on the cards.

*The singlehanded race was postponed until Sunday 1st May as the winds were not suitable last weekend. Again please let me know if you will enter.

* Bon Voyage to John McIntosh and his crew heading off for a nice cruise in the Pacific shortly on Katariana.

Ps Exodus will be out of the water for a short pit stop soon so will miss the first couple of Winter races, but will back out there shortly, looking pretty sharp.

Matthew Flynn
Commodore

2011 Winter Racing Programme