Local sailors find racing’s a breeze
February 13
Officer of the day Keith Heron was faced with three totally different weather forecasts for racing, but settled on a course set for a strong northeasterly.
Spinnakers were banned and several skippers were preparing to reef sails.
Not to be! The wind fell away to almost nothing and came (with the rain) from every point of the compass.
The lead changed several times but the race was won by Stephen Wallis with the vastly experienced crew of Hamish Carr calling the shots. Second was Martin Caughy and third Keith Pyle. The second race was abandoned.
The centreboard classes cancelled racing for the day.
February 20
An early start for the briefing at 0900 due to high tide being at 1150. We planned a short harbour sail starting at D mark off Omokoroa Point down channel to Western C (off Motuhoa) and then B, the marker for Matakana Wharf.
We would turn there and sail to Western G off Te Puna returning to finish at D.
Seven yachts signed on, Caribbean, Diversion, Goldie, Little Gem, Konini, Piccaninny — and Sophie Rose was welcomed back.
The start was at 1011 and a fickle breeze died — the only yacht that broke away at the start was Caribbean, the rest anchored and waited. Sophie Rose hoisted a spinnaker, followed by Piccaninny Goldie,
Little Gem and Konini. Slowly we crept away only to stop again. At 1130 we shortened the course to be D to C and Back to D. The breeze obliged at 1200 and soon we were off.
At the turn Sophie Rose and Caribbean were neck and neck as were Goldie and Diversion, Little Gem led Piccaninny but left a gap and Piccaninny snuck through.
At D, Sophie Rose finished first at 1238, second Caribbean at 1244.20, Diversion at 1244.40, Goldie at 1250.44, Picaninny at 1252.12, Little Gem at 1252.13 and Konini at 1258.53.
Very close sailing for 2nd and 3rd and 5th and 6th, a handicapper’s nightmare.
Good to have seven out and well done all.
Harbour Race
Once a year the Katikati Boating club hold the harbour Trophy Race. Sailed for the first time in 1998 and won that year by M. Halloran, last week’s event was a 10km circuit of Egg Island because of predicted light winds (Egg Island is only visible at low tide).
Several yachts took junior sailors as crew to expose them to another form of sailing.
Results: 1st Don and Christine Wallis in Swallow, 2nd Chris Pilkington and his son in Cool Change and 3rd Martin Caughey with new sailer Michael and his mother Deb as crew.
February 27
Sunday was booked for another run to Karewa Island. Briefing was short and sharp as the low tide at Tauranga was due about 10.40am.
Signed on were Konini, Against All Odds, Diversion, Caribbean, Goldie and Black Soo.
It was good to have Black Soo with us for the first time in a long while under owner Phil and crew Geoff.
The start was to be at Panepane Wharf but as we motored down harbour it was moved to A beacon as there was no wind in the entry.
The trip to A was fine, the entry unusually calm, but a 1m to 2m easterly swell made the lie interesting.
At 11.14am, we were all lined up for the start. There was a light northeasterly breeze and whilst the Matakana Bank was breathing , the fleet was well to the north of problems.
Caribbean and Konini were first out, closely followed by
Diversion and Against All Odds. Slightly astern were Goldie and Black Soo.
On Konini we were making 5 to 6 knots but soon the Black Kite went up on Goldie and shed moved up the placings.
This caused first Diversion to launch the big blue and white kite and then Caribbean to hoist the multi-coloured job!!
AAO Konini and BS retained the plain sail configuration to the island. Diversion, AAO and Caribbean were the first round, followed by Goldie. This was achieved in about an hour, great sailing in light airs.
Konini then hit the wind shadow behind Karewa and slowed.
BS also hit the hole. Once clear of the island we were back up to 6 knots and the breeze filled in.
At the head of the fleet, Diversion was working hard and finished at 13.42.16, 2nd was Caribbean at 13.47, 3rd was AAO, 4th was Goldie at 14.14.39 (having flown the kite almost all the way!!). 5th was Konini at 14.40.50 and in 6th place Black Soo motored home.
Well done all, a record trip, 3 to 4 hours from A to Karewa to the finish in light airs.
Next Sunday, March 6, we have a short harbour sail with a briefing at 9am.