The forecast was daunting. Northerly 10 gradually rising to 25 in the morning and 40 by the evening. We all know you can add 20 more when travelling along the South Coast. 60kn on the way home? That would be interesting.
Author: Pedro Morgan
After a challenging start with a postponement on Nov 6th due to forty knot winds that created unsafe racing conditions and a lack of wind causing a delay on Nov 7th, the 2014 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race commenced at mid-morning under sunny skies and building wind.
A mill pond greeted the first boats leaving their berths to start the Island Bay race on Saturday morning so the race management team postponed the first starts to wait for the southerly to build. After a few more delays and a Shalimar weather report from the harbour entrance the wise race management team set a special course to Moaning Minnie and back with a combined start at 1200hrs.
Saturday’s RPNYC Classic Championship race got away on time at 12:00 with three entrants: Lizzie, Mabel and Galatea. Mabel got off to a great start across the line on a lifting starboard tack to lay the first mark but got into trouble when her course was spoiled by another vessel on port not giving way. She lay luffing for some time before again finding clear air, allowing Lizzie and Galatea to get well ahead.
What a fabulous afternoon we had last Sunday when over 40 members and guests joined us for High Tea with Shirley Martin. We started and ended the event on the deck enjoying the sun and each other’s company. Inside we were treated to fabulous catering by Chef Francis Motta who was assisted by Philippa Dirkin and Sjieuwke Vriesinga. Tea and cakes were served in style by our wonderful waitrons, Matt Birchall and Paul Atkins.
With a weather pattern that made sailors feel like they were actors in the movie of the same name, the third weekend of the 2014 RPNYC Moore Wilson’s Winter Series turned out to be a “mix, stir and repeat” of the conditions experienced in the series so far.
The RPNYC Moore Wilson’s Winter Series burst into life with a stunning weekends sailing experienced by all those who took to the waters of Wellington harbour for the first of five action-packed race weekends.
{jcomments off}The last offshore race of the season was a real challenge – not because of high winds, but because of a lack of them.
There were five boats in the race: The Guarantee, Gucci, Wai-Aniwa, Am Meer, and Illusions. Some of the big girls and boys were either still out of town from the RNI or couldn’t get enough crew.
The Island Bay race was a ripper with a “gentle” southerly that dropped from 25 to around 8 knots over the day providing tight reaching conditions along the south coast and a great kite run to Number 11 at Korokoro. Swells up to three metres at the entrance combined with an in-coming ferry and out-going tanker just added a little spice to what proved an excellent day for the fleet.
Winners of the 2014 Line 7 Port Nic Regatta and PHRF National Championships