36 boats entered the Moore Wilson’s 2012 RPNYC Winter Series, and Wellington put on a spectacular sailing day for Day 1 of the series with 10 – 18 knot Northerlies helping the fleet around 4 laps of the windward leeward course in Evans Bay. 32 of the 36 entries made it to the start line for the start of race 1. The RPNYC regular racing fleet was bolstered by the addition of Shemara and Loloma, and the newest addition to the club fleet, Steve Parker and Vicki Connor’s Y88, Incantare. Four Lowry Bay boats were also warmly welcomed to the start line – regular visitors Am Meer and Testarossa being joined by True Blue and Amnesia. A general recall on the first start perhaps indicated just how keen everyone was to get back into the racing.
The action was only just starting… Nedax Racing and Clear Vision down at the pin end of the line headed in near Greta Point, tacked over, and crossed the fleet. They were overlapped with each other as they lead the fleet around the top mark the first time. However ‘The Teenagers’ on Magic Trick, popped their big yellow gennaker and soon took the lead, enjoying a nice ride down the Western Side of Evans Bay. Nedax, and then Clear Vision, then Flying Circus and finally (at the finish) Drinks Trolley each had a turn in second place on line, with the four boats swapping positions regularly.
In the middle of the fleet things were tight too. A little too tight in one instance as Floating Free and Wellington Spirit Red became literally locked in combat. The leading ‘Division 2’ boats finished very closely packed, with Gucci finishing 25 seconds ahead of Testarossa, 2 more seconds to Montego Bay III, and a further 13 seconds to 88% Proof!
Results:
Line: 1. Magic Trick, 2. Drinks Trolley, 3. Flying Circus, 4. Nedax Racing, 5. Clear Vision.
PHRF: 1. Flying Circus, 2. After Midnight, 3. Gucci, 4. Clear Vision, 5. Titus Canby
Club Handicap: 1. Gucci, 2. Flying Circus, 3. Drinks Trolley, 4. Whister III, 5. True Blue
IRC: 1. 88% Proof, 2. Whistler III.