Photos taken Wednesday 26th

Shots from ashore last Wednesday (Thanks Bill Evans)

Lining up for the start - McLeod - Clear Vision - Future Feedback

We're OFF Clear Vision - Blackout 

Heading for the Cut

Wild Thing (Young 8.4) Clear Vision (Young 11) Blackout (Ross 914) Future Feedback (Young 11)

Clear Vision Out the Harbour in 1st place

BURNSCO SPRING SERIES Wednesday 27th November

Another breezy SW evening, a little less this week at 22-25 knots.
Crew:- Kev, Knoxy, Steve, Aaron, Jenna, Alix, Matt, Holly, Charlie.

This week we reefed the main pre start, last week we kept full main for the run up the Bolder Bank, reefing for the on wind leg back but lost too much while reefing.
From the start it was on, hard on the wind off the line, 5 of us in a line trying to climb over each other, McLeod and Blackout to weather of us, Redline, Wild Thing, to leeward, Future Feedback astern to leeward.
With a strong outgoing tide, I decided to have a go a laying the harbour entrance early, tacked onto port, cleared the sterns of McLeod and Blackout,and started gaining all the height we could.
Some shouting behind caught our attention, Redline had Wild Thing, McLeod and Blackout in his sights, the three had overlaid as we had just proved, but Redline wasn't looking for the layline, he wanted blood, Wild Thing was head to wind but no were to go, as McLeod with Blackout above charged on. Nice not to be in that battle.
The early tack had us out the entrance and on our way to the approach beacon in 1st place, the next 4 boats still sorting themselves out after their wee incident in the entrance,

At the Approach Beacon the breeze was around the 25-27 knots with some west in it so I had decided to go for the gennaka, but once on deck it was discovered it hadn't been packed. NO!
Fractional kite then? by the time they were changed we were around the Beacon heading for Boulder north, Blackout had popped a gennaka and was flying at us, they are certainly sailing well.

This wasn't a great sight from the other side either as Blackout runs us down

Finally we had a hoist and started to at least hold Blackout, now further out to sea, as we run flat to Bolder North.

Blackout dropped their gennaka before the gybe, 2 sail reaching at us on starboard, rounding only 20-30 metres ahead, Mcleod hadn't flown a kite but were 3rd round followed by Redline , Wild Thing and Future Feedback

 Wild Thing (Young 8.4) photo from Future Feedback

We were slowly making inroads on Blackout, managing to climb off him a little, but 15 minutes into the beat out to the Cardinal Mark and the breeze dropped down to 18 - 20 knots, Blackout was now quicker and we were loosing ground, we shook out the reef, which helped but we had lost some more shacking it out, and weren't making anything on them, behind McLeod was closing.

Some Division 2 traffic at the Cardinal didn't do us any favours, more ground was lost.

A tight 2 sail reach back to the entrance, McLeod was closing all the time, we were now in blocking mode forcing them below us, and bugger me they slowly moved through us, we popped the gennaka for the turn to the finish, finishing 3rd, 2 min 20 sec behind Blackout, who had sailed a faultless race, we were only 40 sec behind McLeod.

Handicaps 1st McLeod, 2nd Redline, 3rd Clear Vision
We are 2nd overall in the series with 2 to go, Redline with too many points in 1st to catch, Blackout and Future Feedback only a couple of points behind us, so a 3 way race for 2nd Overall.

AIMEX TIME TRIALS ON SUNDAY - Launch & Yachts under motor

FISHERMAN ISLAND RACE 22 November

We were due to do the Nelson - Tarakohe race Friday night but with 40 knots forecast Friday and Saturday I decided to postpone he race and race the Fisherman Island race instead, starting Saturday morning, at least there was only 25 of NW in the south end of the Bay.
We decided to change the main as we are still using the old batched de-laminating main on Wednesday nights, but with the forecast, I decided to use the Dacron cruising main, less roach and I don't shudder as much if flapping.
Crew:- Kev, Steve, Knoxy, Alix,Jenna.
11 boats fronted on the start at 10am, in light rain and a light 6-10 NE,
Wild Thing lead the way out the harbour Blackout, Kauri Ann and ourselves right behind,
We all headed out hard on the wind, Wild Thing on a Code 0 was sailing fast and low, as was Blackout, Future Feedback and ourselves had managed to climb out to weather of the rest.
The breeze went north,picking up a little so we were happy to be out there, Blackout was picking north of  the marine farms as Future Feedback and ourselves had decided, the rest were sailing free down toward the coastline to go inside the Marine farms off Motueka.
Blackout had been falling away with a code 0 so had tacked out to us, but now the breeze was dropping not freshening?
The fleet was now split, Future Feedback ourselves and Blackout out to the north looking for breeze, Wild Thing, Zenith, Jet, Kauri Ann, Redline on the coast, we were still ok, I thought, there was a wind line and sunshine out to the north.

Future Feedback was covering our every move as we tacked on some big knocks slowly heading north, every time we got close they managed to sneak away again, we but this down to our bottom not being the cleanest and the cruising main, but wait till the forecast breeze kicks in?

We were both now well ahead of Blackout who was stuck in a hole way to leeward but the boats on the coast were flying kites? I still wasn't too worried at this stage as Predictwind is usually pretty good and a 25knot NW with a nice fast kite ride home was still possible. I HOPE.

Well it wasn't happening, earlier in the race I made the statement the 2 Young 11's were in front by 3-4 pm, 3 back markers had retired, Blackout had headed way north and found some northerly to sail around us, Wild Thing still leading the rest up the coast under spinnaker, a big red ex Oldsmobile one I had lent them.
So an afternoon of light to no wind with a terrible slop, no steering at times to make matters worse.

 We finally got a light easterly and managed to fly a kite to Fisherman Island. Future Feedback was still close by so we still had someone to race. the rest apart from 1 behind the Island had rounded and heading home.
It must have taken an hour to get around the Island, finally reaching the top at 5:30pm.
Here we broke 2 records, the longest it has ever taken us and 1st time we have been last around.?
7 1/2 hours to do 18 miles

On reflection I can remember a slower one in Oldsmobile, we rounded later than this, in those days there wasn't a time limit, we pulled out in a big rain storm and no wind at 10pm, 10 minutes later a 20 knot northerly kicked in and we were charging home at 12-14 knots.

As we came out around the top Jet (Farr 1020) was sitting there, Future Feedback picked up a couple of zephyrs to park next to them, we worked a few wee zephys closer in against the Island, as we strained our eyes ahead and could just make out 3 of the 5 boats up front, 2 well out to sea and 1 on the rum line,

Two, NO, three questions!
Q 1 - Anyone keen to stay in the Park tonight?
I happened to know some of the Table of Knowledge boys were at Anchorage onboard Transition, would be a good party.
Q 2 - Out to sea?
Q3 - On the coastline
A quick check on VHF 22, Nelson = average - 27, highest gust 31, from 239 ? with only 3 1/2 hours to beat the time limit we would need it, and soon.
We headed slowly along the island in a light NE then a wee sniff of southerly and a dark line ahead, we changed to #2 and were soon hard on the wind in 27 knots trying to get inside the Farms, Future Feedback were to leeward so for the 1st time all afternoon we were not last.

The SSW kicked in at 24-27 as we staggered our way to the NW corner of the Marine farm, Future Feedback and Jet couldn't make it and had cracked sheets for the northern end.
Once at the NW corner a small bear away made life easier and faster, we were sitting on 8-10 knots in 25-31 knots. funny old day?
We reached the southern end of the farms to bear away on a course to Nelson 12 miles away but now eased enough to fly the inner staysail this took us up another knot with the breeze now down too 18-24.
The breeze slowly settled down to 15 -18 so we decided to try the gennaka, more slick work on the foredeck by Knoxy and up she went, filled and we were now carriering gennaka, #2 headsail and inner staysail, (cool) boat speed back up to 8-10 and some 11's

Gennaka - number 2 headsail inner staysail all working well

Future Feedback and Jet were now 3-4 miles back and to leeward so wouldn't be sailing as free as we were, she was a handful however all on the rail aft, Knoxy working the main, Steve on the gennaka while I had to keep he on the edge of a round up (had a few) but with main & gennaka good heavy cloth I had no fear of damaging them.

We struggled to lay Nelson most of the time but too a good a ride to worry about that now.

Approaching the finish we had a couple of big round ups trying to make the Cut so dropped the headsail, hardened up a little loosing speed but gaining height, then headed again and 2-3 knots more breeze so down gennaka up headsail.

A great ride while it lasted, we crossed the line at 2105 hours 7 1/2 hours to Fisherman, 3 1/2 home

Jet finished at 2123, Future Feedback 2327, so we did a good job in both on the way back.

Wild Thing (Young 8.4) had stolen the show, finishing at 19:07 hours, 2 hours ahead of us, Blackout 2nd finishing at 20:08, Zenith 20:12, Redline20:21

So up the coast lie payed this time? and as for Mr Predictwind & Met service, "I'm not happy".

The 4 sail reach home saved the day from being a "Bloody horror"

What about a steady 15-16 knot northerly Wednesday?

BURNSCO SPRING SERIES Race 8

This spring weather is certainly dishing up some fresh south-westerlies but Wednesday's was a good steady 30 knotter.
This was the one we were waiting for, I was anyway, a chance to pop a kite for a fast ride down the boulder bank, then a good slog home in conditions favouring the bigger heavier boats, C V?
Mistimed the start with the small (7 boat) Div 1 fleet all in front of us, as we sucked up dirty air, we picked up Future Feedback with a better lay line to the entrance,
Blackout lead out from McLoud, Redline, Wild Thing, C V, Future Feedback, Ballistic.
The reach from the harbour entrance to the Approach beacon was a procession as some of us set up downwind sails, FOR THE BIG RIDE?

We were the only Div 1 boat carrying full main so were quick on the reach but we had some catching up to do.
The run to Boulder North would be our chance, as not everyone was setting up for kites, around the beacon, pole up and hoist, we couldn't square the pole and the fractional kite was flapping and cracking, the bloody tack was hooked on the Pulpit? NO, turns out the brace is through the pulpit, Matt & Charlie try to free it but too much weight snapping at it with each crack of the kite, simple hook up the spare brace, we use for double sheet gybing in these conditions, but not run tonight?
Drop the bloody thing, no time to re-pack it so try fractional gennaka, up she went and we were off overtaking McLoud, and started catching Redline and Blackout, two wee moments 1st I fell of the helm against the lifelines pushed the tiller extension adjustment button sending C V into a potential Chinese gybe, but Knoxy saved the day by catching her in time while I regained my composure.
The next wee moment was when the mark was spotted ahead, fine in the port bow, as I looked ahead she started to round up, Knoxy on the gennaka sheet thought I was altering course for the mark until I yelled I had lost her and on our side we went.

We arrived at the mark with Redline without the "we'll show them how to fly a kite moment"in 3rd place and now had to reef for the upwind, we lost more ground slipping back to 4th as the 43 foot McLoud powered upwind loving the conditions, Future Feedback were now onto us.
Reef in we settled into the slog home, tacked onto starboard and the port car had moved back on the track now too much twist in the blade, tack back onto port just clearing Future Feedback on starboard but no closer to McLoud, Redline or Blackout.
The next tack on starboard was much better with the car reset, we got into the grove (Finally),
As a tanker was due to leave port the course was shortened to an outside finish which shortened our recovery time.
We crossed the line in 4th, 15 seconds behind Redline, with Blackout 1st, McLoud 2nd,
Future Feedback 5th

What a night? surprisingly though, we were 3rd on handicap? 1st McLoud, 2nd Redline, they both had  good races, we must have been best of the shockers?

8 of 11 races down in the series and the points are:-
Redline 25 points
Clear Vision, Future Feedback, Blackout all on 35 points

This weekends Tarakohe race cancelled due to bad forecast, we will be racing to Adel Island (20 miles) return on Saturday instead
Tarakohe rescheduled for next year now (march 21st)

BURNSCO SPRING SERIES Race 7

One of those days, the weather couldn't decide what to do, not what I wanted when deciding what courses we would use for each of the 3 divisions.
Get it right, not a lot said. Get it wrong and take the wrath of the 'hard done by'

By 5:30pm steaming out the mariner, the rain had held off, the breeze up and down 7-11 knot westerly.
Crew:- Kev, Knoxy, Steve, Alix, Jenna, Matt, Holly, Charlie, Vicky
The reach off the start and the fluky conditions had boats squirting ahead then being caught, (a raffle) best describes it?
We we 3rd into the entrance which become a beat through it tonight. Blackout, Zenith, C V in a tight wee battle up front, Wild Thing and Future Feedback close behind.
As we rounded the approach beacon for the short reach to Boulder south, Blackout  in the lead and able to fly a tight kite, C V 2nd,  Zenith, Wild Thing close by in a luffing match as the much larger Zenith tried to sail over the much smaller Wild Thing.

Around Boulder south 100 metres behind Blackout for the 2 mile beat out to the Fairway Beacon.
The breeze was now up to 8-15 knots and 10-20 degree shifts, hard work but we seemed to make the best of it with a good enough gain on Blackout to have them dip us on the 2nd cross, the left was paying off at this stage.
We had put time on Zenith, Wild Thing and Future Feedback so were quite happy as Blackout sufferers another knock having to tack on our stern 50 metres back.

Then the bloody breeze went left - left and more left, so much, Blackout was now to weather, it will go back to the right surly? NO was that answer, in-fact, as we approached the Beacon the breeze swung 20 degrees right the about 40 degrees left, we were on the wrong side of this one, now Zenith, Ballistic (who had started late) were ahead of us, they had carried the fresher, left shift from way back until back in the race.
We finally rounded the Fairway Beacon after dealing with more shifts in 5 minutes than we've seen all season?

We were meant to be having a nice kite ride an a beer back to the entrance at this stage, instead we we in a 12-17 knot SW in 4th place, tight reaching, we quickly sailed through below Ballistic into 3rd, but the 45ft Zenith with her narrow beam was loving the conditions, Blackout short but light doesn't mind reaching either, so we were all pretty much in our finishing positions.
UNLESS someone made a mistake?
Blackout luffed Zenith head to wind as Zenith tried to sail above them,
Mistake number 1, C V a little closer?
Blackout pulled away, tried to hoist a gennaka, which lay them down in a shaking - flapping stall out
Mistake number 2, C V a little closer?
Blackout regained their composure but a couple of small round ups
Mistake number 3, C V a little closer? now bow to bow and to weather.

We turned the corner in the entrance, hoisted our kite, sailed over Blackout and "HELLO" zenith just ahead gull winged genoa?
Mistake number 4, Don't blow out your best kite in Cook Srait, then return home without it.

C V - OVER THE LINE 1st place, Blackout 2nd Zenith 3rd Future Feedback 4th.

Only a 5th on handicap but 1st over the line is SO SWEET

Rotary Charity harbour race this Sunday.

CLIVE LEWIS DESIGN - Bluff to Bluff Race Sunday 9th Nov

After our lack of pace in recent races we needed to start at the bottom.
How good a job was the dock brush doing? I cleaned her bum again with the repaired brush (Thanks Knoxy) Saturday, then Knoxy dived on her for inspection and tidy up of sail drive, bulb, keel and rudder, the places the brush isn't quite up to it.

Sunday, race day, a 28 mile triangle in the bottom of the Bay.
Crew:- Kev, Knoxy, Jenna, Matt, Steve & Livy, Vicky. and Gypsy,

The sign on sheet showed, 7 POB + 1 DOG.

Gypsy look for wind shifts

The start line just outside the entrance was a little tricky with only 3-4 knots of northerly and a big 4.4 metre tide flooding across the line.

We hit the line with good pace at 2-3 knots at the top end of the line with Blackout and Xena (Young 9.9), to weather, Future Feedback to leeward, our other treat in these conditions Wild Thing (Young 8.4) way to leeward, Code 0 unrolled and moving quickly up the Bolder Bank out of the tide.

Blackout & Xena to weather just after the start

We managed to sail out from under both Blackout & Xena with better boat speed and height, Wild Thing had come up below us against the bank crossing ahead as they came out.

We stayed in, working the bank out of the tide, taking back the lead with our next cross with Wild Thing, the tide had affected them.

Blackout had done an early tack out to clearer air from Xena, Future Feedback and Geralda the Giant Slayer (Elliott 6.5) all 3 were tacking on Blackout, bouncing them out into the tide.

We did the same to Wild Thing, tacking on their nose each time, sending them on short boards out as we worked up the bank in less tide and the odd lift in the slowly building breeze.

Xena was working the Bolder Bank, that close the were almost on it but it was paying off, as they were in 3rd place, Future Feed Back 4th.

At the Glen Marine Reserve buoy , 8 miles up the bank we had a good half mile lead on Wild Thing, Future Feedback not too far behind them, followed by Xena and Blackout.

A tight kite across to the west side of the Bay to the Marpua Bluffs 12 miles away, a 3rd the way across and the breeze increasing to 8-10 we started to power up the light masthead kite, now struggling to stay high enough to lay the mark.

The sea breeze was now on it's way, time to change to either the heaver 3/4 oz masthead kite or try the gennaka - jib top - inner staysail combo? I have been waiting to try this combo since I bought C V.

All up and flying, no trouble staying up on or above course but a knot slower. Bugger.

What do we do? The wise old Fellow that hold's the steering stick decided, "NO WORRIES", the breeze was freshening, soon the 3 behind would be struggling to hold kites and we would be in the groove with our triple foresail setup.

The 2 of them got closer and closer carring the breeze to us and still holding mastheads, Wild Thing a huge gennaka, Future Feedback a kite.

AS much as I liked the look and idea of this 3 sail combo, we looked like a Volvo 65 in slow motion I thought? but we had been caught up, hoist the fractional, Wild thing took the lead, Future Feedback now level to leeward.

For some reason Wild Thing was high on the mark and now running low & slow, we were approaching the Mapua mark together, much discussion on the next setup for the tight reach home? Large tiptop and inner staysail, the decision,

The plan the kite brace becomes the jib top sheet, we need to get rid of the pole, the staysail needs to be gybed and oh the kite needs to come down, easy, and all this with an audience, the two other boats.

We run to the mark side by side with Future Feedback, they dropped their kite 1st, got their pole off and ready to gybe, our plan, get the pole off, fly the kite without the pole, to the mark drop the kite, Matt on the foredeck would ping the kite (normally we run it), hook the brace to the jib top as the sheet, hoist the jib top, as the kite was being retrieved. a busy time for all, and a cock up waiting to happen?

Wild Thing got around the mark 1st, we gybed across Future Feedback's bow on port, but they were slow running flat to the mark with the early but orderly kite drop.

The C V crew went into action, as planned, beautiful to watch, around the mark in 2nd all set up for the 8 mile tight reach to the finish.

                                     

                Mapua mark rounded, rift of photo, just the staysail to sheet in, then off to the finish

Everything sheeted and drawing we pulled in Wild Thing, taking back the lead, at the finish only a minute or so between each boat, C V 1st, Future Feedback 2nd Wild Thing 3rd, Blackout 4th, 5 minutes back.

Prize giving sounded like a Jim Young benefit race. Young 11's 1st and 2nd, Young 8.4 3rd and Young 9.9 Xena 1st on handicap. - Well done Jim, 

Thanks Knoxy for the bottom clean

Im feeling much better than I have the last couple of weeks, much more fun up front!

BURNSCO SPRING SERIES Race 6

Fresh gusty easterlies all day, I hate easterlies.
My pre race chores didn't go well, clean bottom with dock brush, starboard side done, with the gusty wind I decided not to turn C V around on my own fearing and knowing another gust would come through at the wrong time.
Mitchell & Vicky turned up just after 4pm to help, so turned her around and started to clean port side then the bloody brush broke? Have to set a course tonight with all port tacks?

Vicky & Mitchell ??? Vicky is the Spanish girl we bumped into while in Vanuatu, she had sailed up on a Cat from Aussie, met the Dream team aboard Bloomers, decided we were more fun than the owner/skipper she was with and jumped ship.
They arrived in Nelson Monday to see what sort of town breeds crew like "The Dream Team".

Crew:- Kev, Steve, Knoxy, Alix, Jenna, Charlie, Vicky & Mitchell

The easterly was up and down but we went for the No 1 headsail, off the wind start, then a reach up the  Bolder bank to the top mark.
The middle of the line looked the spot to start until 30 seconds to go then the right had breeze? we were left with very little, again, we were left behind with Blackout as company this time, although worse off, than us.

We all bunched up again at the Entrance so back in the mix, the back end at least.
A tight reach up to the top, quite a few gusts causing the odd round up, no passing lanes

McLoud (Spencer  42) Out for the 1st time with re-feared keel and new anti-foul, lead all the way to Boulder north ahead of Ballistic, Future Feedback, Wild Thing, C V, Red Line, Blackout, Smak.

We had a kite ready at the top, as the course I picked out to the Cardinal and back next. I THOUGHT? However the front runners were heading home? I had text the courses for the night to the start box, but the wrong ones?
Stupid old fool, then to top things off the next mark was Boulder middle which was missing? what a night???
However, Jim back in the start box had been informed and re directed Div 1 & 2 in the form off a shortened course, i.e. straight home, we just hadn't heard the radio chatter? It was off.

We got onto Wild Thing's transom on the way home managing to poke ourselves up inside as we hardened up for the beat through the entrance, we had a good couple of tacks to the line almost picking up Ballistic on the line.

Another average night, the bottom is starting to effect us, I need my A into G and re anti- foul.

So, On line - McLoud, Future Feedback, Ballistic, Clear Vision, Wild Thing, Blackout, Redline, Smack.
Handicap - McLoud. - C V 7th, Blackout 8th not good.

Next race Clive Lewis Design Bluff to Bluff Sunday