Category 3 gear all off, C V dried out and tidy ready for 3 round the cans races starting 11;30 am
Crew :- Kev, Patrick, Knoxy, Jenna, Alix, Matt, Charlie. Steve had rung in sick,
Race 1 - 8 - 10 knot Northerly
We started at the pin end, but arrived a little early having to slow up then head to wind to miss the pin end mark meant we were slow off the start and a lot of work to do. No Nedax Racing this years so no agro at the pin end. Tony's favourite spot! 2nd around the top mark in a bunch of hot Ross 930's, Future Feedback the other Young 11in front, we moved away from the 930's on the run and gained a little on Future Feedback.
We held 2nd for the rest of the race gaining a little to Future Feedback, but as we were scratch boat on a .846 handicap only a 9th on handicap.
Race 2 - 10 - 12 knot northerly.
We were sure the breeze would kick in to a 15-16 knot sea breeze so changed to No 2 headsail, Future Feedback stayed on a No 1, this would be interesting?
A better start this time, a lot of traffic on the 1st beat but made it to the top in 1st place, just, a lot of boats including Future Feedback on our tail, we were opening out on the kite runs which was nice.
Our 1st gun of the regatta and a 3rd on handicap, much better.
Race 3 - 12-13 it still hadn't build but we stared with our No2
A good start this time and lead all the way opening up a big lead, a race were everything went right, but another 3rd on handicap, turned out Marcus (Lidgaurd 35) and Non Stop (Young 9.9) hand enjoyed the conditions and both on low handicaps.
A good day, 2 Guns and a 2nd
Back at prize giving and another night of parting we were pretty happy with our result, well worth the shitty Cook Strait crossing to get back to this.
Day 2 - Race 4 - Nelson - Torrent Bay.
A couple of crew changes the long races up the park, Patrick & Alix back to work, Steve still sick, I managed to talk Holly McKee and friend Nichole into joining us.
Both Divisions (36 boats) on a mass start line for this one, the pin end was the end again but with a lot of boats heading down there I decided to go Committee boat end, we were well to weather, should get the breeze first and we would all need height to clear the Aqua farms once the sea breeze kicked in.
IT DIDN'T, We started in 10-12 which dyed away to nothing, then a bit of everything, we had kites, jib tops inner staysail?
We wriggled along best we could surrounded by 30 footers sporting see through Code 0's, even Non Stop had a 0 that sheeted back to the quarter, Wild Thing, Airship and ourselves had a slight gap back to Non Stop Future Feedback, Oldsmobile etc.
The R O shortened course, finishing us off Fisherman Island fearing the Anchorage party would be late starting. Good call Jim
Wild Thing took the gun, Airship the highly modified 930 sporting a new wardrobe and the sailmaker, just pipped us in 2nd, Non Stop 4th, Future Feedback 5th. 7th on handicap for us was't bad considering the drifting conditions.
We all motored to Anchorage (Torrent Bay) for another big night, Wild Thing and Oldsmobile rafted up each side of C V which ended on the Shot Hook making an appearance yet again, the Wild Thing crew doing a great job filling in for Nedax Racing in their absence,
Anchorage Raft up and party under way
Day 3 - Race 5 - Torrent Bay - Tonga Island
This one is a short head clearer in light fluky air. no exception this year, Non Stop had a good run close inshore in the light NE, we went up the middle but seamed to suffer more that those outside us, Future Feedback had us until close to the finish where we were able to sail under them and pip them on the line.
Non Stop, Testarossa (Ross 930), Wild Thing, C V, Future Feedback, 10th on handicap.
Day 3 - Race 6 Tonga Island - Tarakohe
Still very light for this one, the sea breeze must come as it was already bloody hot, Local knowledge again I went out, Wild Thing and Testarossa stayed inshore, and sailed away from the fleet, Testarrossa with a big lead at Separation Point.
We finally started to get some sea breeze as we turned into Golden Bay, but for us the damage was done, too many miles traveled and code 0's loving it.
Finishing order - Testarossa, Non Stop, Ballistic (Ross 930), Future Feedback, Wild Thing, C V.
12th on handicap
Alan Kilgour the port manager was doing a great job fitting 36 boats into Tarakohe Harbour, but I was happy to anchor off the Yacht club and have another raft up, silly me.
Tarakohe raft up off Pohara boat club
Their off
Whoops
Just finish my beer until the rescue boat turns up
A big hit again this year was the Opti racing, each boat must enter a crew member, we 6 Opti's 6 heats then into the final.
Our own Holly McKee taking out the final for team C V, Jamie didn't enter this year, but with a little more breeze this year there was more than one capsize. (The sea breeze came along after the race finished)
Clive adjusting water ballast
Then another huge night a Pohara Boat Club, the locals but on another great meal and night again this year.
Day 4 - Race 7 Tarakohe - Nelson.
Some sore heads out there on this start, including me,
We started in a nice 11-12 knot Easterly, but once around Separation Point and into Tasman Bay it got lighter and lighter, hotter and hotter, not god for hangovers.
Wild Thing again worked the coastline, I again went out to meet the breeze, eventually it came around 1pm but the race was shortened and finished half way home at Pitt head as by now there was a big split in the field with some boats at risk of running out of time.
Wild Thing took another Gun C V 2nd, Non Stop 3rd, Testarossa, Oldsmobile.
8th on handicap.
Another Regatta over, a lot of sunburnt and hungover bodies back in Nelson that night.
Overall we faired pretty well considering the light airs.
5th overall behind 2015 winner, Non Stop (Waikawa/TBCC, 2nd Airship (RPNYC), Wild Thing (TBCC), Testarrossa (RPNYC), Clear Vision (TBCC)
Jim Young designs 1, 3, 5. Ross 930's 2nd, 4th.
See you all next year, Next Regatta Feb 6th Trailer Yachts at Lake Brunner regatta West Coast.
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