Richmond Summer Series Race 11: Home alone

Just two races left in the Summer Series 2011 - 2012 season.

The Race Card - 11/12

The Crew

John (Captain) Ian, and Mark and Dave.

Course 8

The loop around Rough Rock, Bean Rock Buoy, Resolution and home.

The Start

We got into the start area in good time and patrolled slowly on port down the line, electing to start down the line so as to avoid a lightening Nor'easterly and being held up past Devonport.

Progress

We started well, and stayed in the outgoing tide rather than head for the wharves. That was a good idea as we stuck with the fleet and hung onto a couple of the Townsons who were being disrupted by the wind shadow off Devonport. Up to Rough Rock, and then, with the wind dropping, back straight downwind to Bean Rock. That was it for us... our speed dropped to 3 knots as we tried in vain to get a bit of trim. We watched Peppermint Planet go very deep, looking to sail the angles - perhaps we should have tried that. Once around the corner and heading to Resolution we got our legs back, and caught up a bit to Nevenka, finally coming in about 15 minutes later. We actually thought that the race committee had gone home when we arrived, so we took our time from the GPS. They were spot on - I guess they knew it was us bringing up the rear.

The Result

No prizes at the club this week, although I did get to go downstairs and see the wonderful space down there... great place for a mad scientist's lab.

cheers, johnhs

Richmond Summer Series Race 10: Long Way Round

Oh I really needed to go sailing tonight!.

space waiting for the course kml screenshot from Ian

The Crew

John (Captain) Ian, and Mark - Dave gave his apologies.

Course 9

The loop around Rough Rock, Orakei, Resolution and home.

The Start

We were right there at the start tonight, rearing to go - on starboard and bearing away to go down wind for the start. The wind was behind us and we got the pole going to goose-wing down the harbour.

Progress

Down the harbour, with not alot of tide running, but enough to favour the centre of the channel. We were goose-wing on starboard, with a gybe just before North Head. We stayed very busy with tacks back up the harbour, although the tide had turned so we had no penalty with long tacks.

The Result

Peter said it all "Every time a coconut - yes, Ian won a prize on behalf of the crew back at the club - beer!!.

We were looking forward to a two handed run up to Marsden Cove in the Route 66, but I couldn't make it, so Ian went up on Peppermint Planet - cheers, johnhs

Richmond Summer Series Race 9: Long Way Round

It certainly seemed like the long way round, with the wind dying off, the course was shortened.

Ian and Dave tidy up on the way home.

The Crew

John (Captain) Ian, and Dave.

Course 7

We like this course, but with a bit more wind thank-you...Down to North Head, back to Orakei, North Head, Orakei, Resolution and home. The wind didn't come out to play, and we stopped at Resolution.

The Start

We started OK, coming down the line on Starboard and then bearing away to the start. The wind wasn't great - but as usual it was a fantastic night on the harbour.

Progress

Off we went, trying to stay with the fleet as we headed down the harbour. To be fair at this stage there was about 10 knots, however we were reduced to a boat-speed around 2 knots at one stage, trying to make the best of the light wind and a fight with the outgoing tide.

The Result

Well - I can report that we did win the Skippers prize - $50 insurance voucher - very nice, thanks Mariner.

johnhs

Richmond Summer Series Race 8: High Temperature

Yes, high temperatures - of the squealing thermostat kind... An interesting start to the evening for Race 8 of the Richmond Yacht Club Summer Series Wednesday Night racing - we were lucky to make it to the start. It appears there was a blockage in the cooling system, and it caused the thermostat to alarm. We pulled up alongside one of the piers and diagnosed the problem, got it sorted and continued on -

Auckland City like a battleship on the horizon. The evening was a bit cloudy, with periods of sun - and a 5-10 knot SW wind.

The Crew

John (Captain) Ian, and Dave, and new recruit SamHS - Mark had the night off.

Course 9

Down to Rough Rock Buoy (which was now in place - not like last week when it was non-existant), Orakei, Resolution and home, against a reasonably strong outgoing tide.

The Start

With our late arrival to the course, we went straight into the box. A slow ride down the line on starboard - but with the tide taking us sideways, we opted to tack back to run the other way - on port haha! All good though, and we got away in the middle of the fleet.

Progress

The course was pretty straight forward - a big loop - we had a good race, hoping to hold on back up the channel to the finish-line, but had to tack up near the bridge as the wind wavered S and SW sometimes giving us hope, and then knocking us north.

The Result

Well it was back to the clubhouse and a cold beer and hot burger - always welcomed! And also welcome was a 3rd on handicap. I must say that although our tacks were a bit rusty - the crew 'sailed' the whole race, being very attentive to the conditions - so well done.

johnhs

Always check the number - it can change

We sailed with Mark, his brother-in-law Peter and his 13yr son Isaac.

It was a lovely night on the water – however there was some drama and we RAF (had to withdraw)! The course was course 8 when we went out – but because lots of the buoys have been lost over Xmas, there wasn’t a course that suited everyone – so Richmond changed our course to 7 following the start of the divn before us… so we sailed the wrong course. I had no idea that they COULD change the course like that – live and learn – needless to say, we aren’t the only ones… Next time we will be checking as we go over the line! ;-) cheers, johnhs

Richmond Summer Series 2011 Race 6: Last for 2011

After last weeks long sail into oblivion (according to the scorecard) we were focussed on getting home well tonight, and well inside the 9:00PM cut-off that foiled our plans of conquest on our last run.

Here is the track for the evening - thanks to Dave and his Android.

The Crew

John (Captain) Ian, and Dave, - Mark was stuck in traffic and made it to Westhaven just before 6:00PM however we left Westhaven at 5:45PM... sorry Mark - meet the joys of Auckland traffic!

Course 7

A great course. Down the harbour to North Head, back to Orakei, back around North Head, Orakei again, Resolution and home to the finish. This is a good course because as the fleet doubles back on itself, there is plenty of interaction... and for us, lots more time sailing in the fleet.

The Start

Having left a little later than usual we made a quick visit up under the Harbour Bridge, put sails up, and headed for the start line. Timing was good, and we crossed with the fleet.

Progress

The track above tells the story - down the harbour on a starboard goose-wing until Torpedo when we gybed. The wind was steady approx 15 knots until we came to round Orakei for the second time and then the wind turned, fluttered, petered, switched and generally went round in circles. It took some time to gather itself again, leaving the slowest boat in the fleet, no wind, with the outgoing tide strengthening - nothing like a challenge!

We headed out into the middle to find some breeze and managed to hang on to the edge of it, while trying to stay off the channel (and current). Then around Resolution, across the harbour, with an extra tack to avoid a freighter (502 tonnes?? - he wasn't stopping anyway...).

With a westerly wind we tacked up the harbour and finished.

The Result

Back to the Richmond Yacht Club clubhouse for burgers and beer - as Dave said "It would be rude not to...". Dave was triumphant at the spot prize, winning some beer to cap off a great evening.

Next sailing Wednesday is January 18th 2012.

Richmond Summer Series 2011 Race 5: Long Night

Looking forward to keeping all crew on-board, we headed out on quite a blustery evening on the Waitemata Harbour, in the Richmond Wednesday night Summer Series.

The Crew

John (Captain)and Ian, Mark, and introducing Dave, who got a fairly hairy start to his crewing on-board Kerkira. Welcome Dave!

Course 4

With a healthy Norwesterly breeze we headed down the harbour to Resolution, down to Leading Light Buoy, Rough Rock, Orakei, Stanley Point and then home. Along with the wind advisory was quite a decent out-going tide - so coming back up the harbour was always going to be a slog.

The Start

After heading up under the Harbour Bridge to practise out tacking and getting the new crew familiar with working together, we headed down to the start and arrived on time. With an out-going tide and strong wind in the same direction, it was always going to be straight down the middle.

Progress

We stayed pretty close to the fleet down-wind and in the reaches, but struggled coming back up the harbour against the elements. Still, we felt we were doing a reasonable job of it, maximising the gusts and trying to stay out of the tide as mush as we could.

There was the 9:00PM cut-off looming, and we had the bit between our teeth to make sure we put points on the board for the night. Sadly... we must have been seconds over, as the result shows we were DNF. Not a wasted night however, its always good to be sailing!!!

The Result

DNF... well, it happens - maybe I need a decent up-wind sail...?? ;-)

Postscript: After beers, burgers and talk, Mark managed to break off the key to his bike lock and had to taxi home.