Richmond Summer Series: Race 6 Merry Christmas

We headed out onto the harbour to uphold our honour... this week there was no freshening-breeze-coupled-with-shortened-race excuses. Well we sailed our marks well, and there was a very nice breeze to go with it - just a couple of large ships thrown into the mix to make things interesting.
1st on handicap for the second race in a row - well done guys!! Our Christmas present came early this year ;-)

Another Race Win

Yes, after a run up the harbour and a couple of practice tacks-and-gybes we headed down to the starting box with high expectations, knowing that we can compete (at least on handicap) with the E division fleet.

The Crew

John (Captain),Ian, Blair and Paul who joined us specially from the UK.
We met Paul down at our last trackday at Hampton Downs where he too was hiring one of the Ridedays GSXR 600's. Nicola was away sick and Tim, although back from the US was not available.

Course 3

A new buoy on this track saw us heading down to Bean Rock Buoy, up to Rough Rock Buoy, back to Orakei and home, with a SW wind 10-15 knots. The course was intercepted by two ships - the Sun Princess a cruise ship and a large container ship - both huge slabs of dead air if you are on the wrong side of them.

The Start

We started pretty well - in the fleet and heading up to the northern track down past the naval base and Devonport Wharf. With an incoming tide and the SE wind we decided that was the best approach, even through the Western Wall was the preferred end.

Progress

Once underway we headed on a course that was pretty much on the mark (Bean Rock Buoy) although it was too far away to see. Then the Sun Princess appeard out of Princess Wharf. We passed by and decided to harden up a bit (thats what she said - Michael Scott) and go above the cruise ship so we wouldn't have to worry about the loss of wind or the fact that we needed to cross the channel to Rough Rock Buoy. All good. Then the second ship came out. We had to go deeper than we had planned with the container ship taking us down the harbour - but once passed we headed for the mark - hoping to beat Pott Black who had been diverted quite a way off their course. Rounding Rough Rock Buoy we made our run at Orakei - tacking near the Tamaki Yatch Club and just making our mark. We were making up to 8.2 knots on the way home (by GPS with tide) and were so intent on getting our time we didn't even take the top off a beer until we crossed the finish. Then it was Epic Pale Ale all round ;-) Not sure what Paul said after his first mouthful of Epic - possible he meant "by joves there's a hop or two in there - what an engaging flavour". It sounded a bit more like a drowning swimmer coming up for air... we will convert him... we will!

The Result

Numbawan. Yes again first on handicap.



Repeating last week...the result at the Clubhouse - AWESOME.

First on handicap and I also got a spot prize and took home 4 x beers.

Cheers and Merry Christmas
JohnHS