Route 66

The race started under grey skies.

Each year there is a race run between the Richmond Yacht Club and the Onerahi Yacht Club called the Route 66. I guess its 66 miles from start to finish - but in a yacht ... not likely unless a very favourable wind was blowing ;-)

I had Kerkira ready with new jack-lines, flares and safety equipment, and a fridge full of beer (and some food).

The crew [Nicola, Tim and Ian] and I were looking forward to the challenge, which started at 3:00PM Friday under the Auckland Harbour Bridge and ended for us around 10:30AM Saturday at Marsden Point, with breakfast and prize giving at Marsden Cove Marina. However there was plenty of adventure on the way...

Quiet contemplation before the wind rises.

The start was busy with all contenders starting at the same time - somewhere in the vicinity of 25 boats including multi's, cruisers, racers and sports boats. The wind forecast was for 25 knots with gusts to 35 from the north (where we were going). We were hoping it would start going to the west so we could hold some sort of line towards our goal, and to be fair, we battened down, just about two-blocked the main, and settled in for the slog through the night. And slog it was. We always had company though, and that gave us something to measure our progress against, looking for our gain or loss at the cross.

As the night drew on the rain and wind didn't give up, pounding at us, and keeping us all busy. We all had a stint on the tiller with Ian doing his fair share and a great job of wrestling with the boat as we bucked and dived our way up the coast.

As we came into Bream Bay we seemed to be on top of our two closest rivals, so we were feeling tired but competitive.

...then about 3:30AM the headsail started flapping wildly, the furler had broken at the top and the headsail was sliding down the track, albeit slowly as there was a lot of pressure on it in the strong winds. I hooked myself on and went forward - I couldn't really make out what the problem was but could see that the sail had gone out of shape - I decided that if there had been a tear, a few turns on the furler might arrest the sail so we could continue. No - the gennaker halyard dfecided it was time to wrap itself around the top of the furler - no going in or out, and the sail flapping so much that I thought it would rip for sure. All the time it is dark, very windy, the boat charging down into the waves and we were largely out of control. Somehow I got the halyard free and wrapped the sail around the forestay. We were sailing on the main only, and trying to go to windward - not very successfully.

Sadly, we decided to turn on the motor.

The sky was getting lighter and the wind died down a little, and we had another 10 miles to go to Marsden Point - so we put a fishing line out. We got a Kingfish which we put back, a large kahawai, and a beautiful blue Albacore Tuna.

Hey its meant to be a sailing trip...

Marsden Cove awaited. A few waves and encouraging calls from boats heading back out, we berthed at A Pier and headed to the marquee, hoping for breakfast. Well breakfast was still on for us (lots of thanks for that) and we found we had more... the finishing pack (including the Appletons rum and girlie calendar), I had won a skippers spot prize of 1 months marina fees at Marsden Cove, and Nicola had won a bag of goodies in the crew spot prize - high adventure AND prizes!

Breakfast done we went back to fix the boat, and get on our way back to Auckland. The plan was to return to Kawau for the night and then on to Westhaven on Sunday. The furler was indeed broken at the top, but the sail faired well, with just a small tear at the top, so it was safe for our return trip. And off we went, leaving Ian behind to travel by car back to Auckland.

The salubrious Mr Field.

After 30 hours awake it was time for me to have a quick nap - its amazing as skipper just how that responsibility keeps you awake and alert. We had the wind behind us - but it was failing, and soon it was time to motor again, hoping to get to Mansion House Bay before dark - we arrived just on 9:00PM, however we put another 3 Albacore and one Bonito in the fridge before arriving - dinner was fish!
Get the slice about 10mm thick, the pan hot with a little oil and butter - and fry 12 seconds per side (count out loud for effect)- can't go wrong!!!

Nicola in her element.

We all slept VERY well Saturday night, floating around in Mansion House Bay, and as the morning became light, so the cool south-westerly wind set in noisely. Nicola did most of the helming down past the conservation island of Tiritiri Matangi, hard on the wind again. And then the wind freshened - I would guess to 40 knots by the state of the 'streaky' sea - and we couldn't reef our big headsail or replace it with a smaller one - it was pretty hairy, although a little better to handle in the light. We headed for the shelter of Motutapu Island where we stopped for lunch (mmm more tuna) and fishing. Nicola again showing her prowess by landing the biggest Kahawai I have ever seen.

We motored home around the inside of Rangitoto Island, home to Westhaven Marina, and eventually hot baths and soft beds - that were not on a lean or moving about.


Fantastic ;-)

Next years strategising has already started...