R4: Back on the Waitemata

We missed two races due to the new engine build and me disappearing off to Asia for two weeks - anyway, we were back with avengeance! And wind there was! We enjoyed a lumpy but well-powered ride with the wind in the reaching low 20 knots and our top speed over 10 knots [GPS]. It was not a huge course, but upwind on the way back - yet we arrived home in the light.

The Crew

John (Captain), Dave, Ian, Mark and Nick. New crewmate Marcelo unable to make it out this week.

Course 9

From the start line to Rough Rock Buoy (S), Orakei Buoy (S), Resolution Buoy (S),  to the finish line, 8.9NM. A huge tidegoing in the right direction, luckily, both for the start and the finish (3.6M), lots of wind starting Westerly and going Northwest.

The Start

Hit the start at speed however we were 2 minutes late as we had been up-harbour and got a bit distracted. Probably a good thing as we would have shredded the handicap even further :-)

Progress

Charged off down the harbour - playing a bit of catchup, and really didn't lose touch with our division - it felt very good. I was asked if we had a reef in as the conditions were quite windy - no, of course we didn't!

Result

Yes, a win on handicap by almost 2 minutes - what a little wind will do for us!. We also picked up the crew prize and a spot prize! We had a very good night!

Beverage Report

Nick conjured up his Coopers Real Ale which went down very nicely. We were unsure of the alcohol percentage - a bit of a hit esp in the Grolsh Swingtop bottles - waiting for Dave's next batch to compare craftmanship. I moved onto a Dead Canary which is a Pale Ale with a malty base - very nice, and a Tuatara or two were consumed by the crew on the bumps and many-tacks of the ride home. I have just installed a new electric fridge however the bucket-of-ice method works extremely well in getting the beverages to the correct temperature.

---

Cheers, johnhs