R12: Kerkira takes E Division Series win

A second on the night meant that the Series win was ours! Fantastic to get Kerkira onto the winners board.

The Crew

John (Captain), Ian, Dave, and Mark, and introducing Katrina, our lucky charm!

Course 8

From the start line to Rough Rock Buoy (S), Bean Rock Buoy (S), Resolution Buoy (S), to the finish line. 9.3 NM

The Start

One of our better starts, with speed on and good position. Taking a bit easy - we need to finish well too!

Progress

A good course tonight that will give the race committee the chance to do the night and series race results by 9:30PM. We hit marks well - well we missed them - but only just... Tonight we trimmed and trimmed to get the best possible score as we were only leading by 2 points and needed to do well as last week we did not finish before the cut-off time. A good sail with a couple of nice beers along the way.

The Result

We made up two more points, finishing the night with a second on handicap, and taking the series by four points.

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cheers, a fantastic result for a great year or sailing! johnhs

R11:DNF but still 2 points ahead

We started tonight ahead on Series points, and then throw in a dnf! The wind was dying and we just could not make it to Resolution buoy before the cut-off. About 10 mins away.

Results

R10: Wednesday Night Racing

Results

R9:Wednesday Night Racing

R8: Wednesday Night Racing

Results

R7: Close to Buoys

First of the new year and wind looking like it had left us. But it stayed on, albeit light, and gave us a great night.

The Crew

John (Captain), Ian, Dave, Mark and Nick. A couple of lovely Stoke ales accompanied us out, but did not return.

Course 16

From the start line to Torpedo Buoy (S), Resolution Buoy (S), Bayswater Buoy (P), Westhaven Buoy (S), Stanley Buoy (S), to the finish line. 8.1 NM

The Start

We were early to the line and lost momentum. Bugger, it felt like we would be right there, but had to do a spin round. Not last over but not our best start by any means.

Progress

The light breeze had us going down the harbour at a good pace, with the outgoing tide helping. The bottom half of the course was good and we stayed with our competition. After rounding Resolution and heading back, we got overtaken as we tried to find some breeze further out in the harbour. Bayswater to Westhaven was a good reach, probably the best angle on the wind for us.

The Result

I think the reaching light wind favoured the lighter displacement and narrower boats and we came in 6th on handicap, breaking our run of podium finishes for the series.

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cheers, johnhs

R6: Last for 2014

Our last run for the year, and the windy weather continues! All good for a great evening on the harbour.

The Crew

John (Captain), Ian, Dave, and Mark.

Course 14

From the start line to Northern Leading Buoy (P), Rangitoto Buoy (P), 10.5 Resolution Buoy (S), to the finish line. 10.5 NM

The Start

Not a bad start, with some speed on. Getting better at hitting the line on time.

Progress

Down the harbour for the 'long haul' down to Northern Leading and Rangitoto buoys. Good wind contunies so we were able to stay in touch with the rest of the division. No direct competition this week, so we were concentrating on getting the best time and marks we could. All marks were good for the wind direction and we averaged 6 knots with again a high of 9 knots. Of course this was also good wind for everyone else... so we were trying to be as economical as possible to stay somewhere in the placings.

The Result

We maintained a good position, getting a 2nd on handicap. Well done for the year, I'm sure the handicapper is looking at us!!

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cheers, Merry Christmas, and all the best for the New Year. johnhs

R5: Summer is back

After missing the last week which was abandoned due to the high winds, we arrived at the boat aching to get out on the water. It had been a month since we were last out. The wind was light and we were hoping it would hang on for us. It did, and we had a fantastic evening sail. We didn't even have to put the nav lights on.

The Crew

John (Captain), Ian, Dave, and Mark.

Course 8

From the start line to Rough Rock Buoy (S), Bean Rock Buoy (S), Resolution Buoy (S), to the finish line. 9.3 NM

The Start

We were just a wee bit early so lost a bit of momentum on the line, but not a bad start.

Progress

Once we were under way we cracked a beer and trimmed for Rough Rock - familiar. The wind was not great but steady and we held on from the back as we made our way down the harbour to our first mark. A bit of goose-wing to the mark, and then round. And then headsail wrap... not too bad but let U-Choose go past. Now we were last in line, and struggling to stay high enough to pass the Bean Rock light-house. Around the buoy and heading up to Resolution, not quite able to make the mark, but good tacks ensured we didn't slip any further. The sail back up the harbour was just off the wind and we hit 9 knots, and happily had a Tuatara APA to celebrate.

The Beer

We enjoyed a nice Tuatara APA (Aotearoa Pale Ale). Nice choice Mark, well done!

The Result

Our top speed was again 9 knots, and average 5.6 knots. We still managed a second place, as our handicap continues to rise. We did have a little bit more in us, so all good for next week :-)

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cheers and all the best, johnhs

R4: Abandoned

Racing abandoned due to no wind.

R3: You want wind - you got wind!

It seemed like it was going to be a rainy wind night - well the rain held off until a last gasp full on squall and the wind was 15-30 knots. We were prepared, but still ended up getting wet and for me, having wet jeans for the remainder of the evening. On checking the mainsheet after the race we discovered that one of the blocks had blown apart in the high wind conditions.

The Crew

John (Captain), Ian, Dave, - apologies from Rob and Mark.

Course 13

From the start line to Rough Rock Buoy (S), Northern Leading Buoy (S), Resolution Buoy (S), to the finish line. 10.3 NM

The Start

We screwed our start after a good attempt at being on-speed on-the-line but we threw in a wine-glass headsail to give the others a chance…

Progress

Once we were under way we cracked a beer and trimmed the downwind leg to Rough Rock. All marks made well – if we had of left North Head alone we would have done even better. One and a half minutes win on handicap, so still a bit of room. On the way from Viaduct Harbour to the line the squall hit and the rain pounded us. We hung on and the line was a great place to be ;-)

The Beer

We enjoyed a nice Tuatara Pilsner.

The Result

Our top speed was 9 knots, and average 6.2 knots. Our handicap increased to .617 this week, and we still hung onto first place. Well done the crew, and the Capt :-)

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cheers and all the best, johnhs

R2: Flat water, nice breeze

A beautiful evening on the water, a nice breeze, a few mates and a beer or two. That is Wednesday night sailing at its best :-) including the first place on handicap!

The Crew

John (Captain), Ian, Dave and Rob, a new and valuable crew addition as he learns our tricks before he takes us on on his Lotus 9.2 Minos.

Course 8

From the start line to Rough Rock Buoy (S), Bean Rock Buoy (S), Resolution Buoy (S), to the finish line. 9.3 NM

The Start

A good start, hitting the line at speed.

Progress

A nice breeze around 10 knots had us down the harbour at a good pace, and according to the GPS max speed was 9.2 knots. The first mark was Rough Rock, and we approached going downwind with goose-wing. Trouble was it was going to be 7:00PM right at the mark, which is the time my Virtual Volvo race has its weather update, and I was expecting a tack. Nothing for it but to tack a minute early (virtual) so that I could do the real tack around the mark. We made all our marks, including a long go/nogo to Resolution - but we made it around in one. A few zero wind holes coming back, but all in all a three beer race.

The Beer

We enjoyed a Hoegaarden, Heineken and an Epic Pale Ale.

The Result

Handicap increased to .610 this week, and we still hung onto first place. Well done the crew, and the Capt :-)

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cheers and all the best, johnhs

R1: Starting Richmond summer with a win!

The start of a new session, with a late incoming tide and some wind! We would be home for burgers tonight!! I had the genoa repaired and it made it to the boat late Wednesday afternoon - just in time ;-) Thanks to Lidgard sails for the repair.

The Crew

John (Captain), Ian and Dave.

Course 15

From the start line to North Head Buoy (S), Bean Rock Buoy (S), Torpedo Buoy (P), Resolution Buoy (S), Bayswater Buoy (P), to the finish line. 10.5NM

The Start

A good start, right in the fleet, with boats getting close for the first start of the Wednesday night season.

Progress

The breeze was from the West and we had a goose-wing down the harbour. We found out we didn't have a topping lift on the pole, so Ian provided the support necessary to get the genoa flying well. We had a bit of a duel with U-Choose down the harbour, managing to round the first mark ahead, however they climbed higher and passed us down to Bean Rock. A great night, with the wind staying around to help get us home for tea.

The Beer

We enjoyed a Liberty Halo Pilsner, a very nice reward to go with a great sail.

The Result

Our handicap brought us home in 1st place tonight, with a CRC voucher going my way, and 6 bottles of beer to Dave. A good night all round.

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cheers and all the best, johnhs