Richmond Summer Series: Race 12 - The Final

I used to look down from the Auckland Harbour Bridge on a Wednesday night and wonder about the vast fleets of yachts racing up and down the harbour, most often thinking how nice it would be to be down there on the water either improving the sailing or perhaps just sailing up and down with some cold beer and a few friends.


Our starts and finishes are under the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Now of course, we have completed our second year of Wednesday night sailing on Kerkira, a Lotus 9.2 with the Richmond Yacht Club.

The Crew

John (Captain), Nicola, Tim, Ian and Blair. Mark was coming but the traffic battle finally won and we had to leave the marina before he arrived - very sad indeed. With the final this week, we were all very keen to get out on the water and see what we could do to get a good series placing.


Seen: John, Blair and Tim. Unseen: Nicola taking the picture and Ian directing us through traffic on the bow.

Course 10

This was a different course, which had us going down to Resolution and then back up under the Harbour Bridge to Chelsea, back again to Bayswater and then home to the finish. A great course with lots of company as we went up and down the harbour.

The Start

We have been very aware of our starts, and have concentrated each week on improvement. This week we were nicely in the box and well timed to get to the line. We didn't count on getting in a Townson 'sandwhich' and having ourselves bullied into irons - from hero to zero - we were dead in the water. We managed to get moving again and weren't last over the line, but so slow - I should have done some shouting... you never know.

Progress

The wind was from the south, and so we were able to ride down the harbour in the outgoing tide quite nicely, and caught back up with the fleet down towards the bottom of the Ports of Auckland area and to Resolution Buoy. We had by this time also caught Blackstar, and as physics would have it, could not pass them on the leeward side, so headed up-wind - only to come very close to the larger boats coming back west. We did finally get past before the mark, and then did all the trimming and adjusting possible to get our speed up and get away cleanly back to Chelsea. The tide was running reasonably strongly now so most boats headed in close to the wharves, and into a hole... we saw it before it was too late and continued a bit further out, where the effect of the outgoing tide was set against a better angle of sailing and more wind. We pulled away.


Auckland City was pink in the evening sky.

Coming back down the harbour and into the fading light we passed Blackstar and Pott Black (the series winner) coming up. We rounded Bayswater and headed for home - there was a guy fishing, who had tied off the racing buoy. We went quite close to the buoy (as you do) and could see him clutching the sides of the dinghy rather than a fishing rod ;-)

The Result

We came 5th on the night and 4th overall in the series - a very good result - the 3rd place just alluding us. Our sailing has improved immensely and so has our enjoyment. Thanks to everyone involved - the Richmond Yacht Club race control, the handicapper (cheque is in the mail), all the skippers and crews that have taken part in our Wednesday night obsession - and of course the fantastic crew onboard Kerkira!

And not to be disappointed at the clubrooms - Ian took away a pack of beer in the spot prizes.


The bridge looking beautiful in the last rays.

Thank you Nicola for all of the fantastic images you have captured - a great gallery and record of Kerkira racing on Auckland Harbour.

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JohnHS

Richmond Summer Series: Race 11 1st on Handicap

Following the Route 66 outing, with sail fixed by Rick Royden, we headed out on a beautiful evening, wondering if there was going to be enough wind.


The sky stayed clear and we sailed into the sunset to a podium finish.

The Crew

John (Captain), Tim, Ian and (guest sailor) Mark.
All boy crew tonight, a little more sailor talk and a bit of giggling about going hard and Ian's pole etc...

Course 9

The course was down to Rough Rock Buoy, back to Orakei, Resolution and home. The wind was northerly with a hint of east - a good wind direction for us, as shown by the results!

The Start

We headed out a bit later than normal and headed up under the Harbour Bridge to hoist the sails. The furler is still broken, so the headsail had to be raised, not just unfurled. As we didn't have so much time to practise our tacks we headed east as far as we dared and turned back to be in the box for the start. We were a fair amount slower heading against the tide back to the starting line, and we were definitely worried that we were going to be late. However, as it happens we were spot on, on starboard and right there for the gun. Actually there wasn't a gun - we should have been watching the flag! All good though, we had some speed and we crossed with the fleet, with a couple behind.

Progress

We made the best of the tide, and tried to keep a good heading without going too high, so we kept good speed going down the harbour, and reasonable position, keeping clear of the slack wind behind North Head. Tacking and up the channel towards the next tack that would take us to Rough Rock - we over did it, learning from last week - but overdoing it a bit. It meant we had a flier across the channel towards the mark.

Flat off to Orakei, with the pole in place and crew looking for any improvements possible to move us along. We were bang on Orakei and then resumed the beam reach, which certainly suits us.

Time for a beer ;-)

We arrived at the finish, still tweaking and eking out the last speed we could.

The Result

We were 1st on handicap - !

Oh and the skippers prize from Safety At Sea - to fix Ian's inflated lifejacket and a kit for mine. Very good.

Oh and a great burger at the clubhouse too.

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JohnHS

Richmond Summer Series: Race 8 The Washing Machine

The wind was up, against the tide, and the region around the Auckland Harbour Bridge was like a washing machine! Later on Auckland turned on a great sail back home, even producing a cruise ship - which didn't get in our way (as per usual).


You can also see the winch handle which was a Christmas present for the boat from Ian - so a handle on each side - very nice, thanks Ian.

The Crew

John (Captain), Nicola, Tim and Ian.
After a few days where the weather had been a bit grey and nasty, there started to emerge some fine stuff again - with a nice Westerly wind to match. With the wind against tide however, we had a real churning sea around the Bridge - and coupled with a good sized fleet, made the area around the start box entry rather challenging.

Course 12

The Westerly had us down the harbour to a laid buoy at Devonport to Rough Rock, up to Orakei and home. We were flat off a couple of times with the wind going a bit South giving us a better than expected ride home (although a bit wet for some on the rail - Tim).

The Start

We were up the harbour trying to get ourselves together, and ran out of time for a 'timed-run' on the line. We hit the starting box a little late, and didn't cross the line for 90 secs after the gun - terrible - but there were boats behind us. We said at the time we were being careful, but really we should have been there - as Nicola had been saying 10 minutes before.

Progress

We decided on the North side of the harbour run down to Devonport. Overall just hanging with the fleet. We had Blackstar ahead of us and we tried (in vain) to pass them - all the way back to the line.

The Result

We were 5th on handicap and if we had of started when the gun went, we would have been 2nd. No prizes in the clubhouse - but I must get the hull cleaned for the next race!

JohnHS

Richmond Summer Series: Race 7 Happy New Year

Back in 2011 and looking forward to getting back for our Wednesday night fix of sailing on the Waitemata Harbour.

The Crew

John (Captain), Nicola, Tim and Blair.
With Ian still away on holiday we didn't use the poled-out genoa on the downhill run from Resolution to Rough Rock - maybe we could have made a difference there...

Course 1

With SW we headed down to Torpedo, back to Resolution, downwind to Rough Rock, up to Orakei, Bayswater and home. Except for the downhill from Resolution to Rough Rock it seemed we were going into the wind in both directions.

The Start

The wind was against the tide and that made the area under the Harbour Bridge a bit lumpy. We hit the starting box along with the E Divn fleet, and there was a fair showing of 10 boats. We crossed the line about 20secs from the gun, but so did half the boats. We then proceeded to hang on grimly down the harbour towards Torpedo Buoy. Obviously everyone feeling a bit rusty on their starting.

Progress

We did hang on to the other masthead boats, taking the Stanley side with the tide coming in. Around Torpedo we had our first test getting back up to Resolution, and pointing was not good. The downwind leg saw us fall away a bit more - maybe the goose-wing could have been helped with the pole - but with reasonable winds and Ian not there I decided not to get it out. Probably a bad decision - maybe I should have handed over the helm and done it... Anyway, we were good on Rough Rock, with some in front of us mis-timing the effect of the tide and had a very steep last gasp to get around.

As we got to Orakei, Pott Black appeared and we had a drag race up to Bayswater - they couldn't pass us - we were well pleased. However, the last leg to the finish line was so tight, we didn't make it, whereas the Townson pointed a bit higher, and eventually beat us over the line - making us last to finish. Bugger - we were so pleased with ourselves to hold them out and thought we were going to sneak over in front.

The Result

Well we weren't on the podium this week, but I did get the skippers Hull Clean prize - so we'll be very slippery next race ;-)

Happy New Year
JohnHS

Happy Kerkira New Year

The Richmond Yacht Club Wednesday Night Summer Series has reached 2011. The dates for racing are:

Division E No Extras Light Blue Start 1815
=====================================
Race 1 29 September
Race 2 13 October
Race 3 27 October
Race 4 10 November
Race 5 24 November
Race 6 8 December
Race 7 19 January
Race 8 2 February
Race 9 16 Feruary
Race 10 2 March
Race 11 16 March
Race 12 30 March

See you out there.

Richmond Summer Series: Race 5 Numbawan

After a full-on day in the office - and only just holding onto the concept that it was Wednesday even... we headed out for our evening on the Waitemata Harbour, a crew of three, with Tim in the US and Blair doing mates duty on land.

First Podium Finish

Three crew and high expectations - we had built confidence in the last race with a good start and a solid showing - BUT THIS WEEK we really did mix it up well - with help from the conditions and the decision to shorten and finish at Orakei, we made the podium - in 1st place. Hello.

The Crew

John (Captain), Nicola (part-time helm), Ian (can I say Poleman?).

We had a couple of people down so we were very focused. I handed the tiller over to Nicola on the way down to Rough Rock Buoy and took on the headsail trimming as we tried to hang on to the fleet.

Course 9

Down to Rough Rock Buoy, Orakei, Resolution and home was the course. The race was shortened, finishing at the Orakei mark. We saw the flags up on the committee boat and after a quick look at the sailing instructions determined that the race closed between the mark and Jan Marie. We looked again... really? It seemed a strange command, but it was clear from the flags... we headed for the mark on our fastest course, instead of trying to lay through to Resolution.

The Start

We approached on starboard and sailed slowly to the mark. Timing was good and we could have accelerated a bit more - hitting the line again about mid fleet but not as up-to-speed as we would like. But, I say we could do better - it was probably our best start todate.

Progress

Down on the north side of the harbour, optimising the breeze and trying to get out of the current, we hung on well. Nicola took the tiller and I played with the headsail - there was breeze but we were still using leeward weight to keep the sails full. We also cranked up the topping lift on the boom to open up the leech on the main, and that gave us a better shape.

Rounding Rough Rock Buoy we had been passed by Blackstar and they were pointing higher and closer to the mark. We decided to tack, going up towards North Head with the tide, and have a better run at Orakei - it worked, and we reached Orakei ahead.

The Result

Numbawan. When the results were being read out Commodore Rodney announced "E Division, no extras... 1st on handicap Kerkira"... pause... I am thinking "what did he say??" "Kerkira" I looked across and he was looking at me - O.M.G. I couldn't believe it I almost staggered to get the prize - I couldn't walk. Sounds ridiculous, but the first time was quite a shock. All credit to us, eh!



The result at the Clubhouse - AWESOME.

And one of the skippers prizes to John, Kerkira (a vinyl repair kit).
We'll be wanting the hull clean ;-)

Cheers
JHS

Richmond Summer Series: Race 4: Great Result

Another lovely evening on the water, a good wind and tide and great crew-work gave us our best result yet in the Richmond Summer Series 2010 - the Wednesday night races on the Waitemata harbour.

Best Result

Tonight delivered our best result on the water, and although we sailed well with no mistakes, there is still room for improvements. We finished 7th on handicap in a fleet of 16 boats, and we were all feeling very good about our performance and in the knowledge that we can be competitive - albeit with the assistance of the handicapper ;-)

The Crew

John (Captain), Nicola, Ian, Blair and Tim.

It was a good number on board and the crew-work was great, with good communication and assistance where necessary to get the job done. Ian again showed his agility in mastering 'the pole' and now it is up to me to make his life easier by shortening it to a more manageable tool for the straight-downwind sailing.

Course 7

North Head, Orakei, North Head, Orakei, Resolution, home. It was a good course with the added bonus that beacuse it doubled back on itself, we were sailing more in the fleet, rather than being left behind the quicker boats. We rounded all marks well, with Kerkira pointing reasonably well, but still way lowerer than most. We made our marks - and that is the main thing. We saw others putting in extra tacks - probably because of the tide moving over the course rather than purely the wind direction, and we were on top of that.

The Start

What can I say... WELL DONE. It was our best start yet, and we were confidently in the mix at the start, with a few extra seconds lost in the jostling of bigger faster boats - but hey - that's racing. We were all very pleased with the start and I was particularly pleased with the calling from the foredeck and the crew responsiveness when we needed to power-on.

Progress

Down the harbour, in the fleet. While we had a bit of clear air we held on well - but the larger boats to windward slowly crept down and in overtaking us stole our wind, and we slowed down a bit. Still we were going well with a nice breeze, which seemed to be affected a bit by buildings and spaces from the city skyline. Kerkira powered up well in the small gusts.

The rounding of the marks was done well, but not by all, and we saw BlackStar having trouble with the rounding of North Head. That gave the crew a lift and we managed to stay in front for the rest of the race.

The Result

Our best result - 7th out of 16 finishers. Looking through the handicap results we were in the same half minute as the 2nd place-getter. So with some small improvements across the game, we know we can start to feature more often in the 'upper' level of the results.



The result at the Clubhouse - disappointing - but the burgers were good.

Cheers
JHS

Richmond Summer Series: Race 3: Pole Dancing

A beautiful Auckland summer evening on the Waitemata Harbour - great sailing, great friends... and a pretty good result.

Sailing No Extras

We made our best start tonight, not last over the line as per normal, we hung on to the bunch too... we could have done with a very large down-wind sail at one point, although we did get Ian up on the fore-deck doing a jig with the pole, getting the best out of the genoa.

The Crew

John (Captain), Nicola, Ian, and Blair (welcome!).

We had Blair along for a sail tonight, and he was very focused getting that genoa sheet in - he and Nicola making a great pairing, we went through the tacks very well. We went up and down again, doing a few tacks and gybes before the start.

Course 5

Rough Rock Buoy makes another appearance in the sailing schedule - and we timed our tack well to go around the buoy without running into problems with the incoming tide - which saw a few boats putting in some extra tacks. Then Orakei, Resolution and Bayswater to home.

The Start

Well tonight was our best start yet, keeping out of the argy-bargy with 16 boats in the starting box, in clear air and feeling confident about our position. Still a bit to go to get to t he front on starts, but way better than we have been. All credit to the crew!

Progress

Sticking close to the fleet, we headed off down the harbour with the NE meaning that we were close to the wind, but not struggling to hold course. Most others pointed a bit higher to avoid the tide, but we still held on well with slightly cracked sheets.

As noted our buoy roundings were perfectly timed. Leaving Rough Rock Buoy we had a down-wind leg, with the wind failing, so tried to get a bit of an angle to hold our position with a bit more speed. Hmmm. The wind just followed us around, while we watched the opposition drift by. Well, it was time to employ the pole to help with the goose-wing. In a previous story, you will remember that the pole had gone over the side - but we did have an extra long spinnaker pole on board - so Kiwi ingenuity time - and back in business - although now behind the second-to-last boat, shall we say...

The Result

We came back at them, but too little too late I'm afraid - pity, because if the race had of finished at Rough Rock we would have kicked handicap arse (nautical term). In the end we were 10th of 14 finishers - so we are happy.

The result at the Clubhouse - what can I say... 4 beers in my fridge to prove it.

JHS

Richmond Summer Series: Race 2: Long Way Round

After the first night out ended in a disqualification, we were determined to do a lot better. The wind had been building over the past few days and we had a long course with a big fleet.

A beautiful evening to be sailing

A beautiful evening on the Waitemata harbour saw us manage the prize for the most sailing again. Because the wind died out the night was quite long and we came in to the finish in the dark, but well before the 9:00PM close out.

The Crew

John (Captain), Tim, Ian, and Nicola.

With Tim back we had an extra hand and after trialling a few tacks and gybes were quite happy with our speed out of the tack. We did a bit of a run up and down before our start to get the feel of the wind and tide.

Course 4

Yeah we know where Rough Rock Buoy is... yep... approaching from the Leading Light side it was real obvious and certainly easily spotted next to the cardinal buoy - lucky we didn't run over it last week...

Another big loop this week, with the wind dying out in the later stages and leaving us well behind the fleet.

The Start

We practised our start with a timed run to the buoy and were feeling quite confident. Then the 5 minute gun went and we headed over the the start box - however we got stuck doing a tack just uner the Harbour Bridge, and got stuck in irons... getting out of that we made a dash for the pin, but were about 1 minute off the pace - bugger.

Progress

We tried catching up to the fleet but with us pointing rather badly we couldn't make up our deficit, and trailed the fleet home.

The Result

We had a fleet of 16 boats which is our strongest showing - we came in 16th.

The result at the Clubhouse was again excellent, with Tim and Ian taking beer home.

JHS

Richmond Summer Series: Race 1: Rough Rock Buoy Protest

Time to hit the water again for the 2010 Richmond Summer Series on t he Waitemata, and from the turn-out there have been quite a few looking forward to this fortnightly treat out on Auckland's harbour.

Around the ship, but not the Buoy

We had to go around this ship, and discretion being the better part of valour, we slowed and ducked around the stern - unlike some others who had a series of toots that communicated the pilots obvious concern about how close they were getting to the Wednesday night tail-enders.

One short blast “I am altering my course to starboard”
Two short blasts “I am altering my course to port”;
Three short blasts “I am operating astern propulsion”
Five short blasts "I am in doubt as to your intentions"
Twenty short blasts then, probably means "Get the yacht out of my way" or similar sailor talk.

The Crew

John (Captain), Ian, and Nicola.

The core crew, and hoping to see a few new people on the water this season. And Dave the source of our best and rudest quotes... playing hard to get. Our quote this week comes from Margaret "There is a protest against you..."

Course 8

Yeah we know where Rough Rock Buoy is... right??? At Rough Rock buoy... NO. At the buoy that has been laid called "Rough Rock Buoy" that we are using this year for racing. Most of the fleet rounded the cardinal mark and not the racing mark and so two divisions were protested. We'll see what comes of the hearing on Monday night. I am uncertain whether we went around the required buoy - I didn't notice it, but then I was concentrating on the very large ship also coming into the harbour as we were trying to cross the channel.

The racetrack was a circuit taking in two new racing buoys... Rough Rock and Bean Rock.

The Start

We went up and down the harbour to practise our gybes and tacks and were last over the start... but not by much. We were pretty much in the action.

Progress

Great wind from the north meant that everyone had a blast up to Rough Rock and back. We were doing 8 knots at one point, and still didn't spill the beer or lose the cheese from the crackers. (thanks Nicola - well done!) We made an excellent rounding of Rough Rock mark in terms of timing, wind angle and tide, and sailed well on all points.

The Result [Under Protest]

We had a fleet of 13 boats tonight, very good showing, with some regulars not out. We managed to scrape in last on the line, and 10th on handicap.

The result at the Clubhouse was excellent, with the skipper taking out a $50 spot prize - so we have started THAT part of the proceedings very well, at least.



JHS

Summer Series 2010

The summer series is about to get revving again at the Richmond Yacht Club in Auckland.
We will be there!

Yep, this year I have paid for a SailPass so Kerkira will be seen out on the water a bit more often.

We had so much fun doing the Wednesday nights last year and early this year, so I am looking forward to getting the crew together again. This year summer series we will again enter the no-extras division and be flying a light blue flag. I will have to change my headed pic from green.

Calling crew, are you lurking?

Division E No Extras Light Blue Start 1815

Race 1	29 September
Race 2	13 October
Race 3	27 October
Race 4	10 November
Race 5	24 November
Race 6	8 December
Race 7	19 January
Race 8	2 February
Race 9	16 Feruary
Race 10	2 March
Race 11	16 March
Race 12	30 March