Richmond Summer Series Race 12: Adrift in the Dark

Race 12, last race of the Richmond Yacht Club Wednesday night Summer Series for this season - with the promise of 15->20 knot southerlies, flat water and a fine blue-sky day.

Our Track Plot for course 8, race 12

The Crew

John (Captain) Ian, and Mark and Dave.

Dave - headsail trim

Mark - headsail trim

Ian - Foredeck

Capt John - helm, main, witty reparté

Course 8

The loop around Rough Rock, Bean Rock Buoy, Resolution and home. Last week it was a northerly, this week a southerly, making the run between Rough Rock Buoy and Bean Rock Buoy the up/down wind leg. The rest was reaching, albeit quite tight at times.

The Start

The water was flat, and the southerly fluctuated a bit to SSW but the wind strength was 10knots, and there was meant to get better as the evening went on. We timed ourselves well to be at the pin end, and then experienced a fluctuation to the east, and suddenly the pin was very tight, and so our progress slowed a bit. We were in not too bad a shape with some boats still behind us - but we didn't hit the line like we would have wanted.

Progress

With the tide just turning, we opted to stay in the centre and make better use of the wind angle instead of heading over to Stanley. By the way we slipped back in the fleet, I should have gone across sooner.We gybed the headsail at North Head and goosewinged towards Rough Rock Buoy on starboard. Rounded well and tightened up towards Bean Rock, and with two tacks we were at the mark. We kept on up to Resolution, but noted that the wind strength was not increasing, perhaps even dropping. A expert rounding of Resolution saw us gasping for wind back up the harbour, and the day turning to night - no problems with the cut-off time though. As we progressed the wind lightened even further, and the flat water was now glassy. At one stage we tacked through 170 degrees to try and keep moving - the tide helping of course. In the gloom we could see other boats in front of us that had also been caught out - maybe we drifted quite well after all!

The Result

The clubhouse was full, hot and noisy - a great turnout for the last night - and a few wanting to see how they had done as the night and season results and prizes were announced. Another fantastic event, thank you Richmond, thank you crew!

cheers, johnhs

Richmond Summer Series Race 11: Home alone

Just two races left in the Summer Series 2011 - 2012 season.

The Race Card - 11/12

The Crew

John (Captain) Ian, and Mark and Dave.

Course 8

The loop around Rough Rock, Bean Rock Buoy, Resolution and home.

The Start

We got into the start area in good time and patrolled slowly on port down the line, electing to start down the line so as to avoid a lightening Nor'easterly and being held up past Devonport.

Progress

We started well, and stayed in the outgoing tide rather than head for the wharves. That was a good idea as we stuck with the fleet and hung onto a couple of the Townsons who were being disrupted by the wind shadow off Devonport. Up to Rough Rock, and then, with the wind dropping, back straight downwind to Bean Rock. That was it for us... our speed dropped to 3 knots as we tried in vain to get a bit of trim. We watched Peppermint Planet go very deep, looking to sail the angles - perhaps we should have tried that. Once around the corner and heading to Resolution we got our legs back, and caught up a bit to Nevenka, finally coming in about 15 minutes later. We actually thought that the race committee had gone home when we arrived, so we took our time from the GPS. They were spot on - I guess they knew it was us bringing up the rear.

The Result

No prizes at the club this week, although I did get to go downstairs and see the wonderful space down there... great place for a mad scientist's lab.

cheers, johnhs

Richmond Summer Series Race 8: High Temperature

Yes, high temperatures - of the squealing thermostat kind... An interesting start to the evening for Race 8 of the Richmond Yacht Club Summer Series Wednesday Night racing - we were lucky to make it to the start. It appears there was a blockage in the cooling system, and it caused the thermostat to alarm. We pulled up alongside one of the piers and diagnosed the problem, got it sorted and continued on -

Auckland City like a battleship on the horizon. The evening was a bit cloudy, with periods of sun - and a 5-10 knot SW wind.

The Crew

John (Captain) Ian, and Dave, and new recruit SamHS - Mark had the night off.

Course 9

Down to Rough Rock Buoy (which was now in place - not like last week when it was non-existant), Orakei, Resolution and home, against a reasonably strong outgoing tide.

The Start

With our late arrival to the course, we went straight into the box. A slow ride down the line on starboard - but with the tide taking us sideways, we opted to tack back to run the other way - on port haha! All good though, and we got away in the middle of the fleet.

Progress

The course was pretty straight forward - a big loop - we had a good race, hoping to hold on back up the channel to the finish-line, but had to tack up near the bridge as the wind wavered S and SW sometimes giving us hope, and then knocking us north.

The Result

Well it was back to the clubhouse and a cold beer and hot burger - always welcomed! And also welcome was a 3rd on handicap. I must say that although our tacks were a bit rusty - the crew 'sailed' the whole race, being very attentive to the conditions - so well done.

johnhs

Always check the number - it can change

We sailed with Mark, his brother-in-law Peter and his 13yr son Isaac.

It was a lovely night on the water – however there was some drama and we RAF (had to withdraw)! The course was course 8 when we went out – but because lots of the buoys have been lost over Xmas, there wasn’t a course that suited everyone – so Richmond changed our course to 7 following the start of the divn before us… so we sailed the wrong course. I had no idea that they COULD change the course like that – live and learn – needless to say, we aren’t the only ones… Next time we will be checking as we go over the line! ;-) cheers, johnhs

Richmond Summer Series 2011 Race 6: Last for 2011

After last weeks long sail into oblivion (according to the scorecard) we were focussed on getting home well tonight, and well inside the 9:00PM cut-off that foiled our plans of conquest on our last run.

Here is the track for the evening - thanks to Dave and his Android.

The Crew

John (Captain) Ian, and Dave, - Mark was stuck in traffic and made it to Westhaven just before 6:00PM however we left Westhaven at 5:45PM... sorry Mark - meet the joys of Auckland traffic!

Course 7

A great course. Down the harbour to North Head, back to Orakei, back around North Head, Orakei again, Resolution and home to the finish. This is a good course because as the fleet doubles back on itself, there is plenty of interaction... and for us, lots more time sailing in the fleet.

The Start

Having left a little later than usual we made a quick visit up under the Harbour Bridge, put sails up, and headed for the start line. Timing was good, and we crossed with the fleet.

Progress

The track above tells the story - down the harbour on a starboard goose-wing until Torpedo when we gybed. The wind was steady approx 15 knots until we came to round Orakei for the second time and then the wind turned, fluttered, petered, switched and generally went round in circles. It took some time to gather itself again, leaving the slowest boat in the fleet, no wind, with the outgoing tide strengthening - nothing like a challenge!

We headed out into the middle to find some breeze and managed to hang on to the edge of it, while trying to stay off the channel (and current). Then around Resolution, across the harbour, with an extra tack to avoid a freighter (502 tonnes?? - he wasn't stopping anyway...).

With a westerly wind we tacked up the harbour and finished.

The Result

Back to the Richmond Yacht Club clubhouse for burgers and beer - as Dave said "It would be rude not to...". Dave was triumphant at the spot prize, winning some beer to cap off a great evening.

Next sailing Wednesday is January 18th 2012.

Richmond Summer Series 2011 Race 5: Long Night

Looking forward to keeping all crew on-board, we headed out on quite a blustery evening on the Waitemata Harbour, in the Richmond Wednesday night Summer Series.

The Crew

John (Captain)and Ian, Mark, and introducing Dave, who got a fairly hairy start to his crewing on-board Kerkira. Welcome Dave!

Course 4

With a healthy Norwesterly breeze we headed down the harbour to Resolution, down to Leading Light Buoy, Rough Rock, Orakei, Stanley Point and then home. Along with the wind advisory was quite a decent out-going tide - so coming back up the harbour was always going to be a slog.

The Start

After heading up under the Harbour Bridge to practise out tacking and getting the new crew familiar with working together, we headed down to the start and arrived on time. With an out-going tide and strong wind in the same direction, it was always going to be straight down the middle.

Progress

We stayed pretty close to the fleet down-wind and in the reaches, but struggled coming back up the harbour against the elements. Still, we felt we were doing a reasonable job of it, maximising the gusts and trying to stay out of the tide as mush as we could.

There was the 9:00PM cut-off looming, and we had the bit between our teeth to make sure we put points on the board for the night. Sadly... we must have been seconds over, as the result shows we were DNF. Not a wasted night however, its always good to be sailing!!!

The Result

DNF... well, it happens - maybe I need a decent up-wind sail...?? ;-)

Postscript: After beers, burgers and talk, Mark managed to break off the key to his bike lock and had to taxi home.

Richmond Summer Series 2011 Race 4: MOB

Another great night on the Waitemata Harbour - the wind was 15 knots from the West, and the sea was relatively flat. We were two-handed - just me and Ian - and then Ian decided to go for a swim just off North Head - leaving me single-handed and in charge of saving his skin - which was very wet...

The Crew

John (Captain)and Ian - champion bobber. Well we did the Man-Over-Board drill - but during the race.

Course 6

The wind was behind us as we headed for Northern Leading Buoy, Rough Rock Buoy, Resolution, Bayswater and home.

The Start

With just the two of us we tried our luck at going down the line on starboard, tacking around at the start-box end and getting our timing on the ease to the line. Being two-up we weren't as aggressive as we might have been, so it was a mediocre start by our recent standards.

Progress

We got the pole sorted and goose-winged our way down the harbour, staying in touch with the fleet - until at North Head we gybed - and dumped the crew in the water. Pffft... his auto life jacket inflated on cue and he bobbed there waiting for me to come get him. At this point the 830's were upon us under spinnaker - some arm waving on my part, and a few manoeuvres - I threw the main-sheet out into the water, he grabbed it, did a bit of trimming, and climbed aboard. He earned the quote of the week "Well that was a bit of an adventure" he said...

The Result

Well as the tide started to go out, and the Westerly wind died out... we fought our way into last place - but inside the closing time.

Richmond Summer Series 2011 Race 1

The summer sailing season is upon us, and the first race of the Richmond Yacht Club Wednesday night racing got underway on a beatiful evening, with a light breeze from he South. Traditionally the first and last races of the summer season end in the dark, and even with the switching of daylight saving, it was dark before we got back o the club-house.

The Crew

John (Captain), Tim, Ian and Mark. Nicola was not available, but would have been excited to have pipped Blackstar on the line after chasing them up the harbour in the fading light.

Course 8

For our first race around the harbour, we were sent to Rough Rock Buoy, Been Rock Buoy, Resolution and home. And we did all the marks in that order ;-)

The Start

The favoured end was the box end so we headed down that way, and were right on the gun. Very pleased with our start we headed down the harbour with the fleet, and probably suffered a little due to the city buildings affecting our wind. We did catch and pass Capricho before heading across towards North Head and around to our first rounding.

Progress

We headed down the right side of the harbour looking for the right opportunity to get a bit of breeze and get back across the harbour. Ian got the pole out and we goose-winged towards Rough Rock Buoy, hoping to catch Blackstar - but they managed to round before us. Hard on the wind and a couple of tacks to Bean Rock Buoy and then as it started to get dark, vaguely towards Resolution. That was when we realised that two of the boats nearest us had made mistakes in their roundings. And the wind started to go light - handicappping us further as we were further down the course from the finish. Anyway, through perserverence we caught Blackstar and passed them 5 minutes from the line.

The Result

Out of the fleet of 15 we were 13. I guess our decision to go right and the easing breeze cost us. And we were unable to score at the club-house either... but what a great night - what would you rather be doing than sailing up and down the Waitemata Harbour on a lovely Wednesday night!