smithy09 50 Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Here's one from the Marshall: White Island Race report. Marshall Law. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!! After a hectic few months fitting in major mods to the Marshall and putting her all back together, we rocked up to the White Island start line, the first time the boat had been sailing in about 4 months! The forecast sounded ideal. Reach to Channel, downhill slide to White Island, Westerly change for a light reach back up the coast. Forecasts huh? Phil was keen to do the start, so he tried for a Starboard tack, boat end start. Nice idea but probably 15 seconds late to make the Port starting fleet tack over. We got away OK, but as we beat out towards Channel the first problem showed itself. Somehow, A short bolt through the traveler had been overlooked in my "to do" list and immediately pulled through the deck, with the traveler following. A quick lashing to a pad eye prevented any real damage, but it meant that we couldn't twist off as much as we usually do. We did OK upwind to Channel (Reach, what reach?) pacing Notorious, with Pacific Sundance, Sunfast 3600, and Nirvana romping away upwind. As the breeze increased, we changed to the #3, but did it really badly, stalling the boat, going sideways and letting Notorious get away somewhat. Around Channel and we found some nice steep waves. We shook out the reef and shot off downwind while deciding inside or outside the Mercs. In the meantime, Phil had fun and set the speed record for the race of 18.7 knots under #3.. Inside looked good for the masthead kite, so up it went. While we could still see, the kite ride was great, but as the night closed in, we only had the digital compass to steer by, with no lights or any stars or moon to transit on. Steering all night was hard work, but we made awesome gains as we ticked off the fleet one by one averaging 10-11 knots but bursting to 15 knots in the waves. Navigating through all the Hole in the wall bricks was fun, as well as trying to keep the boat upright and on one gybe.. The new keel was making itself felt though with better acceleration and faster average speeds. Thank you Mr. Dibley! While we were on the kite run, the digital compass strangely came up with a 25 degree offset. These Raymarine instruments are all new, so I had no idea what that was all about, but I went into the menu and reset it.. Little did I know that it happened again at some stage and we both missed it.. This would have ramifications approaching White island in the dark! (It turns out that once you have calibrated the compass, you have to "Lock" it.. Lesson learned, read the manual!!!) Last to fall to the Marshall's new found speed was Josh and Damon on the Sun Fast. We got quite a few miles past them before dropping the kite as the westerly change started making itself felt. As 30 knots had been forecast for the front, we swapped to poled out #3 and full main, which allowed Booboo and Damon to catch up. Not long before dawn, Phil spotted the result of a zoomed out plotter and out dodgy compass. We had overshot White Island by 5 miles!!! Bugger! A quick set of the jib top and a big harden up meant we could lay the island, but we lost significantly to Josh who crossed ahead just as we approached the island, with them already rounded. We were still ahead of the rest of the 40 footers, but we would soon sort that advantage out!! We got around the island just after dawn and immediately tacked off to starboard, with the idea of the westerly change still coming in further, and getting on the inside of a lifting breeze. Unfortunately, we had our heads well and truly down, thinking about our last error, and fixating on the westerly change which was never coming any more than it already had. The rest of the fleet were laying Channel island, while we headed for Wellington. That was the race right there! Adding to our woes was a set of house batteries that were well past their use by date and only lasting around 5 hours between charges.. Another job to do!! So beat, bea,t beat, up to Channel, with an interesting night tack-fest up the inside of the Mercs (Made a few gains there) with a steady 20-25 knots on the nose approaching Channel. From Channel it was a cracked sheets reach to the finish. We did a last minute dive to take the Motuihe channel instead of outside Rangi, and almost caught Pacific Sundance in doing so, but not quite. (Thanks for this photo Suellen) So, the Marshall's report card so far: Signs of some fast sailing, but must concentrate more. Can do better! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jon 360 Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Nice report Smithy I bet the to-do list for RNI is a lot longer now ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted December 2, 2016 Author Share Posted December 2, 2016 Nice report Smithy I bet the to-do list for RNI is a lot longer now ! Not compared to what it has been Jon! New batteries bought today, along with the correct length traveller bolt. Sails in for repair. FRO ordered.. Just need a bit of freeze dried and we're good to go!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted December 2, 2016 Author Share Posted December 2, 2016 Probably read some manuals as well.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NZL1 Posted December 3, 2016 Share Posted December 3, 2016 Nice report smithy09. Its funny how one $2.00 bit of equipment can ruin your day. We've all been there and done that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted December 4, 2016 Author Share Posted December 4, 2016 Nice report smithy09. Its funny how one $2.00 bit of equipment can ruin your day. We've all been there and done that. Yup! That and total brain fade. Pretty happy with the new keel bulb though. 20 knots downwind here we come! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex Elly 197 Posted December 6, 2016 Share Posted December 6, 2016 Lucky you still have your magnetic compass so you can cross check! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Hay Smithy, are you aware your wee right up has made the front page of sailing anarchy? I see you and phil are all over the thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 Hay Smithy, are you aware your wee right up has made the front page of sailing anarchy? I see you and phil are all over the thread. Just saw it yesterday. Very cool! Especially when we sailed like crap.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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