Weiti Single Handed Race on Saturday

[Atom Ant 0]

Saturdays forecast left me wondering what was the weather going to do. 20 – 30 knots sounded good. I like that! But no it was nothing like it. More like SE15 and easing. We had 9 boats turn up for our single handed race including the tardy Mr Knot Me who hasn’t figured out that this isn’t a Mark Foy series. The gun goes and I’m off to a reasonable start – for a change. Bump n Grind was up to weather of me and hit the line absolutely flying. Above him was Spoiler II (T34) and Nemine (NZ37) and they had the afterburners on too. I slowly wound up to full speed and sat there neck and neck with Bump n Grind. There was nothing in it. We were slightly eased sheets, so I changed to outboard sheeting and began to slowly pull away. Mardi Gras (1104) was down to leeward but also going well. He was staying out of the tide which we were all bucking. I peered back into the distance and Suburban Reptile was leisurely rounding the start boat, probably putting away his frypan and coffee machine and looking like he was getting interested in racing.

 

How close to the cliff to get into Tiri Channel? The tide was a big one so the closer in the better as we had to sail a few hundred metres to round Navy buoy. I rounded in front and Bump n Grind was probably a minute behind me – maybe less. Basically on the wind to the Haystack (Orapapa Is, between the Noises and Rakino), with boats deciding which way to go. The wind started to head us and ease. The sea state was short and lumpy and the slamming was pissing me off. You know how it is – it feels like it’s only happening to you. I elected to stay heading towards the Haystack and let the tide carry me up towards it. Bump n Grind decided to tack away and head towards town. It became hard to tell which boat was which and the wind was shifting back and forth and the pressure was also coming and going. I lost sight of Bump n Grind but then I saw this slightly off coloured yacht, (kind of as if a white boat has got really dirty) behind me. sh*t! It’s that bloody dodgy town dweller again. Where the hell did he come from?

 

I tacked over to make towards the Haystack and the slamming stopped – niiice. Eventually I had to tack over again. Slam slam stop. Slowly move off, slam slam stop. But eventually I got in behind The Noises and I crept right up til I was almost touching then tacked over, traveller up, held my breath and managed to squeak around The Haystack and off home. Bump n Grind rounds a couple of minutes behind me and Suburban Reptile a wee way behind him. Up goes the Great White and the gps promised me that I’d be finished in just over an hour – very niiice!

 

Bump n Grind had popped her gannaker quicker than me but wasn’t gaining on me. Suburban Reptile put up his fractional lizard. It was a drag race then and I was ok with that as long as the lizard stayed behind me where he belonged. Life was good!

 

Then we sailed into a hole – F#@K! There I parked and Bump n Grind sailed right up beside me – and parked. The bloody lizard had headed towards town and was making slow but steady progress in some private breeze that only he and God knew about. Meantime he’s got time to send me txts telling me how he’s coming to get me. My arse he is!

 

That is how it played out all afternoon. At one stage my gps told me I was never going to finish, which was depressing when I was only ¾ of a mile from the line. Bump n Grind got a puff and moved ahead, then I’d get a puff and sail up, then him, them me, yada yada yada. At one stage we were facing the same way, 10 metres abeam, he was on starboard, I was on port, he got a puff from nowhere, I got nothing. Double F#@K!! Meantime the burglar in the Lizard had sailed the great circle route and crossed the line while Bruce & I were considering if we’d have to shoot the horses or not. One last puff from behind, Bruce put up his kite and he just squeaked across the line while I sat there with no bloody wind whatsoever. Four minutes later I dragged my sorry arse across the line nearly an hour after Knot Me.

 

Still, it was a great day, Suburban Reptile and Bump n Grind did well - Hats off to you boys!. And it goes to show that it ain’t over till it’s over.

 

All in all only 4 boats finished that day. Well done Nemine for hanging in there!

 

When I arrived back in the marina there was Bruce’s wife standing there with a cold beer for me! You beauty Lynda!

[Megwyn 2]

Love it! thanks Great report

[Guest]

I must say it was a interesting day indeed. Weather showing all week a nice S for the slide up so as we had 9,000kg of rope arrive friday arvo, the planned evening slide up didn't quite work out but no worries a nice breeze in the morning. Sadly someone at Metservice still hasn't ordered windows for the building and there was no wind. 8hp maxed out after a splash and dash at the fuel dock.

 

Wind picks up and yeap I'll just make the start. Wind fades, Oh crap. So I get to watching the start from a distance yet again. The lads on the Patrol boat did seen to enjoy my late arrival and gave me the impression the money was on me to pull out yet another surprise from the bag. I was wondering just what they were drinking in their morning coffees as their confidence in Team SR was a lot more than mine was. Just damn lucky for me I do enjoy 'the chase', I'm having way to much practice though sadly.

 

Off we go cracked sheets to navy Tiri. Took a bit to nail the 1st dude but then slipped past the next and thought "look how wide AA is going of the end of Tiri, Ah Ha I'll easily pull a 100mts or more out of that by cutting the corner". Then it dawned on me, the out of townie, 'hello, all the local boats are keeping wide. Crap just what do they know that I don't? Turn right a bit I think and go wider". Get to Navy Buoy 8 mins behind AA, which I was happy about as I was further back than that at the start. I rounded behind a very tidy Lotus I think it was.

 

Bash to Haystack in soft wind but good sized slop. Ahhgggggg.... suffered like AA, it was painful to say the least. Just get speed up, bang bang and all but stopped again. Again left to decide who to chase AA or Bump. I didn't like which way either were going so split the difference a little to the AA side. Bump went so far right I though she'd gone to pinch by berth in Bayswater. And with the fantastic Metservice accuracy I was still in the deluded mind set the weather would go SE and build as they were predicting all week.

 

A bit of a sly tack here, jump right a little on that knock here and just the odd nice puff at the right time and I slid up to the 37. Ahhgg bliss flat water again, time to heat this shebang up a bit I think. The fuse was lit, stereo up to 90% and drink racks reloaded cautiously. Didn't restock the supplies as it's hard to solo in 30kts and still bang the buggers back so I blame Metservice for what should knot have been rationing moment aboard Team SR. Drop a ginger on ice just incase. Now time to get serious.

 

A short tack here, one back there, flick into 'hight mode' to the dulcet tones of Iggy Pop, Led Zeppelin and The Veronicas (no idea blame the kids but a nice interlude all the same) and squeeze up in front of the 37, who was doing bloody good I though in those conditions, too bloody good for too long for us at times

 

OK now fuelled up ready to rock so a sly flyby of a fishing launch as one or 2 had 'hottie' possibilities from a distance. Got closer and have decided to see a optometrist now. Tack for the haystack and bugger me right into a big knock. 2 tacks and some lost time later rounded Haystack 14.5min behind AA.

 

Hmmm..now what can I do? AA is being chased hard by Bump and both with BIG gennies, no point just following and besides in soft northerly with S predicted why would you be aiming at Army Bay. Straight line theory is the call so up goes Iggie, the purple lizard supplemented kite. Iggie working well in the softening breeze. A time passes and hello, am I catching? By joves I think I might be as I'm sure knot going backwards. The wind fades, Oh crap. Check behind and the 37 is gullwinged and safely out of attacking range at the moment but worth keeping an eye on.

 

AA and Bump a long way ahead but being a Tortoise has taught me one thing 'never give up, you just never know what might happen yet'.

 

Next thing we see is what appears to be a anchored AA and Bump. Oh dear, how sad, Oh goodie. Now can I make anything of this? Lets just jump from barely perceptible breeze patch to the next and see what happens.

 

A time goes by and I am catching for sure. Time for head games. Txt to AA 'I'm a going at ya babe '. Knot sure if it worked or knot but I think this is now going to be bloody close. Wiggle here, wiggle there and hello, we're in front with no sign of anything filling in from the north but it looks like a solid breeze line a couple of miles south. Never arrived, the bastard.

 

Few more micro puffs and I've managed to claw my way back inshore. A few more micro puffs and I'm looking good. A Laser 2 pops out to escort me in, they are a damn friendly bunch these Whangaparoa yokels And with me shouting BANG over the line Team SR glides.

 

Nice sail home with the wind swinging S and picking up 1/2 way down the Bays. Watching the painfull looking battle between AA and a fast to accelerate Bump. Looked to be some to and froing going on between the pair. A slight freak out at some unexpected floating objects, had to put the ginger into use which in turn translated into a ticky tour of Akl harbour as it was just too bloody nice to park up.

 

As the sun finally lost to the darkness Team SR pulled into the marina after a bloody good day at the office on all accounts. Even the commute was a bloody ripper and very different than the expected wet bash home in 35kt gusts.

 

Again to those with the ability to wade thru my ramblings. If you want somewhere different to sail with cool courses you'd be hard pushed to say a trip up to play with the WBC team wasn't worth the effort. They have a fantastic backyard to play in and sooooo much better than that bloody Waitamata ditch. Oh another bloody yellow tide infested mark... yawn.

[The Bump 0]

Ahhh yes - what a day indeed. Guys - after reading all the blurbs about Bump n Grind - I thought it prudent that I finally get a log in and put my version of events for the day.....

Hats off to SR for burglering the race - I dont think anyone else could have done it better....

Certainly the day started well....listening to the metservice we SHOULD have been in for a fun fast day.....so up with the full rag of sails and get ready for the start.....as we counted down and the gun went off, nailed it with pace at the boat end - even the start boat clapped....so at least I got that right for the day! AA off below and slightly behind on a conservative start - and yes, a bunch of other boats that we should be able to keep at bay - and no Ross 930 in sight - so thought we were off to a great start. Nothing between AA and BnG - cracked sheets and a great sail to navey bouy - what ended up being the best sail of the day! AA just slipped in front (man, I need that big overlapper!) and rounded a minute or so in front....looking behind the the rest of the fleet chomping at my heels and looking further back - a distinctive looking Ross; SR again...darn - but at least late for the start so should be able to keep him at bay.....

 

As we banged towards Haystack - really a bit under powered (darn, need that overlapper again....) so decieded to get out into the tide further as we got half way up Haystack....just following AA was'nt going to do it - needed to throw some tactics in it - so off to the right. Much better now, time for a bite and a warm beer (bugger left the ice packs behind....), then started to loose sight of the rest of the fleet. As I tacked back towards Haystack, AA was way off in the distace and far below - looked too far away...and the fleet split - but I was futherest right.....as we got closer, the tide picked up and BnG started to over shoot Haystack - DARN!! Cracked the sheets and the only consolation was reaching in a 7 knots! but there is AA - back in it again!! Double Darn!! Thought I might have just been in front - but no....theres the red bullet rounding just in front.....

Cracked the sheets, pulled up the Genny - and in chase mode - but really a drag race home. The winds not really doing its thing now - getting lighter and more behind - so dropped the genny and up with the big Kite - getting light - lighter.....%$%^&$%#!! A few choice words - BUT I was clawing my way to AA's rear end - could see the whites in his eyes now everytime he looked over his shoulder!

 

Just a check from behind - and yep that looks like SR - surely not! Just keep an eye on her I think too myself....and then it happens. We are off Shakesphere, AA is parked, BnG is next to her and there we sit....nothing that looks like wind anywhere to be seen......a few more choice words.....

 

AND - yes - you guessed it - a couple of miles in towards town was SR, slowly moving towards East Coast Bays - and we were both parked.....and parked, and parked.....and parked....NO!!

 

Well, thats about it really - we sat there, put the Genny up and down 3 times, 2 sailed for a bit, Kite up and down 2 more times, and just simply watched as SR sailed slowly around us and burgled the finish! Hats off mate -

 

Then it happended - a little puff for BnG and we finally pulled ahead of AA - heard the frustration from him and that was just enough to keep him at bay - hard to believe we took over 4 hours to finish the final leg....VERY frustating!!

 

All the same - thats yacht racing - and great to be part of a great little series. Well done to the WBC for such an inventive short handed series - I think some of the other boys from town should make the effort and come and be involved for a change.

 

Well done to SR for pulling off the win - and to AA for again, keeping me honest and on my toes for the day! Looking forward to Fridays battle.....

 

Look forward to the last one of March 20th as well - round the bouys!

 

Thanks again to all involved.

[Guest]

Welcome aboard Mr Bump. Nice work on that post and in the race with all the sail swapping I saw going on. I knew AA wasn't going to fold and suspected you wanted another finish like the previous race, another ripper, then saw the sail changes going on and knew you weren't going to lie down. So I knew I had to keep my finger pulled as well.

 

I did feel your pain for the run into the finish. I was watching and it looked just nasty.

 

I thought you had over cooked that big jump out to the right on the way to Haystack. Sadly I wasn't close enough to be sure and in a scrap with that 37fter at the time. I thought you had blown it there for a bit and I'd sneaked ahead but then noticed the pace down the coast and realised I was being a bit optimistic.

 

Totally agree more should pop up your way for a play. It's a bit of a semi-hidden sailing paradise compared to the Akl ditch. So much more fun having the longer legs and the tactics that come with them.

 

And that is a bloody brilliantly well thought out Series. Big Ups to the architect/s who came up with that one. The mix of races inside the same series give it a great edge on the usual same ol same ol types.

 

Looking forward to the around the cans day. That'll be very interesting and a pile of fun I'm sure. I think I'll have to give my crew a crash course in kite work, he's brand new to the pointy end and was a bit 'possums in headlights' at times in R1 :)

 

And I do like your beast. I'd like it more if it was a bit slower though. You wouldn't like to help me and AA by tieing a bucket to your keel would you? No, I didn't think so

[Atom Ant 0]

Hey Mr Bump, welcome aboard! Yeah how frustrating was that last 3 or 4 miles eh! I thought I had it all sown up before we found the parking lot! Just goes to show... When that last breeze came up behind you and I was sitting there watching you glide off I gave up trying to beat you then, I mean you were 100 metres from the finish in wind with your kite up, and I just couldn't be F@#*ed anymore. But to be fair even if I had tried, you were still gonna beat me, so good on ya mate!

 

Me, I'm just hoping for somewhere between 15 - 30 kots for the round the cans race. It's a longish one approximately double the usual olympic.

 

Hey Knot Me, if I tell you it starts at 9.30 you might just turn up on time eh!

 

Thanks for the compliment about the series design KM. But I can't take all the credit. I just did what I always do and I canvassed the members for their likes and dislikes, wants and don't wants, and from there it was pretty easy to design a series that would keep most people happy.

 

I feel I've failed in one area this summer though and that is in the area of wind - or the lack of it. Mind you race one didn't lack any wind!

 

Aanyway we'll be out there in just over a week for the series clincher. KM you pretty much have it sown up, but if you come 5th in that race (And you could based on your arrival times) then it's all on and any one of three of us could win the series. That's how I like it. Duking it out right to the end!!!

[Guest]

I thought I had it all sown up before we found the parking lot!

I was thinking 'I'm toast'...... until you found the parking lot. Then went to 'Can I now.......', then to 'I may just be able to pull this off' and it was only 100mts from the finishline I swung to 'Oh Yeah'

 

I know that singing fat lady and she's a bitch, isn't she AA? :)

 

9.30 start is sweet so it looks like I'll see you at 9.45 then

 

Going to be very interesting the one. I think we would like 15ish. Can you arrange that please, Thanks

[Herdy 0]

KM, is there any truth to the rumour that you are giving the paint job a run over with 1000 grit wet and dry?

 

Is it to give the paint job a bit of shine or, a bit of speed?

[Guest]

Me sand something??? Hello, whot ya smoking and get a grip man, that's Grade A1 Export crazy talk.

 

Now a sly super duper slippery polish

Unlikely as I've been 'definitely' been going to do that since Dec 1st last year

 

I'll use cunning and buckets instead