Island Time 1,235 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 RACE TO VAVAU The Kerikeri Cruising Club is organising a race from Kerikeri to Vavau planned for 2016 to celebrate the 80th birthday of the club. The proposed race will depart Kerikeri late in May and covers a distance of 1180 miles to a new off-shore race destination. Assistance has been approved from the Tongan Government Tourism Authority and the Vavau Yacht Club as well as several local businesses in Vavau. The Chairman of the Vavau Race Committee Mark Beauchamp has been working on the proposed race for 12 months and says that all that is required now is to go through the formalities with Yachting New Zealand. This will be the third time Kerikeri Cruising club has run an off-shore race to alternative destinations, the first two being to Port Vila. Beauchamp hopes that the new destination will help revitalise off-shore racing in New Zealand. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,584 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Hmmmmmmmm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Romany 162 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Awesome. This would be a very cool event to do and the start of a excellent downwind leg... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tuffyluffy 76 Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Yes indeed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pumbaa 9 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 This is something I want to do. For some reason the destination appeals to me more than Fiji. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,584 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Talked about it with the management and decided we are cruisers not racers. Will keep a watching brief to see if they do anything to accommodate a cruising fleet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 A cruising fleet doing it in legs? A stop halfway would be nice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bushman 12 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 A cruising fleet doing it in legs? A stop halfway would be nice. Done ........... we will anchor a barge half way stocked with cold beer and various delights ............ next request Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bushman 12 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Talked about it with the management and decided we are cruisers not racers. Will keep a watching brief to see if they do anything to accommodate a cruising fleet You looked very gracefull as you sailed around Nine Pin Last week ........... sometimes I just hate working out there............ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,584 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Plus I had been hammered with fish all the way from Mangonui that morning. Had fantastic four days, felt like I had a bonus extension to summer. Amazed at the difference in climate between here and the Bay. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Most races have cruising divisions David - and if you get a good reach, not many boats (most will be smaller) will cover that distance faster than BP anyway - provided you leave the sails up ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SloopJohnB 323 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Don't all cruising boats lower their sails at sunset and then hoist them at sunrise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,584 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Don't laugh, we met a 37 fter that had taken 30 days to do a 1000 mile passage. When we asked what had gone wrong they said nothing, they liked to take the sails down around 4 pm and have a prayer or two, then dinner and bed and would decide whether or not to put the sails back up the next morning. Each to their own I guess,they seemed happy enough. To me the difference between racing sand cruising isn't speed (yes my boat can go fast), it's deciding when to depart and sailing efficiently without breaking the boat or the crew. Racers can't do either (and win). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Done ........... we will anchor a barge half way stocked with cold beer and various delights ............ next request Well, I should have said 2/3rds the way, I've been there twice and its so nice I wouldn't even contemplate doing the trip without stopping there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
beau770 1 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 We are waiting for confirmation from YNZ regarding a date. 2016 is the Keri Clubs 80th year so we are hoping for that to be approved. It is very likely that we will include a cruising division as we would like to include as many boats as we can. All I can say at the moment is that the local tourist industry up there are offering some attractive deals for us to enjoy. As soon as we get confirmation from YNZ I will let you know more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
beau770 1 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 OK, we have a date. It will be in May of 2017. We chose this date to avoid clashing with the 2016 Akarana Fiji race. The Kerikeri - Vava'u Race will be the only New Zealand off-shore race that year. May provides a better weather system for the race and the return trip home. There will be a cruising division. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dambo 44 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Well I'm going to get in early and say I'll crew. Pretty much for whoever on whatever. But David, in the event you do go, I'd love to join you on the Spencer... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,584 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 It's under serious consideration. Current plan is a trip to one of the island groups next year, probably Noumea, as a shakedown for some longer stuff shortly thereafter, this would be a nice kick off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,584 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Hey Dambo, empty your PM box! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dambo 44 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Wow, there was a lot in there. Seems I do as much communicating off the grid as on so-to-speak Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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