Round North Island, 2 Handed ---2017

[splashprincess 14]

Arbitare and Oracle still going. Vela Via finished in the early hours this morning, after taking shelter to get rid of some water and let the race management team have a few hours sleep. The Gisborne restart is under way after their unofficial 4th leg finish in Gisborne. 

[Adrianp 92]

It's a match race of the Max's! Max Hawkes (Arbitare) vs Max Cross (Oracle).

 

Both are mates of mine so - GO MAX! 

[ScottiE 174]

Arbitare look to be on the lay through the Motohuie channel.  In the next hour they shoudl be in the lee of Rakino which will knock down the chop for them. 

Oracle just past Gannet Rock but slow.

[ex Elly 152]

Meanwhile in the other race Rigmarole and Ilex are engaged in a slow match race doing about 1kt, while Cool Change is leaving them for dead doing 6kt at Tolaga Bay.

[Clipper 310]

could be something to do with the motor running on cool change

[Cosa Nostra 0]

Is Cool Change motoring? Looks like it, Any news on the rig damage they incurred? 

[Clipper 310]

rig damage fixed, i understand they are motoring back to where they suspended racing.

[Romany 141]

But only Blink and Wedgetail are still in the hunt for Div 1 as all others have swapped crew at some point

 

 

Jon - I read this a few days ago and just wondering is crew swapping normal? I have no axe to grind with anybody and I guess its within the rules, but it seems a bit strange to me - after all I would have though the idea was that a boat and its crew raced the race - whatever that is - round the lake/ the island/ the bouys - whatever. 

Seems to me that the same 2 crew should be in for the duration, and I'm not sure why you'd do the race under any other circumstance.

 

I realise that things happen and if one of the crew gets hurt there is no option. Or did I just misunderstand your post?

 

Awesome to see Pahi performing so well. Just goes to show how the age of a boat does not necessarily determine its performance - and although you cannot compare different divisions with a straight face, the elapsed leg time puts Pahi up a division and 3rd in that div. Pretty damn good performance by crew and vessel.

 

In any case well done to all (including the organisers and the small army of volunteers) - but especially the battlers still out there who will complete the course unless they simply cannot.

[Battleship 100]

I think you are mis reading what was said re: crew swapping,

From the race documents "1.1       If requested by the owner/skipper and approved by the race committee, either member of the crew may be replaced by another properly qualified person until 6 hours prior to the start of any leg. From this time on the crew may not be changed for the leg.

The same crew must complete all legs to be eligible for overall prizes"

 

I think that is fair enough, could be any number of legitimate reasons a crew member may not be able to compete in all legs.

[Romany 141]

Thanks Willow. I'm surprised but all that means is I am unaware of the rules , hope no offence taken by any of the competitors, none was intended.

[Battleship 100]

I am sure no offence would be taken. Most are still probably recovering (if they are not still out there).

It is a major achievement just to complete this race any thing else is a bonus. Got to be the toughest regular race in NZ if not further afield, must ask some of the crews who have done races such as the hobart etc to see how it compares.

[Jon 327]

Don't think any leg is as tough as a S2H on average but what makes this a tough race is it's four races back to back and your two handed and generally on smaller yachts so I'd personally put this as the toughest regularly race race in this part of the world if not further a field

Well done to all that got to the start line as this is in it's self an achievement

And congrats to all that get around, how ever they do it.

[B00B00 290]

Hobart is actually much harder if you are at the top end of the competitive racing fleet. Sitting on the rail for 3 days is not easy especially in a southerly buster. The level of competition is pretty damn high and its bloody hard work. Probably pretty easy if you are just doing it for the challenge and not pushing so hard.

 

They are very different events, RNI really is an endurance event, you not only have to survive the sailing but also the stopovers.... And again its all about how hard you push (both on and off water activities). Some peoples perception of 'racing' is very different to others.

[armchairadmiral 411]

My hazy recollection is that Pahi was launched circa 1963 and was built for Jim Parker of Rotorua. Had a Ford Cortina petrol motor I think ?

[waikiore 321]

Pahi has been gone over from windex to lead in the last few years and is a credit to her owner, everything is new and sparkling including the "mahogany" prod to enable her to carry some extra RNI sails. Running Yanmar engine and Gori prop as were the first three over the line. 

[Clipper 310]

Yeah, the big code zero would have been a massive help in this race, but they still smoked in the heavy too.

[waikiore 321]

She sure did, if you saw the start they were in position and racing from the gun

[ScottiE 174]

Cool Change halfway across the Gulf

Ilex approaching Channel Is

 

Rigmarole gone fishin?

[Clipper 310]

I dunno what dads up to. They are usually closer to the other 2 in performance than the last 24 hours

[ScottiE 174]

Hooked into a massive marlin that dragged him north - at least that's the story I'd run with!