Guest Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 from starlight express via sail Noumea This just in from crewman Paul Hardiman aboard Starlight Express... "After a night of almost no wind, we struggled up the coast. Current at cape Brett (hole in the rock). Absolutely no breeze, I think we might even be going backwards! Looks like the forecast says its going to be like this all day! Time for some sun baking!" judging by those clouds there'll be something happening in the next 12hrs or so, and it'll be on the nose Vodaboat is expecting up to 30kts on the nose for parts of this race. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 This mornings press release.... Slow but exciting start for the Auckland leg of Evolution Sails Sail Noumea. A spectator fleet of over 100 yachts and powerboats were at the start of the Evolution Sails Sail Noumea race off Orakei Wharf yesterday, Saturday 2 June 2012. At 1405 hours Desley Simpson, Chairperson of the Orakei Local Board, fired the official start gun signalling the fleet to start the 995 nautical mile race. All 17 boats that entered the race were on the start line, including Simon Hull’s Orma 60 trimaran Team Vodafone Sailing who are racing the clock and chasing a new multihull race record. “It’s looking like being a slow race to Noumea this year. We still hope to break the multihull record which was set in 2002,” said Hull. The multihull record stands at 4 days, 3 hours. 33 minutes and 22 seconds set by Rogntudjuuu in 2002. The mix of professional and amateur sailors on the Hong Kong based yacht Beau Geste were still unsure if they would beat the monohull record of 2days, 22 hours, 9 minutes and 50 seconds set it 2004 by New Zealand maxi Zana. “It’s looking like a slow race but like our forecasts are saying, anything can happen and if we get the breeze that is predicted, then we could come close to breaking Zana’s record,” said skipper Gavin Brady before yesterdays start. As the fleet raced up the western coast of New Zealand a tight tussle between the 50 footers began between Kia Kaha, V5 and Akatea. Throughout the night the lead for PHRF and IRC handicap honours changed with every 30-minute update with these three boats are sure to keep each other on their toes all the way to Noumea. Ocean racing veteran and the biggest boat in the fleet, Steinlager 2, is having a nice cruise up the coast. Some of their crew have never been offshore, let alone sailed before, with one saying it was her dream to take part in an event like this. “This was on my bucket list. Do something exciting like race a yacht offshore and to another country and I’m just so happy that this opportunity on Steinlager 2 became available,” said Sarah Cross, the only female crewmember on board Big Red. Bonaparte and Iolanthe II trail the fleet on the water having had a tough time getting past Rangitoto. However they are now well and truly on their way to Noumea having cleared the Hauraki Gulf. Bullrush, skippered by Anthony Robinson, is keen to get to Noumea as quickly as possible. “We lost our rig in the 2009 race and have some serious unfinished business. I just hope the breeze decides to show its ugly head so we get there in style!” said Robinson on the dock before the start. At the 0800 tracker ping on Sunday morning the 3rd June, Team Vodafone Sailing were ahead of Beau Geste at the head of the fleet while Geoff Lewis’s Cookson 50 Akatea was leading on IRC and PHRF handicap. Watch the tracker to stay in touch with the fleet or visit the official website or Facebook page. Tracker - http://yb.tl/noumea2012nz Website – www.sailnoumea.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/sailnoumea Link to post Share on other sites
Jon 360 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Looking tuff out there The rich are going to get richer now they have cleared North Cape. Only hope now is for a park up at the other end It's a shame when the poor are 50 footers though Dosn't exactly inspire a 30 something to have a go Link to post Share on other sites
markm 30 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Am I reading it wrong or is Bullrush looking more than respectably above average? Agree though that BG has done a nice job in the light and it'll be hard for anyone to hold their own against her. Link to post Share on other sites
Bullrush 0 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Icebreakers tracker has not pinged. My bet is Bullrush and Icebreaker are actually still together... Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie 0 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Will have a look into the Icebreaker tracker. It hasn't pinged for a bit. STANDBY!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie 0 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Icebreaker is back Link to post Share on other sites
Mothership 6 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 M1 have picked up the pace, too. Catching the 50s. Link to post Share on other sites
markm 30 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Sorry Bullrush, looks like my observation has cursed BR with the worst overnight run. A truly wrist slitting race by the looks of it, though V5 may have escaped the worst of it now as well. Rikki, M1 et al looks to have taken patient suffering to new levels overnight with breeze ahead and breeze bringing boats up from behind. Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie 0 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 The first two nights have been long and slow on board all 17 yachts racing in the 995 nautical mile Evolution Sails Sail Noumea race with most of the fleet literally parked off the Northland Coast of New Zealand. At one point, Chris Hornell’s TP52 Kia Kaha was seen to be going backwards as the race track completely glassed out. Most would have envisaged to be further north by now, but all are gritting their teeth and remaining focused as just one puff of air is likely to propel them ahead of the other boats. Concentration is critical. After a tough start Iolanthe II and Bonaparte took advantage of a light South Westerly over night and finally caught up to the fleet near North Cape. Bonaparte is now ahead of Blizzard. At the 0730hrs radio sched on Monday the 4th of June the majority of the fleet were positioned approximately 25 miles to the north and east of North Cape. Team Vodafone Sailing was exceeding speeds of 20 knots over night but is expected to experience a 20-30 knot northerly within the next 24 hours which will slow the big tri’s rapid progress north. Despite this they remain in contention to beat the Multihull race record. Maxi monohull Beau Geste is expected to experience similar northerly conditions in the next 48 hours which will make it difficult to beat the current monohull race record of 2 days, 22 hours, 9 minutes, and 50 seconds. Akatea, the Cookson 50 skippered by Geoff Lewis was keeping pace with the TP52’s Kia Kaha and V5. There was a time overnight when Akatea was leading on both IRC and PHRF handicap. The Ker 40 Icebreaker was a little further back than expected however with the quality crew on board they are sure to be throwing everything at keeping the boat going and making their way through the fleet. At first light it was the TP52 V5 which had resumed the lead on the water of the chasing pack behind Beau Geste and Team Vodafone Sailing. Royal Akarana Yacht Club, organiser of the 2012 Evolution Sails Sail Noumea race, are the premier club for offshore racing in New Zealand. “We are the home of blue water sailing and have been since 1931 when we ran the first trans-Tasman race,” said Commodore Matt Woodley. The race is gaining international attention due to the use of the yellow brick tracking system and the online version of the race on Sailonline.org. “All of the online information is designed to make the race an interactive experience for the spectators at home. “And now with Facebook and Twitter, we can literally bring a race from the ocean to the living room, or office or anywhere spectators are online!” said Woodley. The fleet still has a long way to go with the ETA of leading boat Team Vodafone Sailing now being some time during Wednesday the 8th June. Follow the race: Evolution Sails Tracker – http://yb.tl/noumea2012nz Website – http://www.sailnoumea.com Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/sailnoumea Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/sailnoumea Link to post Share on other sites
Bullrush 0 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Food for six nights isnt going to last long...hope they like instant noodles and muslie bars! Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie 0 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 M1's tracker is being a pain. Hasn't updated for a while. I'm trying to get it sorted. Standby! Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie 0 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 At the 1100 hours update all trackers pinged except for M1........ I really hope it isn't floating somewhere in the ocean!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
markm 30 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Plenty of good things to eat on a boat Janine, squabs, floor boards, engine parts, sprinkle a little extinguisher foam on it for seasoning Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Plenty of good things to eat on a boat Janine, squabs, floor boards, engine parts, sprinkle a little extinguisher foam on it for seasoning Is that V5's menu untill they get to Noumea? someone forgot to make sure that they could cook with gas connection and canot cook now. Sucks for them. Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie 0 Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 M1 is back in the game Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/ ... _col.shtml hehehe...........been there done that ..........got wet Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 If you are near a radio tune into NewstalkZB to hear Peter Montgomery with a live cross via sat phone to Beau Geste between 1740hrs and 1755 hrs today (4 June 2012). Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 From TVS 8.00pm Monday 306nm to go to Noumea A good 12 hours: approx 230nm! Here's hoping they stay ahead of the rough. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 woops. should have checked the facebook and not twitter.....heres the rest Predictwind has them arriving at the reef Tuesday sometime... PW(GFS) Model says 9.30am PW(CMC) Model says: 11.30am They have to finish inside the reef by 12.09 to break the record. Will the weather let them push a little harder tonight? Place your bets... Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.