Race report from Trevor May, EYE SPY The Golden Rivet once again.........nice. EYE SPY started well after the scratch boats but had the young 11 following. Chances are we will be able to clear a passage for them to sail through. It became apparent that it would be "Wild Horses" we would be doing battle with and so a battle we did. The kite run to Rona saw both boats getting an advantage at one time or another but we seemed to have an advantage up wind with the smaller more manoeuvrable EYE SPY. Lots of fun at the top mark with "Stinger" joining in with the already busy mark rounding putting "Wild Horses" and EYE SPY about. The busy racing meant I didn't have enough time to repack the kite so we gull-winged the shorter leg. The final upwind leg to the finish saw the lead we had over "Wild Horses" reduce but enough to beat the CCYC team? Oh yes..........always a good race. Hopefully we get more on the water next race eh. Well done to all who raced and thanks to the start/finish boat and crew. Race Report Darcy Blackmoore, Young Entertainer Another great day to go sailing! We had a gun crew of Tim, Blair, Dunc, Warren and Cristin and myself. We had beer. We had sunshine. We had 10 - 15knots of wind. We had a big bag of silver gennaker. This was going to be an epic race against our mates at CCYC. Problem is that CCYC only entered three boats. Somehow they got the word that HYC had a cunning plan to take the days race and inflict maximum scorn on CCYC and their boats at prize giving... the plan worked.... Young Entertainer started last by some 25 mins. We could see our team mates in front of us and we would be sure not to cross them or take them out of the race. We could see the 'Rang' and Bill far up ahead both with spinnakers flying in the breeze. We just needed to make some time and act as a block to the three CCYC boats who where chasing for the lead. Just our luck and wind come forward a few degrees - oh well, lets unleash the gennaker! What a cool ride! We zigzagged our way down the course jibbing the gennie with ease. The crew work was epic and Young Entertainer went through the fleet. We saw Trev and Eye Spy with Big Red up and flying well. We were on a tee bone course with Trev so the call was made to 'harden up' and send it across his stern - awesome close racing! The drop was sweet and again the crew work was spot on. We rounded and worked back up wind staying out of the tide and making some gain on the lead boats. Around the mark and the big gennie is up and flying again. Warren - our new bloke is sure to get a call from ETNZ after his help with the hoist - just about pulled the gennie through the mast and back down to the cockpit... After the rounding we had a another sweet upwind and went about trying to pass the Tai Rangi (the 'Rang'). We could see them and they could see us. Next thing we know they are crash jibbing away from us.... not how we planned it but both boats are ok and still racing. We headed for the line and got the victory in race one of the Golden Rivet trophy! Crew work made the difference. Thanks CCYC for racing and lets hope you get some reinforcements for next race. Well done Nona, Tai Rangi and Satisfaction for finishing well Race Report from Denise Ellis, Nona HYC was prepared for the CCYC onslaught. We were pumped, eyes squinting into the drizzle, steely gaze on the opposition. Tai Rangi led the way as scratch boat with a huge red Gay Rum etched spinnaker. Twenty minutes later, Satisfaction and Nona squared up with our spinnaker up at the start line with a howling 5 knots of wind behind us. Individual recall horn sounded. "Was it us" No. It had to be Satisfaction.Yeap. Around Kauri point and where is Meola Channel marker. This is an unfamiliar fairway mark for us and it tends to limit the race track especially with a 3.5mtr tide roaring through. Up to Rhona, around, down to Chelsea red, with Young Entertainer sneaking around just in front of us. Back up to Rhona and head out to as close to Watchman's Island as you can possibly get on our way back to the finish. The secret was many short tacks out of the tide as fewer longer boards were taking those who took that option going back towards the bridge in rather a hurry. Around Kauri Point we edged past Tai Rangi who were busy trying to race and repair broken equipment at the same time. Waterwitch was starting to make ground but we forged across the finish behind Young entertainment and Waterwitch not far behind. We eased sails to sail back to Hobsonville and constantly watched the battle behind us of Tai Rangi and Satisfaction neck and neck sailing above the committee boat. Who would blink first. Satisfaction. Tai Rangi dived down to the line to pip Satisfaction by two seconds. There may have been few boats but it was a true contest never the less. Remember the motto - "when there are two boats on the water, you have a race" Thanks to the Committee boat crew, fellow racing crews for the convivial atmosphere back at the Club and the House Committee for the greatly appreciated sustenance. A good day to be on the water. NONa. Race Report From Stewart McMillan on Stinger |
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