EBYMBC Spring Sailing 4 Dec 2021

Crew: Geoff, Eduardo, Grant.

Forecast: Northerly 15 knots, rising to 20 knots in the evening.

As we prepared the boat at the Chaffers Marina berth the northerly was varying from 12 to 20 kts so we held off deciding on which headsail to use and cast off at 1130 hrs to sail with just the mainsail round to Evans Bay.

We tied up at the wharf for a lunch break and discussed the headsail choices. In this wind we should be able to use the No. 1 HW but it would be hard going at times. Considering we’d be sailing three-handed we decided on the smaller No. 2 Jib. The club was displaying course No. 27: Start – Ward Island – Somes Island – Finish – port roundings, with the 5 min countdown starting at 1255 hrs.

With Grant on helm, Eduardo on bow and trimming with Geoff, we crossed the start line on a port tack and sailed close hauled up the bay. We would have cleared Pt Halswell in four tacks but just as we were ready to round the point we had to give way to Tamerlane who was heading towards us on a starboard tack so we ended up having to do an extra two tacks to clear the lighthouse.

Once we rounded Pt Halswell we sailed on a beam reach towards Ward Island behind Grenadier and Coriander but managing to inch past Tamerlane. Slingshot sailed past us with their gennaker flying.

Just after we rounded Ward Island Tamerlane managed to slip past us. We then beat our way up the harbour in the 16 kts northerly to round Somes Island after five tacks at 1439 hrs.

For the downwind leg we hoisted the medium spinnaker without issues in 15 kts of wind although we found the wind had moved to NW which meant we were sailing on a broad reach mostly until we entered Evans Bay. We managed to pass Tamerlane who didn’t have their kite up. After we entered the bay the wind moved slightly to the west. We slipped past Grenadier just a few boat lengths before crossing the finish line at 1523 hrs. We then motor-sailed back to Wellington tying up at our berth at 1607 hrs. Total sailing distance: 22.5 nautical miles.

When the results were published we found Halo had achieved 4th place on line and 4th place on handicap out of 9 boats which we were happy with. Plus Halo has retained 1st position on the overall Spring Series. Well done Team Halo!