Well the Metservice got it totally wrong this time with racing being abandoned due to lack of wind.
Crew: Geoff, Grant, Murray, Trey.
Forecast: Metservice: Southeast 20 knots.
At 1000 hrs Geoff and Grant departed Chaffers and motor-sailed round to Evans Bay. We tied up on a pole next to the travel lift and attended the EBYMBC opening day speeches and breaking out of the burgees. Murray and Trey joined us on Halo and we signed on for the race. The course was announced as Start – Mark 6 Front Lead – Ward Island (p) – Finish. In spite of the forecast, the southeasterly was showing only 5-7 kts at Wellington Airport. We hoisted the No. 1 HW Genoa, rigged sheets for the spinnaker and cast off with Murray on mainsheet, Grant and Trey on trim and Geoff on helm.
Halo had a good start at 1300 hrs amongst a large fleet of boats including many from Port Nick and Lowry Bay. With the very light winds dying out to almost nothing it took us 1 hr 40 mins before we got to the top of Evans Bay. The race officer announced the shortened course, removing the Ward Island mark. By the time we rounded Point Halswell at 1500 hrs we were actually ahead of most of the fleet who were stuck in the lee of the peninsula. At 1520 the race officer Neil, announced that racing was abandoned for the day.
Oh well, it was great to get out on the water!
Halo Log Book 