EBYMBC Summer Series 15 April 2023

Crew: Geoff, Grant, Paul, Louise, Anastasia, Murray.

Forecast: Variable 5 kts.

We cast off from Chaffers just after 11 am and sailed round to Pt Jerningham in a nice 10 kts north-easterly breeze. As we entered Evans Bay, however, the wind died out and even turned to a light southerly as we tied up at the wharf.

Murray and Paul joined us as we had lunch and checked out the course. Start – #4 Ngauranga Buoy – #5 Somes Island Buoy – Finish.

We cast off from the wharf at 1240 hrs with Grant on foredeck, Paul and Anastasia on sail trim, Louise on keys, Murray on mainsheet and me on helm. During the pre-start it started looking like it may be a downwind start so we quickly prepared the spinnaker on the bow. A couple of minutes before the start, however, it turned back to a light north easterly.

The five minute countdown ended up being only 4 minutes (!) so we crossed the start line somewhat behind the fleet. We did pretty well sailing close-hauled along the west side of the bay and eventually got ahead of Upcycled, Tamerlane, and Grenadier.

Incantare and Usurper, who sailed much closer to the shore, found a more consistent wind and streaked ahead. We maintained good speed across the harbour and up to the Ngauranga mark. After we tacked around the mark we had the Port Nick boat Saucy Sausage just in front of us so we had to tack back onto starboard to get clear air.

After one more tack we rounded the Somes mark at 1420 hrs just behind Slingshot and Grenadier.

Foredeck man Grant then hoisted our maxi spinnaker and we had a nice reach down the harbour at up to 7 kts.

As we passed Pt Halswell and entered Evans Bay unfortunately we got caught in some wind holes in the shadow of the hills. The light breezes were all over the place as we battled to keep the kite filled.

Grenadier, who had wisely sailed over to the west side of the bay streaked past us.

By the time we passed Shelly Bay the wind had backed to the south and we hoisted the genoa and dropped the spinnaker to sail close-hauled down the bay to cross the finish line at 1509 hrs.