Crew: Geoff, Murray, Rachel.
Forecast: Northerly 10 kts.
Great to be back on Halo! First time since Graciela and I were both laid up with Covid earlier this month.
Phil, the EBYMBC Vice Commodore asked if I would like to bring Halo round to Evans Bay as part of the Te Ākautangi Matariki Festival Festival Launch Day. The idea being that sailors could have a go paddling a waka and the Evans Bay Waka Ama crews could try their hand at sailing on a keelboat.
Waka Ama was inspired by Va’a racing in Tahiti. The outrigger canoes usually have six paddlers in each team. Waka Ama has recently grown in popularity as a recreational activity and sport in New Zealand and around the world.
I cast Halo off from Chaffers at 1200 hrs and motored round to the Evans Bay wharf where Murray was waiting for me. Sea Beagle was already tied up at the wharf so we moored Halo with a single line secured to the the south end of the wharf.
An informal race course was set from EB to Point Jerningham, round mark #16, back to round the last boat of the fleet before rounding mark #16 again and back to the finish. We were allocated a waka person, Rachel. She was quick to let me know she’d never been sailing before but was keen to learn.
After a safety briefing for Rachel we cast off at 1322 hrs and hoisted the no. 2 jib and full main. Murray took the helm while Rachel and I handled sail trim etc.
At about 1330 hrs when the five participating boats, Liquid Asset, Fine Entry, Bonkers, Sea Beagle and Halo were ready, Neil in the start box commenced the start sequence and then we were off.
We had a nice duel with Sea Beagle as we tacked up the bay.
We rounded Point Jerningham and sailed towards Oriental Bay on a beam reach to the mark #16, still just behind Bruce and his crew on Sea Beagle.
We then looped back and did our second rounding of mark #16.
Rounding Point Jerningham back into Evans Bay we managed to get ahead of Sea Beagle as we poled out the jib to sail ‘goose-winged’ on the run back to the finish. Sea Beagle eventually got their spinnaker flying though, and were able to sail past us.
Half way down the bay we gybed the sails but as the wind had now veered towards the west we dropped the pole and sailed on a broad reach to cross the finish line at 1443 hrs.
We then headed home back up the bay. Rachel did a great job on her first time helming Halo (under Murray’s watchful eye) while I went below and prepared afternoon tea.
We docked Halo at Chaffers berth at 1530 hrs. A great day out on the water!
Halo Log Book 