Crew: Peter, Eduardo, John, Jaime, Leah, Geoff.
PW Forecast: N8-15 kts, Gusts up to 21 kts.
Conditions for the final race of the Winter Series were promising to be a bit more lively than the last ones. We cast off from Chaffers at 1052 hrs and hoisted our small no. 3 jib and the mainsail with one reef. Crew positions: Peter on mainsail, John on bow, Jamie on keys, Eduardo and Leah on trim, and me on helm. We had a good practice sail around to Evans Bay, registered for the race and got the course: Start – 18 (p) – 11 (p) – Finish, with a 1215 hrs start.
We looked around to see what sail plan the other boats were deploying. Usurper and Incantare were going all-out with full mainsail. Grenadier more conservative with 3 reefs in the main.
We had plenty of time to practice our timings and had a great start. First over the line at the pin end on starboard tack with clear air. The wind was dropping down to 10 kts at times and then gusting over 20 kts as we tacked up Evans Bay. We managed to keep ahead of Tamerlane, Grenadier, Sea Beagle, Transcender, Penellic and Jesse James as we rounded Pt Halswell. A good start!
Leaving Evans Bay we eased out the sails for the reach across the harbour towards Days Bay. The wind was knocking us about at times with gusts up to 25 kts. We were happy to have our conservative sail plan.
The heavier boats Tamerlane and Sea Beagle seemed to manage the weather easier than us and they both passed Halo as we crossed the harbour.
We closed in on Tamerlane and Sea Beagle as they went wide around mark #18 at Sunshine Bay but we had to dip below them before rounding the buoy at 1317 hrs.
We then tensioned the sheets to sail close hauled up to the top of Somes Island.
There was a big oil tanker accompanied by two tugboats leaving the wharf at Pt Howard and crossing very slowing across our bow. A bit of a worry initially but we held our course and happily sailed astern of her as she sped up.
As we neared Mokopuna Island we were getting knocked so we had to do a short tack to clear the rocks.
We then eased the sheets again to sail on a close reach towards Korokoro. Jesse James had picked up good speed and passed us before we rounded Mark #11 at 1353 hrs.
We decided it was too windy to safely fly the spinnaker so John on bow, poled out the jib. Eduardo took over the helm.
We shook out the reef in the mainsail and hoisted a second headsail, the no. 1 HW genoa, to sail wing-on-wing on the run back to Evans Bay.
Pretty exciting with our boat speed getting up to 8 kts SOG at one stage as the wind approached 30 kts.
We crossed the finish line at 1434 hrs. A great race!
RaceQs Replay – http://raceQs.com/event/1745586
We dropped the headsails to motor sail back to Chaffers. Moored Halo in her berth and had teas and coffees accompanied by yummy slices of apple cake. Thanks Graciela!
We drove round to the EBYMBC for the prizegiving. Halo came 7th on handicap for today’s race and Tamerlane won the cup for the overall Winter Series. Well done Bill!
Halo Log Book 