Crew: Geoff, Peter, Jamie, Murray, John.
Forecast: Variable 5 kts becoming N 15 kts.
Fresh from our return from Nelson two days earlier we cast off from Chaffers at 1105 hrs. With the heavy #1 genoa and full main hoisted, Jamie and I sailed round to Evans Bay. Peter, John and Murray were waiting for us at the wharf.
Over lunch we checked out the course: Start – #6 Front Lead – #18 Days Bay – Finish. Countdown sequence starting at 1255 hrs.
Leaving the wharf at 1234 hrs we did some practice tacks and timed our approach. We had a good start on port tack half way between the start box and Shoal Pile. Initially we were neck and neck with the Young 88, Incantare, but they soon dropped back to do a 360° turn after being protested by Usurper. We were now in the lead although Usurper soon disappeared off ahead.
We make good speed sailing close hauled up Evans Bay tacking at Shark Bay and then Kio Bay. Our sails were nicely trimmed for the 12 to 15 kts of true wind and we pulled ahead of Grenadier and Tamerlane.
Incantare, now recovered from their penalty turn, had turned on to port tack near Kio Bay and were heading straight for us. We were on starboard with right of way but they didn’t appear to have seen us. I yelled “STARBOARD!” very loudly. At the very last minute they did tack away just as we were preparing to turn to avoid them. With all the excitement I forgot to call ‘Protest‘.
As we neared Pt Halswell at the top of the bay we were getting knocked so did a couple of tacks to pass the lighthouse.
After rounding Kau Point John hoisted the medium spinnaker and Peter took over on helm. Tamerlane overtook us but Peter did a good job keeping them in our wind shadow.
Oops what’s that steaming up behind us? It’s the Strait Feronia. I quickly checked on the chart plotter. We would have to bear away to keep off their route. The boats ahead of us were in a more precarious situation though. The captain sounded his horn once and then shortly after he gave five blasts on the horn as they steamed past Falcon Shoals light.
We rounded the Front Lead mark behind Upcycled and Tamerlane. We were then back to sailing close hauled as we headed towards Days Bay in around 12 kts of wind.
We were going well on the upwind leg and overtook Tamerlane and Upcycled. Then it was round the mark and close reaching back across the harbour. John took a turn on helm.
In Evans Bay the northerly had now eased off to around 5 kts. We hoisted the maxi spinnaker for a slow broad reach in the final leg down Evans Bay.
Tamerlane behind us hoisted their super maxi kite and were gaining on us as the breeze increased a bit. Murray did a great job on helm and just managed to keep them at bay. We beat them over the line by just ten seconds. A great duel!
We packed up the sails and motored back to dock at Chaffers at 1620 hrs. Results were announced at the Evans Bay clubhouse post race. Halo came a respectable third on line and fourth on handicap.
RaceQs Replay: http://raceQs.com/event/1783883
(Strait Feronia track in blue)
Halo Log Book 