EBYMBC Matariki Regatta 20-22 June 2025

The annual EBYMBC Matariki Regatta was run over three days during the weekend New Zealand Aotearoa celebrates Matariki Puanga, the Māori New Year. The programme included events for Waka Ama, Dinghies, Multihulls, Trailer Yachts & Keelboats with over 330 competitors involved (over 170 sailors and 160 paddlers).

We had relocated Halo to a berth at Evans Bay Marina and flew the Māori flag, Tino Rangatiratanga, on our push pit for the weekend.

Friday – Long Harbour Course

Crew: Jamie, Murray, Margot, Geoff.

Forecast: NW 20 kts gusting 30 kts.

The wakas were already out racing across Evans Bay as we arrived at the marina.

At 1015 hrs we all crowded into the clubhouse for the briefing. After the welcome by Rowdy, Race officer Simon Cross, from Naval Point Yacht Club in Lyttleton, outlined the instructions and advised we would wait half an hour to decide if racing was on or not.

They then announced it was all go. The course for the keelboats would be: Start – Matiu Somes Island (s) – Front Lead (s) – Finish. On-water start countdown at 1125 hrs.

I did a safety briefing for Margot who was new to Halo. She is an experienced young sailor from France and USA on holiday here in NZ. We rigged up the small no. 3 jib, put a reef in the main and cast off at 1100 hrs.

Our start timing was at bit off and we were behind the fleet as we crossed the line on starboard tack. At least we had clear air. The northerly was not as strong as expected and we were a bit under powered with our small jib as we tacked our way up Evans Bay.

Our third tack was off Snapper Point and then we headed out of Evans Bay towards Somes.

As we neared Somes we had to do wo more tacks to round Mokopuna Island at 1226 hrs. Once we were clear of the island, rather than hoisting the spinnaker, we erred on the side of caution and poled out the jib to sail ‘goose-winged’. Margot took over helm for the run down the harbour.

As we neared the Font Lead we dropped the pole and rounded the mark at 1307 hrs, close on the heels of Saracen.

We had to do a couple of tacks to get around Pt Halswell. We got smashed by some big waves at times.

Saracen had now passed us as we made it around Pt Haswell and sailed on a broad reach down the relative calm of Evans Bay. The finish line was between the start box and a laid mark. We crossed at 1440 hrs, last on line and 9th on handicap.

Saturday – Matariki Classic

Crew: Dean, Meredith, Jamie, Murray, Margot, Geoff.

Forecast: Southerly 20 kts rising to 25 kts gusting 35 kts in the afternoon.

We all met up at the clubhouse at 0915 hrs for the briefing.

In the crowded clubroom RO Simon explained about the Matariki Classic. The conditions were marginal for racing and it was decided that only keelboats and trailer yachts would be sailing today. The course would be four marks anti-clockwise around the bay plus a green lap mark near the start box. Boats to complete as many laps of the course as possible in the allocated 150 minute (2.5 hour) period. Start line was between Shoal Pile and the Start Box with countdown starting at 1055 hrs.

Meredith, who sails a 420, joined Halo’s crew. Dean, who normally sails on Annie, also came along to make up a full crew of 6 POB.

After being a bit underpowered yesterday we decided to go for the larger no. 2 jib with full main. We cast off at 1025 hrs to do some practice tacks around the bay. We soon had to put a reef in the main.

Positions were Margot and Dean on sail trim, Meredith on keys, Jamie on bow, Murray on mainsheet and me on helm.

The race kicked off on time and it was a mad scramble for boats to get to mark 1. There was at least one crash as a trailer yacht bounced off the side of Saracen.

We managed to pass through the melee unscathed and rigged up the medium spinnaker as we neared mark 2.

The spinnaker hoist didn’t go well. With over 20 kts of wind we struggled to get it to the top of the mast. When it was eventually up we found the pole was way too low and the kite was unstable. We made great speed though, with our rather out of control spinnaker.

Nearing the top mark we dropped the kite and gybed before sailing on a beam reach across to mark 4. We were overpowered with our no. 2 jib and decided to change to the smaller no. 3 on the beat back into the wind.

With the no. 3 jib now rigged we sailed better, close-hauled back towards the green lap mark.

The fleet was more spread out now as we passed the green Lap Buoy at 1155 hrs and continued on for the second and third laps. We decided against flying the kite again and were content to pole out the jib for the two downwind runs.

At 1330 hrs we were nearing Greta Point when race control called out over ch. 77 that time was up and that all boats should complete the lap they were on to finish the race. We did one more tack before passing the start box at 1340 hrs.

We made it! A great achievement in challenging conditions for Team Halo!

We berthed Halo back at the marina and enjoyed teas/coffees and snacks on board. Then over to the clubhouse for prizegiving, socialising, and a great meal put on by the club. Top prize for the Matariki Classic went to Sea Beagle. Well done Bruce!

Sunday – Maratiki Regatta

Crew: Jamie, Dean, Margot, Rhian, Geoff.

Forecast: NW 15 kts rising to 20 kts in the afternoon.

A much nicer day for our third day of sailing. Rhian from Ireland, Margot’s partner, joined Halo’s crew to make up 5 POB. The long harbour course for the keelboats was announced: Start – Ward Island (p) – Somes (p) – Mark 14 Oriental Parade (p) – Finish. Start countdown at 0955 hrs.

After a safety briefing for Rhian we cast off at 0936 hrs with full main and no. 1 heavy genoa ready to go. Crew positions were Jamie on bow, Dean and Margot on sail trim, Rhian on mainsheet and me on helm.

Once again a busy start. We chose the boat end of the line and most boats seemed to have the same plan. We were a few seconds early and with Grenadier below us we couldn’t bear away and had to cross the line early (OCS). We weren’t the only ones!

We had to turn back and cross the line again.

After doing our turn we lost some ground on the leaders as we beat our way up Evans Bay.

This time we were happy with our sail selection and the genoa was pulling well. We rounded Pt Halswell and followed the fleet towards Ward Island.

We sailed around the bottom of Ward Island as close as we dared and then started the long beat up to Somes Island.

Margot took a turn on helm as we sailed up to the top of Somes without having to tack. It was pretty close to the rocks but we made it!

We rounded the Mokopuna at 1135 hrs. Jamie on bow, then hoisted our maxi spinnaker. It went up without a hitch and we enjoyed a very pleasant run down the harbour at over 7 kts with Margot doing a great job on helm.

Expresso and Saracen weren’t flying kites and we caught up with them.

As we neared mark 16 at Oriental Bay we hoisted the genoa, did a clean drop of the kite, and then gybed to round the mark for a reach across to Pt Jerningham.

Zigzag seemed to be having issues with their headsail as we passed them.

Once we rounded Pt Jerningham we quickly hoisted the medium spinnaker and found we had overtaken Grenadier. Not sure how that happened! Zigzag sorted out their sail issues and soon shot past us.

We made a slight miscalculation on the finish line. I forgot the line was not out to Shoal Pile. By the time we had changed course and gybed, Grenadier and Saracen had sneaked past to just beat us across the finish line in front of the start box.

Sails dropped we motored back to our temporary berth at Evans Bay for hot drinks and snacks. We all agreed it was a wonderful day out on the water.