Crew: Peter, Murray, Jamie, Dean, Ryan, Geoff.
Forecast: Northerly 10 kts changing to southerly 15 kts in the afternoon.
Peter, Jamie and Ryan joined me on Halo at Chaffers Marina and we cast off for the sail round to Evans Bay with our new genoa. With Ryan’s steady hand on helm we did some tests to see how the genoa performed upwind and downwind in the light airs of around 7 kts.
We tied Halo up at the wharf in front of the Evans Bay clubhouse where Murray and Dean joined us. The course was announced: Start – Mark 5 (s) – Mark 12 (s) – Finish, with on-water start and finish.
We cast off and headed towards the committee boat Pania which was positioned east of Greta Point. The northerly was 5-7 kts. We counted 10 keelboats milling around the start area. The green flag went up on Pania at 1210 hrs and we set our trusty Gill Race Timer for the five minute countdown.
We had a great start on starboard tack crossing the line in a rather tight squeeze between the committee boat and the big Jesse James on our leeward side. I was worried they were going to force us up but in the light winds we slipped past them before crossing the start. Warren on Pania was looking at bit anxious. 🙂
We then turned away onto port tack towards Shark Bay – well clear of the fleet.
After two more tacks and heading towards Pt Halswell, Grenadier crossed towards us. They were on starboard tack with right-of-way and we dipped below them.
We quickly tacked over Grenadier, a bit slow for a ‘slam dunk’, but followed them towards Pt Jerningham until they tacked again.
The wind was now down to 2-5 kts as we made slow progress past Pt Halswell up the harbour.
We enjoyed a duel with Grenadier who came in close to leeward forcing us up. Should we have called ‘protest’ saying we were steering our proper course? We were about to tack but they bore away and we gradually pulled ahead of them.
The wind dropped to about 1.5 kts and backed to the west. We were getting knocked and had to put in a tack.
The call came on the VHF from Neil at Race Control that the race has been shortened. After Mark 5 we should go directly to the finish.
As we continued slowly towards the top mark the southerly change was creeping up behind us. Tamerlane hoisted their kite. Jamie and Peter swung in to action and got our maxi spinnaker hoisted and genoa dropped. Grenadier, close behind us, followed suit.
Time for a cuppa!
All too soon we were dropping the kite and hoisting the genoa to round the mark.
The southerly was increasing to 15 kts and we had a great beat down the harbour heading towards Pt Jerningham.
As we entered Evans Bay we located Pania’s new position just north of Shelley Bay. We tacked onto the layline to cross the finish line – second on line behind Usurper. Great work Team Halo!
The results for the race were announced at the club that evening. As well as winning a spot prize voucher from Barton Marine, Halo came second on line, third on handicap and first on PHRF! Well done to Jan on Saracen for winning first on handicap.
Halo Log Book 