Crew: Murray, Jamie, Dean, Geoff.
Forecast: Northerly 3-11 kts backing SE 3-11 kts.
Another picture-perfect Wellington day with just enough nip in the air to remind you it’s winter. With our No. 1 genoa and full main drawing nicely, Jamie, Dean and I sailed Halo round to Evans Bay and tied up at the wharf. The club was a hive of activity.
The keelboats long harbour course was announced. Start – Mark 18 Days Bay – Mark 5 Somes West – Finish, with the start time of 1215 hrs.
Leg 1
An exciting start with 12 yachts lined up in 10 kts of nor’easter. We nailed our timing, crossing the pin end on starboard tack right by Falcon Shoal.
Grenadier was leeward of us and we were just behind Porkchop and Slingshot who seemed a little too eager according to our start timer. Sure enough, Race Control quickly called on the VHF that they were both ‘OCS’ (On Course Start) meaning they should turn back and restart.
We continued on starboard tack towards Greta Point, dodging the moored boats. Sea Beagle crossed close in front of us.
Then we forced Usurper to dip behind us as we shouted “starboard!”
After two tacks we were heading up Evans Bay on a nice beat towards Point Jerningham. Grenadier tacked away in front of us towards Miramar Peninsular. We continued further up the bay following Usurper to easily clear Point Halswell.
We settled into a reach across the harbour towards Days Bay. About half way across we noticed Tamerlane and the other boats gaining on us. We were obviously doing something wrong with our sail trim.
Murray took over helm and we made a few changes. We moved the jib car forward four slots and eased the sheets on both main and genoa. It made a noticeable difference although Tamerlane were now ahead of us.
Thanks for the nice photo, Bill!
Incantare were sailing below Halo but caught up with us as we neared the mark.
We looked back to see Saracen, Grenadier, Expresso and Lady Mink rounding the mark behind us.
Leg 2
Neck and neck with Tamerlane and Incantare we sailed close-hauled past the bottom of Matiu / Somes Island towards Mark 5.
Tamerlane was behind us as we neared Mark 5 but we had to dip below Incantare at the final short tack before the mark.
Leg 3
For the run back to Evans Bay, Jamie on bow had our maxi spinnaker ready to go. We had a nice clean hoist but with the apparent wind giving us a beam reach from the west, the kite wasn’t in its happy place.
We may have been better with the smaller reaching spinnaker or maybe try out that loaner gennaker again.Still, the sun was out, the harbour was calm, and the ride home was pure pleasure..
The boats behind us were slowly gaining on us but we managed to maintain our lead and crossed the line three minutes ahead of Tamerlane who was leading the rear guard. Martin Rigby on the trailer yacht Liquid Asset caught a great shot of the boats as we approached the finish line.
Then it was back to Chaffers Marina to pack up the gear, have teas and chocolate and a race debrief chat.
eStela Race Replay
We’re trialling the new eStela tracking system—watch the replay for Tamerlane, Sea Beagle, Incantare, and Halo here: https://estela.co/en/tracking-race/15785/ebymbc-winter-series-2-august-2025
Results
Later all the crews returned to the Trophy Lounge bar at the Evans Bay clubhouse for the usual social get together. Vice Commodore Jack Morris delivered the results. Halo came 4th on handicap, 1st on PHRF, and 6th on line. A great day out for Team Halo—and hats off to Sea Beagle for taking first on handicap.
Halo Log Book 