Crew: Peter, Murray, Emma, Dean and Geoff.
Forecast: MetService was predicting a northerly 25 knots gusting 35, easing to around 20 knots by late morning and early afternoon, while PredictWind forecasting 12–19 knots, gusting 25, and sunny skies. Hoping for the best, we cast off from Chaffers Marina at 1110 hrs. With a reef tucked into the mainsail, we motor-sailed round to Evans Bay.
Isabelle and Max, fresh from completing their learn-to-sail session on the Optimists, were there to greet us as we tied up at the wharf at 1200 hrs..
Then came the difficult decision of which sail configuration to go with. With the wind currently sitting between 15–20 knots and forecast to increase, we decided to keep the reef in the mainsail and hoist the No. 2 jib.
The course was announced: Start – Mark 18 (p) Days Bay – Mark 11 (p) Korokoro – Finish.
We cast off from the wharf at 1235 hrs and headed out to the start area. After a couple of practice tacks and some adjustment of the jib car position, we saw the green division light come on in the start box window and set our race timer for the five-minute countdown to the 1300 hrs start.
Our plan was to start on starboard tack at the pin (Shoal Pile) end of the line. Unfortunately, Grenadier had the same idea and, as the leeward boat, had right of way over us as we headed towards Shoal Pile. Too late to avoid the situation, we had to press on and Phil quite rightly called protest, hoisting Grenadier’s red flag. As soon as we were clear of the other boats, we completed the obligatory 360° turn to exonerate ourselves.
That manoeuvre cost us some ground, and we continued close-hauled up Evans Bay, finally clearing Point Halswell after four tacks. With the wind now around 20 knots, we then sailed on a close reach across the harbour, making a pleasing 7 knots of boatspeed. Slingshot, Grenadier and Expresso were now well ahead, with Tamerlane, Sea Beagle and Incantare close on our tail.
We rounded Mark 18 at 1353 hrs, about six minutes behind Expresso, and followed the leaders around the top of Somes Island, crossing tacks repeatedly with Sea Beagle. Incantare, at the back of the fleet, elected to go south of Somes.
As we approached Mark 11, some confusion set in when it became clear that the mark was missing in action. Phil on Grenadier called Race Control, and Neil’s response was simply, “just do the best you can.” Expresso, ahead of us, advised that they had rounded the position where the mark should have been.
We shook out the reef in the mainsail and, continuing on a broad reach back towards Evans Bay, managed to pass Sea Beagle.
The wind was hovering around 15–20 knots, although we did note one gust touching 30 knots. As the wind eased slightly, Peter on the bow hoisted our smaller reaching spinnaker, which set well after an initial wine-glass twist was quickly sorted.
I rigged the reaching strut, although it soon proved superfluous as the wind veered and became a dead run while we passed Point Halswell and entered Evans Bay.
Soon after, we noticed Grenadier and Tamerlane hoisting their spinnakers. Sea Beagle, unusually, did not hoist their gennaker and was soon left well behind.
We crossed the finish line at 1524 hrs, just under a minute behind Grenadier.
Race Replay
For a replay of the race based on Joshua Groom’s AIS tracker, see the interactive replay here:
https://placebojim.github.io/?id=1IKCJjHQwyr9g8a44EfczwCQlCexXoKAM
We motored back to Chaffers and were a bit nervous about docking in our berth with the occasional wind gust up to 30 kts but all went well.
Back at the club for a beer and some good banter with the other crews, the finish times were announced. We’ll have to wait for handicap results as Rowdy was away sick.
Halo Log Book 