EBYMBC Summer Series 11 April 2026

Crew: Murray, Dean, Geoff.

Forecast: Variable 5 kts.

Fresh back from a three-week trip to Chile with Graciela visiting friends and family, I was keen to get back out on the water – and Wellington turned on a stunning day for it. The only concern: the lack of wind.

Dean joined me at Chaffers Marina and we cast off at 1100 hrs under clear blue skies. With barely a breath of breeze, we hoisted the No. 1 genoa and full main and drifted our way around to Evans Bay, eventually tying up alongside Tamerlane where Murray was waiting.

On completing the online sign-on, we noted the original course: Start – Falcon Shoal Light – Finish. However, while rigging the spinnaker, Sailing Commodore Jack came down to the wharf to advise a shortened course: a run to Point Jerningham, into Oriental Bay, around the 5-knot buoy, and back.

At 1239 hrs we slipped our lines from the wharf and positioned ourselves for the start with the mainsail flying and maxi spinnaker rigged ready to hoist.

Our start timing was spot-on. We were the first boat crossing the line as Dean was hoisting the kite, with Murray on helm and me trimming the spinnaker the best as we could in the light breeze.

In the light airs, we were making around 3 knots SOG—essentially matching the wind speed. Usurper, after a slightly delayed hoist, gradually rolled over the top of us and edged ahead.

Approaching Kio Bay, we gybed towards Point Jerningham. In a twist of fortune, Usurper fell into a hole and came to a standstill, while we managed to keep just enough pressure to glide past and retake the lead.

Soon it was our turn. The southerly died completely and swung northerly. We dropped the kite, hoisted the genoa, and worked our way upwind towards the point, rounding just behind Usurper as they prepared to hoist their spinnaker again.

We set our spinnaker once more for the run into Oriental Bay, keeping the genoa drawing for a tight reach to what we believed was the correct 5-knot buoy.

Noticing Usurper sailing much further north than seemed necessary, we felt confident in our line—and rounded the mark believing we were back in front.

We sailed back towards Pt Jerningham feeling pretty pleased with ourselves.

Then came the realization. Looking back, we spotted Usurper rounding a different buoy closer to Freyberg Beach.

A quick check of the virtual course board confirmed it: “western-most 5-knot buoy.” There was obviously another mark further west that we missed.

Too late. Game over.

A frustrating way to end what had been shaping up as a great race for Halo.

We continued on regardless, rounding Point Jerningham and enjoying a pleasant beat back up Evans Bay as the breeze finally filled in to around 10 knots giving Dean valuable helm time tacking back up Evans Bay.

We crossed the finish line at 1436 hrs, dropped sails, and returned Murray to the Evans Bay wharf.

Dean and I then motored back to Chaffers, tying up at 1518 hrs. Despite the result—recorded as a retirement—it was a fantastic day to be back on the water.