Port Chalmers Yacht Club
LANDFALL TOWER RACE 09/11/13
A Great NE breeze of around 15 -18 knots was just what the doctor ordered for race 1 of the Landfall Tower series. The wee Farr was in the compound for this race as my crew was unavailable. Lucky I got to helm Chris’s Ross 650, Hot Line round the track. The race started off Careys Bay at 1300, we on Hot Line got away to a reasonable start, probably the best of all the 10 boats. It wasn’t long before we were passed by Te Waka who powered away on the beat out to the tower. With an outgoing tide and a building breeze the race was shortened to pile 1A just past the spit wharf. We followed Te Waka out, and had Just Cruzin snapping at our heels. As we neared the spit a container ship was making its way in through the entrance, we chose to stay on the spit side of the channel making 3 or 4 short tacks and losing some ground to Te Waka, Just Cruzin’ followed us, which was good as we stayed between them and the rounding pile. We made a big gain on Te Waka as they went around the wrong pile and sailed an extra 200 meters, but as we jibed round the pile a shackle on the kicker parted company, so it needed fixing before the spinnaker went up. When it was up we had some great little bursts of speed back up the channel. Te Waka managed to pass us again just off Waipuna Bay as we were dropping the spinnaker to get past the sand banks. We set the spinnaker again and followed TE Waka home, the wind had eased for our run down to the finish, Just Cruzin’ was still behind as they had not put up a spinnaker. Looking back at the rest of the fleet, it seemed they were bringing a breeze down with them. Rob in his Farr 6 Aphrodyte was not too far away, as was Russell in Chione. It’s a bit hard to comment on the boats further back, but Dennis in Windward was not far behind, in fact he went on to win on corrected time – go to http://www.pcyc.org.nz and click on 2014 results to check out the other placings.
Thanks Chris for letting me play with your boat I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to do it again sometime.
Next weekend – Saturday 16th – there is Junior and centreboard racing at 1000, and The Ladies Race followed by Forward Hands Race starting 1300, see you there. Hoskie.
http://WWW.PCYC.ORG.NZ
An Oldie but a goodie! Are we talking about the Skipper or the boat? You decide. Windward slogging her way to weather in the Landfall Tower race at Port Chalmers on Sat 9 Nov. Windward went on to win the race on corrected time. Must be that re cutting of the mainsail Dennis.
photo and comment by Graeme Wall
Peter Sutherland in his Laser enjoying a stiff breeze at Port Chalmers On Sat 9 Nov.
photo and comment by Graeme Wall
Southern Tack Yachting News 