Every year just before Christmas there is a Mystery Cruise for anyone to who wants to join in. Depending on the wind direction a sheltered location is found to raft up. This year Wellers Rock was the location.
With plenty of chat and good food it is a great way to spend the afternoon with some yachts even staying overnight.
Four Open Bic yachts were donated by Sir Russell Coutts for the Ravensbourne Youth Yachting Trust.
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Southern Tack Administrator, Russell Phillips
southerntack@gmail.com or Phone / Text 027 3293990
The perfect Bluff start boat!
The names ‘Foveaux Strait’, ‘Roaring Forties’ and ‘Bluff Yacht Club’ conger up images of large waves, strong winds and cold weather. At least this was the way I thought it was until I attended the Bluff Oyster Regatta for the first time four years ago.
To my surprise I found myself in a blaze of sunshine with wonderful sailing conditions. The reality is southerly blasts go right up the country and you don’t want to be anywhere on a yacht when they come through. What makes sailing even better is the deep harbour area between the Tiwai Point and Bluff wharfs.
So now I have competed four years in a row in great sailing conditions. I have to admit hearing stories of broken masts and howling winds but this has not been my experience.
Plenty of close competition
This year it did not all go as planed as Saturday’s weather was a little windy and wet for most people’s likening, although a few hardened yachties gave it a try! We simply retired to the club rooms for a social catchup along with Oysters, buffet dinner and the duke box playing our favourite hits in the background.
A cheeky start for Challenger
On Sunday I ended up sailing with Lance and Tom on ‘Challenger’, a Noelex 22. Four races were run in 2-10 knots of breeze. We had Gordon and Alex both in 22’s as well to compete against. This was a lot of fun. You have to be on your toes to negotiate the tidal flow otherwise you quickly find yourself drifting up into the estuary.
Tony, race officer explains the rules
While I left immediately after racing I imagine there were a lot of stories being told, plenty of tired kids and warm hospitality as usual from Bluff Yacht Club event organisers!
Make sure you put this event on the calendar for next year as there were too many oysters for me and the sailing is too good to miss!
Anders with the Oysters
Photo’s thanks to Karen, Facebook and a few of my own.
Russell Phillips
Southern Tack Administrator
http://www.southerntack.co.nz
027 3293990
Otago Harbour was alive over the weekend with 53 yachts entering the Festival Regatta hosted by Ravensbourne Boating Club.
The wind took a while to kick in on Saturday but still three races were completed in shifty conditions in the upper harbour basin. Sunday winds moved more northerly and made for excellent sailing. Sailors were able to focus on tactics and speed rather than survival.
This year Opti’s, Starlings, PT’s, Sunburst’s, Lasers, Z class, Trailer Yachts and Keelers sailed from the same start finish line on a windward /leeward coarse. There were simple clear race instructions and races went off at five minute intervals without a hitch. Thanks to Grant and team managing the racing!
I guess a case could be argued to split the course so the younger kids could have their own space but I believe larger and faster yachts respected these kids and gave them some room. At the end day they will have a lot more confidence being out in the traffic.
It was also great having many competitors from out of town come down to enter this event. Graeme Wall, Yachting NZ southern representative made reference to this at prize giving. He pointed out the opportunities for Otago sailors to reciprocate and sail in other regional events.
Helena Horswell, Yachting NZ disabilities Coordinator also spoke at the prize giving. She thanked everyone for being so welcoming to disabled sailors. Helena had also enjoyed the opportunity to be out there on the helm racing and welcomes disabled sailors to contact her if they are keen to give yachting a try!
So was it all worth it, yes of course! Smiling faces were plenty at the end of the weekend. Everyone got to practice their racing skills and have a little fun. That’s what life’s all about, right?
Special thank you to Ravensbourne Boating Club for a fantastic effort and successful event!
Russell Phillips
Southerntack Administrator
http://www.southerntack.co.nz
Ian & Alison Milne’s lastest creation was launched at 1400hrs on Wednesday 14th at the Boat Harbour. The beautiful yacht is a design called “Sooty Tern” by Iain Oughtred, based on the Shetland yole, the inshore fishing boat of the sailing age. She is a credit to both Ian and Alison’s dedication to build a beautiful boat based on traditional lines and see the job through to launching which was witnessed by a good turn out of friends & members interested in traditional craft.
Ian and Alison are off to Christchurch this weekend with their new boat to take part in the Canterbury Classic Boats event.
This yacht is of similar length to their previous yacht ‘Isleburgh’ though minus the sleeping quarters. In the same style as Isleburgh this latest yacht shows the same love of traditional methods and lines.
Well done Ian and Alison on your latest launching, many happy and safe hours sailing her.
Thanks to Port Chalmers Yacht Club for this story
I thought the photos being posted on Facebook by Alex Bruce of the Roy Bay Regatta deserved a short story.
Alex said Friday and Saturday were fantastic, you could not get better days. Sun, and a perfect sailing breaze.
He told me Sunday was a lake race but with too much wind the course was shortened to one round. With over 2 metre waves further up the lake commercial vessels sheltered below the 1st island due to the conditions.
Graeme Wall was there and won the multi hull’s division. Graeme has emailed me his account of the racing below:
From Graeme Wall,
Last weekend saw the annual regatta for the Wanaka Yacht Club being sailed in what had to be fantastic Central Otago Summer weather.
On Friday evening two races were held with a good breeze coming down the lake. The air was hot, the water was warm, it was great to leave the wetsuit ashore and go bare feet and board shorts.
On Saturday was more of the same; again very warm with the water in the bay a few degrees higher than I have been used to of late this season down home. Saturday’s racing comprised of 6 races with a stop between race 3 and 4 to come ashore for lunch.
This regatta saw the Wanaka club having on the water starts which certainly made for better starting duels for the competitors.
On Sunday the plan was to sail the round the Island endurance race. Up to Mou Tapu Island for the Trailer Yachts and the Etchells with the dinghy classes going around the closer Ruby Island. The morning saw a very stiff northerly blowing in the head of the lake so Mou Tapu was not to be so instead everyone raced around Ruby Island where the wind decided to die away to a very light fickle breeze that was just enough to keep you thinking that you may catch those in front. Again a great day in very warm conditions. With the constantly shifting breeze and the high air temperature the crew on my boat were fair working up a sweat with yet another spinnaker hoist followed by a drop.
Whilst numbers were down a bit this year with a low showing in the dinghy classes there were nevertheless great sailing in the Trailer Yacht Division especially the Noelex 22’s where Karen and Alex Bruce’s Charade dominated both that fleet and the whole regatta overall.
The Etchells sailed in their NZ Freshwater Etchell Championships. There was very tight racing amongst the Etchell fleet and their starts were very closely contested. The Etchells certainly provide a great spectacle for anyone on the shore to see especially during their last race on Saturday when during a breezy trip out to the wing mark saw the pressure of close racing force everyone to pop their kites because the other guy did – this certainly did provide entertainment for all the armchair sailors on shore.
This was a great weekend away, warm sailing conditions and well hosted by the Wanaka Yacht Club. Congratulations to Commodore Quentin Smith for heading a great club event and to their Race Officer Eddie Fahey and to Rodger for letting me have the helm of his Etchell for the Sunday sailing.
Cheers Graeme Wall,
Regional Support Officer Otago/Southland Region.
Yachting New Zealand
Thanks to Karen Bruce for photos.
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