Spring Regatta – Mar 3, 2013

Spring Regatta – Race Highlights

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This years Spring Regatta was a workout with the fine Race committee of Richard and Lawrie getting off (four?) fine races. All this despite the start time being delayed due to lack of wind. The first race was quite short in distance as the wind was on the verge of building, but still unsettled. Imp won the start cleanly and lead the fleet towards the weather mark but Kiatoa pressed hard and rounded first. Imp, on her heels rounded and they both hoisted spinnakers for the run home. While the heads were down and lines being hauled the wind shifted and the Kay D, rounding some seconds later, sheeted in hard and beat up towards new wind. After a few moments of struggling with spinnakers strapped in hard and watching the Kay D roll over them Kiatoa and Imp dropped their spinnakers and chased the new leader. The wind was swinging through thirty degrees and was taylor made for an old lake sailor and so the Kay D hung on to her lead to take the first race.

The second race was also short, going to Grace point and rounding Richard in the club inflatable as the first mark before pealing off on a run to the previous weather mark followed by a short beat home. A short beat keeps the fleet very close at the first weather mark and so the leaders have to pay close attention after rounding. They must thread through a fleet who is either on Starboard tack or are leeward boats so care must be taken not to get too caught up in the spinnaker hoist. Kay D won the start a pin end starboard tack. Threading through the anchored boats she got a good shift and gust that brought her to the weather mark on port tack clear ahead. The fleet closed on the run and after rounding serious challenges were made by Kiatoa and Velica before Imp drove over Kay D to take the lead. Then thing went lighter and the fleet compressed so it was anyones game. Kay D took a chance on new wind showing on the water, crossing Imp’s stern, eventually finding the gust and moving back into the lead. Imp was not done however and powered through the Kay D’s lee to take the race in the final thirty yards.

Was there another race before lunch? There must have been, I am so tired. If so we didn’t win it. Lunch on the water and then back at it in building wind. Again the short first leg kept things exciting with many roundings happening overlapped and very close to our race committee. The afternoon was a great display of fine sailing on Imp with lots of fun also happening mid fleet as the boats were in close contact and positions shifting with the wind. It made for great tactical racing. Several times Velica, Kiatoa and Kay D were in a tacking duel that seriously raised the level of fun, and this was happening all through the fleet. I saw Albatro slap a covering tack on Merriweather as they approached the finish line, just like in America’s cup coverage. Jeremy Milsom had Sable roaring in from the side hoping they would get in a tacking duel and let him through. There was also some great spinnaker work done this day. Wildfire was very impressive riding the gusts with her big chute.

As the wind built the races became longer and I found myself becoming quite tired. Fortunately I was able to sail in the lee of Merriweather before the last race and pirate Ole aboard the Kay D to help me out. Thanks Derek and Betsy for lending me some rail meat. Imp was way ahead on that one as well but we had a great race with a duel with Velica most of the way around the course. On the final dash to the finish Vincent squeezed up under our lee to beat us out, a lovely manoeuvre well executed. It is so much fun when the boats are all close and there was a lot of beaming faces at the end of the day. I dragged myself up the hill and found my way home to a hot bath and a glass of wine. How many races did we have anyway?

clinging to the deck of the Kay D
Martin Herbert

Final Score

Official Results – Race 1

Course: 1.0 Mile

Official Results – Race 2

Course: 1.5 Miles

Official Results – Race 3

Course: 3.5 Miles

Official Results – Race 4

Course: 2.5 Miles

Official Results – Race 5

Course: 4.5 Miles