Good wind all day but flicking around from W to SW which meant there were passing opportunities for those who picked the changes. Started with about 12 -14 knts, dropping at times but mostly staying in the 4 metre range. A few changed at the end of the day to the bigger sail but not a lot of difference in speed except one race when wind dropped to 5-6 knts for about 4 minutes. Made it a bit tough for the 4 metre sailors.
15 races in all for the day between the 3 divisions. The course was around the full track with a zigzig in the middle of the runway to keep everyone on their toes. Top speed mid 40s km/hr.
The restricted had some great racing between Fraser and Lucy, both handing the course well and dueling for the front spot. Fraser ended up there a bit more often then Lucy with David and Callum dicing it out behind them.
In the lightweights it was David H's day taking out 3 of his 5 races with some good starts and fast sailing. Margy B got one as well after nailing the start and sailing away from the rest of the fleet. Not sure who got the other but Mako, Trevor, Graham, Ross were also up in the front bunch at times. Dom was sailing his own kart for the first time and looked in total control throughout the day.
Heavyweights also had some close racing with Jenny, Cam and Russell sharing the wins. Jenny was one of the few who did not make the change to a 5.5 in the last race of the day and easily won the start and then defended well for 5 minutes to take her first ever win in a race day. Yes, she was happy! Although the 5.5s closed up a bit on the downwind leg Jenny pulled away up wind every time. Well done.
Finished just after 4 with any rain all day but "muddy corner" was a bit of a mess at day end. Bring on the polymer!
Thanks to Trish and Julie for running the starts and finishes all day and to those regular helpers who set up the course and
timing gear, sweep out toilet block at the end of the day, and pack everything away.
I wonder what it would have been like on Muriwai?
Russell
Yes it took about 1 hour and 59 minutes from when we arrived to cancel the race because of light winds.
The morning rain cleared on schedule, the wind was the predicted westerly, but after being promising on arrival at about 12-13 knts it slowly dropped away to under 10. Yes we sailed with 5.5s but it was not good. Very slow heading south and a bit more speed coming back north but the beach was a bit "sticky" with some soft sand and every time the wind dropped a bit everyone stopped.
We waited 30 minutes from the schedule start to see what happened and the wind came back a bit so decided on a 2 hour race rather than 100 km. We started as the wind dropped away again and only about 5-6 of the 30 starters had any momentum. After 5 minutes we abandoned. Barry was 100 metres in front and carried on to do at least one lap. He appeared about an hour later just as I was setting out to tow him back. He said he couldn't find the 5 km turning mark. I went to pick it up to find someone had stolen it, cone and blokart flag. Just as well we weren't racing, everyone would have headed for the Kaipara. A dirty trick and of no use to anyone other than with a blokart.
A disappointing day and the wind strength is again meant to be about 12-13 knts tomorrow, same as today, so decided not to take the risk and we will hold
Sport Unleashed Winter series at Ardmore as scheduled. I think this was unanimous.
Everyone sailed or drove back to the south end and some had a good sail at times on arrival back at the car park. A bit more wind but too late and we certainly weren't going to get in 10 km let alone 100.
See everyone tomorrow at Ardmore.
Meet 12 noon for set up, briefing 12.50 and immediate race start.
Russell
Auckland airport, 15 gusting 20 knts
Manukau heads, 23 gusting 30+
Hmmmm .... could be back to those 2s and 3s and look out for Orca!
Meant to drop back to 13 -15 knts this afternoon, but who knows....
We still have a westerly wind and fine weather predicted for the race.
The wind strength is dropping a bit, now down to 12 knots so starting to
look like a light weight race.
See everyone at the car park around 11. Those who are yet to pay and
fill out reg. form can do so then. Most have done so already. Those
needing transponders must get them there. They will not be available at
the stream.
Remember, this is a club event and we want everyone to get down the
beach safely. That means not hooning around the south end of the beach
where there will be public and surf club members. Please sail straight
down to the stream. Don't sail to far away from the start area as we
won't have anyone going up and down the beach to check on accidents.
If you miss the briefing because you are away sailing somewhere, you
don't do the race.
Briefing is at the stream at 12.40. Any decisions on the race will be
announced at that stage along with the starting directions.
There will be a cut off time which will be strictly adhered to for the
race. This is for safety reasons. You must not start another lap after
this time.
Everyone will have by now organised that all sails have a visible
number, black sails on both sides. Let's make it easy for the timing people.
See you tomorrow at Muriwai.
Looking good for the weekend. Windfinder at Muriwai saying Westerly 25-27 knt on Saturday afternoon mostly fine, break out the 2s! it's Orca weather, damn! But will the 2 hour barrier be broken?
Sunday is a dropping breeze, still west and about 20 knts. Ideally I would like to get the 100/50 km race in on Saturday and then Sport Unleashed Winter series races Sunday at
Ardmore.
So plan on Muriwai Saturday, low tide about 2 pm, so meet at the car park about 11 for set up or on the beach at the stream by 12 noon. Briefing at 12.45 followed by race start. I have entries from our first try and will email confirmation to these people. Any new entrants please let me know and I'll send through the NoR and registration form.
It's looking like a yeeehaaa weekend.
Updates to follow if things change.
Russell
Plenty of "meeting and greeting" with about a dozen new faces turning up to have ago with the club karts and two families who have their own karts which is great. Hopefully we can persuade them to join up and join in.
Trevor H had the shadow on and took some of the more tentative out for a go while there was a steady turnover with the 4 club karts which kept Ray, Graham and Wayne busy making sure everyone was having a good sail. A few tip overs, even with our club members at a couple of stages but no damage, maybe pride only.
The rest, about 15 club members, enjoyed 10-15 knt winds with no rain. Ideal for 4 metre sails although Barry looked fast with his 3 metre to start until a bit of a lull. A couple changed to 5.5s at the end as the wind dropped down around 10 knts for a short time. No racing but started with windward/leeward courses and then changed to using the taxi track as the wind went further south. This meant using the muddy corner,
photos to follow, to get make a safe turn at the end of the fast downwind leg. Tricky part of the track in a bit of wind but with a grass run off the other side no real problems.
Lots of grins, some mud splattered faces after a day with wind, something that has been missing from Auckland for a while. That's 2 out of 3 weekends now where we haven't used the 5.5s, must be a record.
Next weekend we will try for the 100 km race if the wind co-operates otherwise we have the Sport Unleashed Winter Series on Sunday. At this stage long term forecast is looking ok for 100 km race Saturday but too early for anything positive.
Will let you know how it's looking later in the week.
Russell
Looks like we have wind, maybe up to 15 knts at times. Prediction of fine weather this afternoon, although would bring wet weather gear for odd shower and the puddles.
Hope to see some old hands who have been away from the sport for a while and newcomers yet to experience the thrill of a hard fast surface.
Well, the Teams Racing was a great social gathering, we had a great lunch - followed by a great dinner, and then the Rugby!
Those that stuck it out on Saturday (and those that returned) had a great blast at Blokart Heaven - even if we did get soaked! Theo failed in his attempt to negotiate the "big puddle". There were lots of capsizes, and a group doing spin-outs.
Sunday started with a highly successful NZBAI meeting, and then a bunch from the ABC descended on
Baypark to get "a feel for the track" - Bruce & Jenny, Wayne, Graham, and Russell. Trevor and I stayed for the racing. John had to be dropped off to attend to some property matters. The weather looked a bit threatening, but we finished the racing in the dry. This was was my first time at baypark, and it took a bit of getting used to all the ways to get around the course, and to figure out the transit times for the dial-up. I finally managed to nail the start after about 8 races. This is more like sailing a yacht in a bay with moored boats, and the wind reminded me of sailing on a lake. Trevor managed a 4=. It was Trevor who taught me (the hard way) that is some places it is faster across the grass, so I reciprocated to a lot of the locals. The almost infinite number of ways around the course meant that you just had to try out different combinations. This is one course where local knowledge is king!
Many thanks to our hosts at the BBC, and for the BBQ afterward, and the great hospitality. The racing was quick-fire and I still made it home by 6 pm.
Cheers
Grant
... and the winner was.... the weather! Rained most of Saturday and no wind. After about 5 hours the event was cancelled, and of course the wind came in about 30 minutes after that to allow some to have a sail as everything was wet anyway.
Good food and good company all day meant the time passed quickly but very disappointing not to get the teams event under way. The wind arrived about 2.20 along with more rain and about 20 of the 55 who turned up spent the time racing around in the water. A lot took the chance to pack up and head for warm showers and dry clothes.
Saturday night most headed for the Chinese restaurant for a great meal and
good fun. All the prizes were given away by lucky draw since we had no winners, or as Ted pointed out, everyone was undefeated.
The AGM at 10 am on Sunday was finished within 80 minutes and then everyone dried gear before either a last sail on the track, heading for the Bay Park race day, a lot of visitors for the first time, or some of the travellers heading for home.
It's always good to catch up with everyone and get an update on sailing in different areas around NZ plus plan ahead for future events.
Thanks to the team who provided and served up the food both Saturday and Sunday. This was really appreciated by those who had braved the weather.
Next weekend is Manawatu's 2 day event at Ohakea which I know some are planning to make the trip.
Russell
