29 November 2010

A perfect days sailing with 8 boats and a steady breeze from the west 10<>15 knts for the 2 champs races.

All boats looked up to speed with the top mark hotly contested, even on port. Dave and the ssss Dirch having an issue with buoy room within the 3 boat lengths and ending up touching as they rounded. So a protest launched. Even so, with a down wind finish we were busy on the start boat taking placings, as most of the boats were finishing overlapped. Justin H had excellent all round speed and took the 1st gun from Dirch, and a fast finishing Duffy taking 3rd place from Dave 4th. Then Jim, Royce, Gerrit and John Simmons who is enjoying his Finn sailing.

2nd race saw Dave at his best controlling the start and all challengers. Maybe fired up after the P/S incident in the first race. Dirch chased him hard for 2nd with Justin again sailing well for 3rd. Some good pressure down wind so a few passing lanes for those looking, so once again very close finishes with Gerrit, Duffy, Jimmy, Simmo and Royce finishing in that order.

The club had an excellent day celebrating over 35 boats total on the water and a good turn out for the family BBQ. Its been a while since Ive seen so many new members enjoying the Club. Great stuff.

With a protest committee organised, we quickly confirmed the new first race placings. Having Justin as a witness to the top mark incident confirmed the committees decision. (But also remembering Justin's past history of hitting more boats than "golf balls" ha ha). So we decided Dave and ssss Dirch placings in the 1st race will be reversed. Final outcome.

Check the sailing program, don't forget about the night race this Wednesday 7.30pm start. Bring your boat or come and watch how some people sail better when they can't see.

Also sailing next weekend at WYC Sat<>(Sun champs). Early start and the last tune up opportunity before "Doyle" Pt Chev Auckland Champs.

22 November 2010

Waiuku waters at it best. W/S/W 20<>25 gusting 30. White water and waves for Sundays champ race. 10 Finns on the line for a boat start, 40 min races. 2 triangles an up and down to the finish.

Best place to be was at the wing mark to witness all the different ways of attempting the gybe. Some of our junior sailors went out in the inflatables to watch so they could learn this skill. Very entertaining. Some good ones, up side down ones, a few grannies thrown in by some, but very entertaining.

Raymond Hall was once again grinning from ear to ear with these conditions, but Dave Hoogenboom kept him pretty honest in both races. For the rest it was pretty much survival mode, as in get round the track. Dirch, Gerrit, welcome back Stoney, Justin, Duffy, Simmo and new Finnster Royce Hawkins all had their moments, some of it swimming after their boats.

A good turn out considering Geoff, who watched over the junior fleet, Jimmy G, Peter H, Rex E and myself were there without our boats.

A great start to the day with bacon and eggs for breaky cooked up by the "slash" Peter Hull, still recovering from his leg laceration after his solid showing at the Nth Island champs at Thames.Then all the exhilarating sailing, and the debrief.

There just happened to be a 40oz of rum with a loose top to attend to, and of course welcoming Royce to the class. He had mentioned that most of his sailing is on keel boats, so I told him that's just what the Finn feels like to sail and he would be right at home out there in the breezy conditions. Later, with both feet bleeding and bruises all over, Royce questioned my comparison over a drink, but did said "I will be back" A real "Arnie". (Same size).

I can't wait to get out there with you guys and do battle, but that's a way off yet, so keep up the numbers and entertainment. Real pleasing with the turn out on Sun.

The results will be on the board by next week, but here are the first 4 placings.
Race 1 Ray H. 2 Dave H. 3 Justin H. 4 Gerrit B.
Race 2 Ray H. 2 Dave H. 3 Dirch A. 4 Gerrit B.

10 November 2010

We had some interesting racing at WYC last weekend. On the Sat the breeze was from the S/S-W blowing 10<>15 knts. We had a boat start out by the needles which gave the sailors a strong current and a bit of a chop with wind against tide.

Ray was down to set the tone and on the day picked up 3 good wins. He didn't have it all his own way and twice had to come from behind. With the others making crucial mistakes,and with John, Drich and Peter all capsizing this opened the door for Ray to get his hat trick.But as a spectator it was, great racing to watch.

On Sun we had the second champs day. The breeze was light, a variable SSW 0<>6 knts to start with. David H boat was in for repairs so I was pleased when he asked to use nzl23 and great to see her on the water again. We started the first race in tricky conditions and Dave picked the right side of the course when the wind went to the West and won the 1st race easily. The next two races where sailed in Westerly 10<>12 two up and downs.

And yes, a long time coming but Gerrit's purchase of a wing mast from Roger H has made his boat fly. An excellent win with Peter Hull, yes Peter Hull, pipping Dave H on the line for 2nd.

It was pleasing to see John Simmons out in nzl228. The first time the boat been wet since the nationals and right on the pace with John, Jim and Butch. Hope this becomes a habit John and well sailed.

We finished the days sailing with a sprint race With the ssss Drich holding out Dave and Duffy.

All good stuff to watch. Once again thanks to Margret Hulls help on the committee boat and son Alan for manning the tower. For the 1st time in a long time the club was fully functional with the inflatables, committee boat and tower all in radio contact. Well done Alan H
A great day for the club with over 20 boats out racing. That's the target to beat now.

Champ results.
Race 1. Dave, Dirch, Gerrit,John S, John D, Jim, Peter
Race 2. Gerrit, Peter,Dave, John D, John S, Dirch, Jim
Sprint race. Dirch, Dave, John D,Jim, Gerrit, John S, Peter

KZ70 was for sale on T/M. I'm sure she was the plug for the mark 1 Martins. She had a KZ 228 sail, and some other good gear on board, boom, rudder, center plate,compass, inspection hatches, pussy pads stack straps and pulleys etc . A few of the boys were bidding, but a Thames person was on a mission. Reserve $100, sold for over $500. The boat needed a slight repair and a repaint, so hopefully we may see the guy at some stage .I will let him know about the Nth Islands this weekend.

28 October 2010

We had the first of our champs racing on Sunday with a reasonable turn out of 6 boats which made for good racing. 2 races were sailed in a light breeze out of the Nor West with 2 up and downs for the course and a boat start.

Dave H looks pretty serious this season and seems to have the best set up for speed in the light conditions. It looked like SSSS dog Dirchs' conditions, but Dave was never threatened once in front in both races. Some real close racing amongst the other boys, which made excellent watching from the committee boat.

Commodore Geoff was a little off the pace and tended to sail his boat in a different mode to the others, but will be quick when the breeze kicks in. Dirch, Gerrit, Brian and Jim all had their moments, but go the wrong way and you missed out big time.

So not a bad way to start the season, but not the 20 knots we wanted for some stand up down wind sailing that I know you guys have been training for. Next time.

We finished the day with a sprint race won by Gerrit who pipped SSSS on the line. Well done Gerrit.

Results
Race 1 Dave, Dirch, Gerrit, Brian, Jim, Geoff
Race 2 Dave, Brian, Dirch, Gerrit, Jim, Geoff
Sprint race Gerrit, Dirch, Dave, Jim, Brian DNF, Geoff DNS.

At the debrief we had venison stakes with the beer supplied by Paul Kane. Thanks Paul and your boys for the feed.

It was decided not to sail Monday, but a few of the Finn boys went for a successful white baiting trip with me on the Waikato. We had a 40oz rum to kill time which made for an enjoyable day. I had a couple of nips and thought I had sun stroke until reading the label. 80 PROOF.Woo.

My mate Larry Murphy cooked up a beautiful feed of bait for Jim, Dirch and I at our bach. Spud was celebrating after getting a 20 kilo lift. $60 a kilo, an awesome day.

My apologies to Ray Hall who came down to Waiuku for the invitation race advertised for Monday, but canned on Sunday. Bad communication. I have some whitebait for you Ray.

North Islands coming up soon.

cuondawatasn
nzl23

14 October 2010

Sat saw 3 Finns out in a good blow for the opening weekend. More Finnsters watching than sailing, I hope this is a one off.

Geoff ,Justin and Stoney had a real testing day with Justin taking 2 guns to Stoneys one. Justin was in match racing mode and covered Stoney well to win his 2 races. Geoff was on the pace ,but struggled a bit down wind. From the shore it looked like his vang wasn't working as it should and maybe this is why he had a swim. So Justin 2 Stoney 1.

On Sun we had the first up the creek race. Good to see Dave H out in his boat and looked pretty smooth on the tiller. The race took 2 hours to complete in 10<>15 knots. Dave had an early break on the fleet of 7 which he would hold on to and take the race. With a boat start it enabled me to check out the boys rigs and speed. Once again Stoney and Justin were at each other which enabled the SSSSS Dirch to control 2nd place behind Dave.We have renamed one of the creeks Letchers Bay after Geoff had his 2nd can for the weekend up this unnamed inlet. A great race and not a waste of time as some would think.So well done to those that fronted.

A bit of gossip, (1) maybe Geritt has a new rig to show us. (2)I saw some pictures of a Finn sailing up north. I'm sure it was Roger Hall at the helm,but whose boat was he sailing. (3) And Ray has his gear back from the USA, so the next time we sail could be a good one with heaps of boats and stories to tell.(4) Technora sails on special.

Not to far till the North Islands at Thames, the Hartleys have pulled the pin on the regatta, so we have the water to ourselves. The first chance to show everyone that Finnsters do travel.

Sailing at WYC next weekend with 4.5 m tides, cant wait to see the boys on the water in good numbers.

The worst thing about sailing is not sailing.

cuondawatasoon
nzl23

27 September 2010

Two days of entertaining Finn sailing with only one of the seven entries not capsizing. Both days were sailed in 15<>20 west nor-west with up and downs and triangle courses. 6 races and one drop gave Ray a clean slate after dropping a 3rd. 5 wins. Ray used nzl23 and certainly had her up to speed. Sorry mate not for sale. Gerrit sailed well and his boat did look fast at times after the Jenny Craig treatment it had over Winter.

Race one saw 2 boats head to shore with blown out sails with seconds to go before the gun. A bit disappointing for John D and Dirch H. Ray used his fittness and learning he picked up from the Gold cup to set the pace for the whole regatta. Some super fast reaches and an entertaining gybe mark for all. Butch looked the fastest down wind, but sailing by the lee in 20 does has its up and downs as he found out when the boat catapulted through the air. Justin had a clean regatta and was proud of his 3rd place, and no bumper boats. Gerrit spent a good while in the drink after a capsize and had to be taken to shore and thrown into a warm shower, but returned on Sunday to sail very well.

Thanks to secretary John Duff for organizing the regatta. John hasn't sailed much over the winter, so the conditions really tested him, but at the debrief he was all go and had the boys ringing for taxi rides home after we emptied the fridge. ssss Dirch had a steady as she goes regatta to take 2nd place and will be dangerous at the other regattas. Peter Hull joined the fleet for Sundays racing and enjoyed his sailing, but was a real star at the debrief as well.

So after being the OOD, with helpers Margret Hull and grandson Tane Mahuta, the whole weekend was great to watch and run. I enjoyed seeing nzl23 fired up and I can,t wait to get back out there but that's a few months away yet. A reasonable turn out for the first one ,but hope to double the numbers for the Nth Islands at Thames in November.

Results for the spring regatta.
1 Ray Hall.
2 Dirch Andersen.
3 Justin Hurst.
1st H/C Gerrit Bearda