When
everyone turned up to the Muritai Yacht Club in Eastbourne, Wellington,
it was warm with a light breeze from the East. A few boats took to the
water for some practice before the fleet met at the local pub for
dinner. Several notorious supporters turned up as well, making for an
enjoyable evening.
Day 1
The first race day dawned with light rain and no wind. By the time the Race Committee held the briefing, a light Northerly breeze had set in. Nine sailors from all around the North Island as well as the South Island made their way to the start line just off Ward Island. For the first start, the boat end was favoured, and Craig Gilberd on the helf of Full Frontal got away well, just to be overtaken by Ben Bax on Bax Contracting and David Brown on Trailblazer who had worked the left hand side of the course. Riders on the Storm with Ross Shanks on the helm were lying well approaching the mark but could not lay it and went around fourth of the tight bunch of leading boats. Boat speeds were very similar, so all the focus was on tactics and boat handling. Full Frontal worked their way into first up the second beat working the wind shifts and could just hold their lead into the finish pursued closely by Trailblazer. Bax Contracting showed great performance downwind and finished in front of Riders on the Storm. Blossom with Todd Gilbert on the helm beat Thomas Andrews by only a few metres to avoid being last over the line.
For the second race the wind had slightly increased to around seven knots. Trailblazer lead around the top mark but Full Frontal snuck to round the bottom mark first, just to have their lead taken away again by Trailblazer shortly before the finish. Riders on the Storm narrowly beat Bax Contracting by workin the right-hand side of the course on the downwind legs.
The wind came up a notch more for race three, which saw the crew on Full Frontal swap places. With Antje on the helm they made it around the top mark in second place and could only narrowly defend that lead against Bax Contracting. David Brown on Trailblazer was doing a horizon job and easily sailed their substantial lead at the top mark around all three laps to the finish. Riders on the Storm were pursued closely by Thirty Something who kept up well with the newer boats.
The fleet was impressed with the big show of boats for the MYC club racing and the great service from their bar and kitchen. For the next day the forecast is for sun and similar winds.
Day 2
There was no wind in the morning so racing was delayed, the fleet mulled over the time with a bit of tuning advice for those newer to the class, and the AGM was also held in the club rooms. A breeze started to fill in late in the afternoon, so the fleet hit the water and started the first race at 4:10pm. We sailed a two lap race with 12 knots gusting 16, and the Gisborne crew of Ross Shanks and Colin Shanks sailing “Riders on the Storm” who had added a top set of spreaders to the mast for the light conditions stormed off to an early lead which they held for the rest of the race. The rest of the fleet were tightly bunched with more boats on pace, keeping the racing lively. 2nd went to David Brown and David Feek from the Horowhenua sailing “Trailblazer” 3rd was Peter Precey and Mike Candy from the Auckland Sailing Club. Antje and Craig sailing “Full Frontal” from the Bay of Islands jumped the start, so scored OCS
Race five saw the wind come up to 13 knots average, gusting 18. The fleet loved the extra breeze with the boats lighting up with some fast rides. We sailed three laps and again there was some really close racing. There was a dramatic end to this race, with a big lull right before the finish seeing the top three boats close up to a boat length of each other, and a slight slip up by Trailblazer on a port starboard, saw her taking a penalty right before the finish. Riders on the storm took out this race, with Full Frontal 2nd, Trailblazer took out the 3rd spot, and Tauranga crew of Ben Bax and Adrian Webster sailing “Bax Contractors” came in to 4th.
The last race for the evening started at 6:25pm in 10 knot breezes. The wind started to die, and this made it quite shifty. The left hand side of the course on the wind had less breeze and this kept the racing very tight, with several lead changes. At the bottom mark for the last time, Riders on the Storm had the lead over Full Frontal, and Trailblazer. Riders on the Storm went left early up the beat and ran out of wind and were passed. Full Frontal also went left later up the beat and Trailblazer squeaked passed them to lead at the top mark for the last time. A nerve racking downwind in a dying wind finally saw the first boat cross the line at 7:07pm. Trailblazer eventually won this race with Full Frontal second. Third went to Bax Contractors . The wind dropped to nothingafter the race, seeing the fleet paddling home. Later on, it came up again from the East which bodes well for the last day of racing.
A quick shower and a tidy up, and the fleet headed off to dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Javelin class.
Day 3
After a long delay in light winds, racing finally got under way around 4pm in 15 to 20 knots of breeze. Thirty Something scored a win in Race 7, and Trailblazer screamed away from the fleet in Race 8 sealing their claim on the John Eade trophy. For the last race, some crews were swapped around the fleet to mix things up and Full Frontal got to the finish first.
David and David are National Champions - Congratulations!
Results
Day 1
The first race day dawned with light rain and no wind. By the time the Race Committee held the briefing, a light Northerly breeze had set in. Nine sailors from all around the North Island as well as the South Island made their way to the start line just off Ward Island. For the first start, the boat end was favoured, and Craig Gilberd on the helf of Full Frontal got away well, just to be overtaken by Ben Bax on Bax Contracting and David Brown on Trailblazer who had worked the left hand side of the course. Riders on the Storm with Ross Shanks on the helm were lying well approaching the mark but could not lay it and went around fourth of the tight bunch of leading boats. Boat speeds were very similar, so all the focus was on tactics and boat handling. Full Frontal worked their way into first up the second beat working the wind shifts and could just hold their lead into the finish pursued closely by Trailblazer. Bax Contracting showed great performance downwind and finished in front of Riders on the Storm. Blossom with Todd Gilbert on the helm beat Thomas Andrews by only a few metres to avoid being last over the line.
For the second race the wind had slightly increased to around seven knots. Trailblazer lead around the top mark but Full Frontal snuck to round the bottom mark first, just to have their lead taken away again by Trailblazer shortly before the finish. Riders on the Storm narrowly beat Bax Contracting by workin the right-hand side of the course on the downwind legs.
The wind came up a notch more for race three, which saw the crew on Full Frontal swap places. With Antje on the helm they made it around the top mark in second place and could only narrowly defend that lead against Bax Contracting. David Brown on Trailblazer was doing a horizon job and easily sailed their substantial lead at the top mark around all three laps to the finish. Riders on the Storm were pursued closely by Thirty Something who kept up well with the newer boats.
The fleet was impressed with the big show of boats for the MYC club racing and the great service from their bar and kitchen. For the next day the forecast is for sun and similar winds.
Day 2
There was no wind in the morning so racing was delayed, the fleet mulled over the time with a bit of tuning advice for those newer to the class, and the AGM was also held in the club rooms. A breeze started to fill in late in the afternoon, so the fleet hit the water and started the first race at 4:10pm. We sailed a two lap race with 12 knots gusting 16, and the Gisborne crew of Ross Shanks and Colin Shanks sailing “Riders on the Storm” who had added a top set of spreaders to the mast for the light conditions stormed off to an early lead which they held for the rest of the race. The rest of the fleet were tightly bunched with more boats on pace, keeping the racing lively. 2nd went to David Brown and David Feek from the Horowhenua sailing “Trailblazer” 3rd was Peter Precey and Mike Candy from the Auckland Sailing Club. Antje and Craig sailing “Full Frontal” from the Bay of Islands jumped the start, so scored OCS
Race five saw the wind come up to 13 knots average, gusting 18. The fleet loved the extra breeze with the boats lighting up with some fast rides. We sailed three laps and again there was some really close racing. There was a dramatic end to this race, with a big lull right before the finish seeing the top three boats close up to a boat length of each other, and a slight slip up by Trailblazer on a port starboard, saw her taking a penalty right before the finish. Riders on the storm took out this race, with Full Frontal 2nd, Trailblazer took out the 3rd spot, and Tauranga crew of Ben Bax and Adrian Webster sailing “Bax Contractors” came in to 4th.
The last race for the evening started at 6:25pm in 10 knot breezes. The wind started to die, and this made it quite shifty. The left hand side of the course on the wind had less breeze and this kept the racing very tight, with several lead changes. At the bottom mark for the last time, Riders on the Storm had the lead over Full Frontal, and Trailblazer. Riders on the Storm went left early up the beat and ran out of wind and were passed. Full Frontal also went left later up the beat and Trailblazer squeaked passed them to lead at the top mark for the last time. A nerve racking downwind in a dying wind finally saw the first boat cross the line at 7:07pm. Trailblazer eventually won this race with Full Frontal second. Third went to Bax Contractors . The wind dropped to nothingafter the race, seeing the fleet paddling home. Later on, it came up again from the East which bodes well for the last day of racing.
A quick shower and a tidy up, and the fleet headed off to dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Javelin class.
Day 3
After a long delay in light winds, racing finally got under way around 4pm in 15 to 20 knots of breeze. Thirty Something scored a win in Race 7, and Trailblazer screamed away from the fleet in Race 8 sealing their claim on the John Eade trophy. For the last race, some crews were swapped around the fleet to mix things up and Full Frontal got to the finish first.
David and David are National Champions - Congratulations!
Results
| Rank | Boat | SailNo | Club | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Total | Nett |
| 1st | Trailblazer | 524 | Horowhenua Sailing Club | David Brown | David Feek | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 1 | -3 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 10 |
| 2nd | Full Frontal | 523 | Bay of Islands Yacht Club | Antje Muller | Craig Gilberd | 1 | 2 | 2 | (OCS) | 2 | 2 | -4 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 12 |
| 3rd | Thirty Something | 361 | Evan Bay Yacht and Motor Boat | Wade McGee | Demian Dixon | -6 | -5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 27 |
| 4th | Bax Contractors | 522 | TYBPC | Ben Bax | Adrian Webster | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | -6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | (DNC) | 44 | 27 |
| 5th | Riders on the Storm | 380 | Gisborne Yacht Club | Ross Shanks | Colin Shanks | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 50 | 28 |
| 6th | Blossom | 315 | Evans Bay Yacht and Motor Boat Club | Todd Gilbert | Mckenzie Taylor | -9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | (DNC) | 2 | 5 | 3 | 58 | 38 |
| 7th | Orgasm Addict | 521 | ASC | Peter Precey | Mike Candy | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 63 | 41 |
| 8th | Hot Gossip | 305 | Timaru YPBC | Gordon Collister | Simon Kontze | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 | (DNC) | (DNS) | 6 | DNC | 5 | 74 | 52 |
| 9th | Petal | 375 | TRIYA | Thomas Andrews | Matt Roger | 8 | (DNF) | 8 | (DNF) | DNF | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 75 | 53 |
| 10th | Flying Circus | 374 | TRIYA | Kerry Roger | Andy | 10 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 98 | 76 |