Etchells New Zealand
  • Results
    • Flights
    • Results Archive
  • Calendar
  • Join the Fleet!
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Raceday

Winter Series 2

26/8/2012

 
Picture
The second and final instalment of the winter series was characterised by perfect sailing conditions and close racing, with two boats joining the fray for the last hurrah before summer to make up a fleet of 5 in total.

Perhaps not the criritcal mass we are looking for, but with a shortish, squarish line, set close to the dock off Wynard Quarter, the first start of the afternoon was not short on drama, with several boats crowding the pin, hoping to stem the last of the floding tide on the making port tack.  

All eyes were on newcomers Affinity, featuring a rock-star AC crew, a new rig and an eclectic wardrobe of sails.  Bobby's Girl welcomed a new recruit, John Cobb,  in the critical bowman berth and your correspondent was at the sharp end of Echelon, with Anatole Masfen having returned to his familar middle berth on Feng Shui.  At the gun, Echelon had crossed early but gybed around the pin quickly and struck off to the right in clear air. Bobby's Girl suspected a general recall and seemed to slow down, never regained the pace and was ultimately ruled OCS.  

The remaining four boats picked their way through shifts and gusts in a fairly steady 12 knot breeze and remained close throughout, although Feng Shui's lead was only seriously threatened on the second run to the finish.  Valsheda managed a close 2nd and Affinity just pipped Echelon for third.

In race 2 Echelon made a excellent start, bursting past Bobby's Girl at the pin at pace, but failed to capitalise on the work, rounding third.  However, the racing continued to be close and hectic at every mark, with Valsheda ultimately taking it out over Feng Shui and Affinity again snatching third from Echelon.

Race 3 was virtually a carbon copy of 2 - but closer still, with the places changing frequently in a shiftier breeze near the top-mark and drama on the downwind leg as boats josteld for position at close-quarters.  Valsheda made it two in a row, but an incompetent spinnaker drop aboard Echelon allowed Bobby's Girl through to take 4th place.

Race 4 saw Feng Shui return to pole position after a well-timed start and hold the lead through some exceptionally tight racing.  Bobby's Girl suffered gear failure and retired and a decision on Affinity to go left on the final run - while the breeze filled from the right - allowed Echelon to secure third place at last.

All in all an excellent day out and many thanks, as always, to Warwick Gair and the race committee - and to eveyone who turned up.

Please find final results here.

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Alex Webster is Auckland Fleet Captain and runs this website, so blame him.

    Archives

    February 2019
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012

    Categories

    All
    Fleet
    International
    Know How
    Regattas
    Report
    Three Things
    Tuesday Night Series
    Wanaka
    Winter

    RSS Feed

News
Results
Calendar

Register
Boats For Sale
Directory
Contact Us
Join the Fleet!
Etchells Class

Supported By:
Coast New Zealand

RACEDAY APP
  • Results
    • Flights
    • Results Archive
  • Calendar
  • Join the Fleet!
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Raceday