Keelers Newsletters
Race 6 winter series report.
Another good days sailing for the 14 boats that arrived for the postponed race from last weekend.
A steady but light breeze which started out as a NE wind for the start of Div B allowed most of them to go with their spinnakers but by the time Div A started it had drifted further north and they just went with genoas. 1220 had a little identity crisis and went with the B div originally thinking it was a mass start but perhaps she should have stayed with them as the lack of her big headsail was tough on her. Maku as usually showed a clean set of heels and was first boat home but only by a couple of minutes over Special FX then Pedlar, followed by the other two multis, Nomad and Trifecta, who had a good battle. Dawn Song was the first of Div B with Anitra second. Soundwave and Dec Sun fought it out all the way to the line but superior crewmanship saw Dec Sun take honours, she had 2 crew to Soundwaves 1. 1220 was pipped at the line by a fast-finishing Moonshadow by about 6 inches. That’s if you can call the slow drift in the dying breeze a fast finish.
I have had a few adjustments of handicaps to try to give all boats a better chance on handicap. In future the two top boats will have their handicap increased and the two bottom boats get a decrease and we shall see how that pans out.
See you all next Sunday, Blue skies Rex.
Race report 5 Winter 2024
A good steady breeze for the 5th of the winter series greeted the 10 yachts that turned out. There were no mishaps at any of the starts and all boats got away cleanly although some did give themselves a serious handicap by being late to the line. For the first race, Div A started 10 mins behind Div B but the lead yacht, Special FX, from Div A only managed to make up 41/2 of those minutes on Dawn Song the lead yacht of Div B.
For the next race Div A start was only 5 minutes behind Div B. The result of that was a very close finish between those 2 boats with Dawn Song narrowly heading off Special FX by 19 sec. The second upwind leg of the second race saw an assortment of vessels arrive at the top mark about the same time along with a squall which made for exciting times on board. A couple of yachts did some unexpected manoeuvres and unfortunately, Neptune11 suffered some damage to her mainsail and had to retire. A couple of yachts did unnecessary 360s and Dawn Song threw away a batten which apparently didn’t float. It has been suggested that that will incur an increased cost for fillings at a local Dentistry.
On a more serious note, our thoughts go out to the Skipper of Jesse and his family as he is currently in hospital.
You may notice that I have adjusted some of the handicaps to try to make them a little more even. These handicaps are strictly for our club racing and to give each boat a better chance on handicap. Next race is 21st July, see you there.
Blue skies Rex
19 June 2024 Race report Race 3 Winter Series
Only 8 hardy boats put to sea for the 3rd race of the winter series. As it turned out, there was no need to be hardy as the wind was a steady NE breeze which made for some tricky sail selection given that it was supposed to increase as the day went on. Flat water and good winds made for ideal sailing conditions and as it happened, the 2nd race had steadily decreasing wind. The rain stayed away for the first race but light misty rain gave the raincoats something to do for the 2nd race. Dawn Song was first over the line in Div B in the first race and was never to give up that lead taking both line honours and handicap in both races. The A Div was lead off by a fast starting Jesse in both races but Special FX managed to catch her and take line honours in both races in Div A. There were some caught with their pant down at the start of race 2 in Div B but Libby was not to be caught napping and had the best start and were going well being 3rd boat through the start finish line but the 2nd beat to windward was not so good. Hopefully the rain this week will clean the spilt soup off the decks of Dawn Song. Div A had a battle royal between Jesse and Pedlar for 2nd place. The lead seesawed but Jesse'92s spinnaker gave them bragging rights by 3 seconds. Wright One needs a quicker clock to get them to the start a bit sooner.
After much discussion, I have decided to keep the next race as per the program. That is next Sunday 16th June. Many crews have put it in their calendars and primed their better halves and don'92t like to go cap in hand to plead their case for a changed date. There will then be a 3 week gap before the next race. It is an anomaly in the program caused because the writers thought it collided with Matariki. It doesn'92t but there we are!
See you all next Sunday for an Island race,
Blue skies Rex
Report Race 4 Winter Series 2024
19 June 2024
Race report 4 winter series Another ideal days sailing with a steady breeze from the north greeted the13 boats that turned out for the start of the island race out to Cow, up toShag, back to Cow then to the start finish line. Unfortunately the steadybreeze didn't continue and we had periods of quite indifferent effort by the winds. Nevertheless, once again Libby taught the Div B yachts how to start on time, but unfortunately that was to be her best effort for the day. Spinnaker trouble left her far behind the fleet in the end.
Moonshadow gave herself a hefty handicap at the line and never recovered, retiring early. Meanwhile, Dawn Song and Kiwi Vibe were battling it out with the lead changing hands several times over the race. On the wind, it'92s all Kiwi Vibe, but off the wind Dawn Song has the advantage. Kiwi Vibeeventually, taking the honours by 49 seconds.
Div A saw Dec Sun showing all the others how to start despite them all having several practise runs to the line to get their timing right. The fresh breeze also allowed her to show her paces when reaching but the two pedigree yachts Titanium and Maku pulled away followed by Special FX.Jessie brought out her gennaker and that gave her an advantage to pull away too. Around the Cow there was an advantage to be had for those that had seen the weather forecast that predicted the wind was to go to the NE in the afternoon so the yachts that kept to the east got a huge advantage over those that stayed out wide. Special FX did that best being the 2nd around Shag after Maku who just flys anyway. Maku took line honours finishing 18mins ahead of Special FX.
A couple of minor races within race between Jesse and Pedlar and Wright One and Soundwave. Pedlar and Soundwave winning those. Some of the Handicaps are not very helpful to some and I am trying to adjust them as we go. Maku and Trifecta being glaring examples. Possibly Wright One at the other end of the scale.
The times I have had from some of you have caused me some confusion. Half of you are sending me the time of day at the finish which Tony requested you do and others sending me their elapsed times in mins and secs which would be fine if they made sense. For instance, Special FX and Titanium both agreed that Titanium was a little over 5 mins behind Special FX but the elapsed times each provided show it as only 2 and a half mins. Same with Pedlar and Jesse, Jesse reports they were 4 mins behind but the times provided by each show only a 10sec gap . So in future can you all provide me with the time of day at the finish. I know when the start was as I provided it. Your phones have the correct time on them down to secs.
Next race is July 7th ,see you all Then
Cheers Rex
