Harken Regatta- Sun and sea breeze for sailors in the Bay of Islands

by Barbara Caley on 25 Oct 2010
Summer has reached the Bay of Islands this weekend and provided for fantastic sailing in sea breezes and sunshine for five centreboard fleets at the annual HARKEN Labour weekend regatta.

The entry list sported an impressive assembly of young and old national and international talent, who all enjoyed the friendly competitive atmosphere on the water, as well as the great hospitality at the Bay of Islands Yacht Club. This regatta is open to all senior centreboard dinghies and catamarans, which made for a variety of classes ranging from single handed skiffs to splashes, and from mistrals to Javelins.

The weekend began with a great social Friday evening taking in the view and watching the first of the Coastal Classic Race finishers coming in to Russell as the sun set. Saturday started with azure clear skies and little wind.

The first race of the regatta was the Bay Race, a seven mile course where everyone started together. The wind was variable 8 to 12 knots which provided for very close racing. Sunday's sailing was when the work proper started. Sailing was delayed while the race officers waited for the breeze to fill in. There were four races run back to back. The boats were started in two sets, putting similar classes together. The racing was very even and provided for some very exciting finishes.

The day rounded off with a very tasty curry dinner back at the Club provided by the Club’s renowned Supergrannys. Monday morning threatened a light wind day, with some cloud cover over the land that would prevent a sea breeze. After a little postponement though, the sun burned the clouds away and for the third day in a row the weather was fantastic, so the sailors hit the water even before the sea breeze was settled and the AP was taken down. There was close racing and several exciting duels were fought out with no quarters given.

After sailing, the winners were acknowledged with some great prizes generously sponsored by HARKEN and Opua Port Supply. Sailors and organisers alike thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, and all are looking forward to starting their next season in the same manner. In October 2011, an significant turnout of Europe Dinghies is expected, due to the Global Veteran Cup that will be hosted by the Bay of Islands Yacht Club in January 2012.

Skiffs

1st Sonic Boom RS800 800 Shaun Gilder Eileen RAYC 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 (3.0) 1.0 10.0 7.0
2nd Big Bouy 2 RS700 721 Neil Sanders RAYC 2.0 4.0 4.0 2.0 (5.0 DNC) 2.0 2.0 21.0 16.0
3rd RS700 775 Neil McCallum RAYC 3.0 3.0 3.0 4.0 (5.0 DNC) 1.0 3.0 22.0 17.0
4th Black Box Recorder Musto Skiff 387 Russ Evans RAYC 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 (5.0 DNC) 5.0 DNC 5.0 DNC 25.0 20.0

Javelins

1st Full Frontal Javelin 523 Craig Gilberd Antje Muller BOIYC 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 (3.0) 1.0 10.0 7.0
2nd Orgasm Addict Javelin 521 Peter Precey Eddie Markey ASC 2.0 1.0 2.0 (3.0) 3.0 1.0 3.0 15.0 12.0
3rd White Knuckle Express Javelin 366 Michael Cate Andrew Clarke BOIYC / OCC 3.0 (4.0) 3.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 2.0 20.0 16.0
4th Flying Circus Javelin 374 Kerry Roger Barbara Caley BOIYC (5.0) 5.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 2.0 4.0 29.0 24.0
5th Nice One Javelin 262 Nathaniel Deverell Neil Deverell BOIYC 4.0 3.0 4.0 (6.0 DNF) 5.0 5.0 5.0 32.0 26.0

Mistrals & Hobie 16

1st 3 Girls Blouse Hobie 16 101072 Fiona Joyce Stephnie Long F46T (3.0) 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 9.0 6.0
2nd 2 115 Mistrals 115 Alex Byning Ned Dalbeth-Hudson KCC 1.0 (2.0) 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 13.0 11.0
3rd 1 113 Mistrals 113 Eugenio Favero Tommaso Orlandini KCC 2.0 (3.0) 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 20.0 17.0

Europes & Lasers

1st Europe 107 Nadine Moeller SCMO 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 (3.0) 11.0 8.0
2nd Laser 163940 Dribs Taipa (7.0 DNC) 2.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 1.0 18.0 11.0
3rd Europe 110 Thure Gnadeberg BSV (7.0 DNC) 3.0 3.0 4.0 3.0 1.0 4.0 25.0 18.0
4th dreaming with the fishes Laser 147616 Doug Kane Taipa 2.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 4.0 (7.0 OCS) 2.0 26.0 19.0
5th She just goes... Europe 91 Etienne Favre BOIYC 4.0 (5.0) 5.0 5.0 5.0 4.0 5.0 33.0 28.0
6th Europe 110 Andy Greager BOIYC 3.0 (7.0 DNC) 7.0 DNC 7.0 DNC 7.0 DNC 7.0 DNC 7.0 DNC 45.0 38.0

Splash

1st Splash 2433 O'Shea Butler KCC (7.0 DNC) 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 13.0 6.0
2nd Splash 1416 James Ayr KCC (7.0 DNC) 2.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 22.0 15.0
3rd Splash 1841 Harris Bindon KCC 1.0 4.0 (6.0) 3.0 5.0 2.0 2.0 23.0 17.0
4th Splash 1854 Sam King KCC (7.0 DNC) 3.0 2.0 4.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 27.0 20.0
5th Splash 2305 David deLangen KKYC 2.0 5.0 4.0 (6.0) 4.0 5.0 6.0 32.0 26.0
6th Splash 1433 Hohepa Lewer TSC 3.0 (6.0) 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 5.0 36.0 30.0