2010 OK Brass Monkey sailed at Napier

by Ben Morrison on 9 Jun 2010 The second annual Brass Monkey Regatta took place at Napier over Queen's Birthday weekend and attracted a stunning turnout of 28 boats including a few new faces.

The forecast was for similar conditions to last year with little wind on the Saturday and a winter gale on the Sunday. In reality there was some very good and close racing in tricky conditions.

After a cold frost on Friday night, the sailors arrived to find a thick layer of ice on all the boats on Saturday morning, and we realised that there is a reason why this regatta is called the Brass Monkey. However, the sun was out so no one minded. The race committee kept the fleet ashore until 1.00pm when a 5 knot easterly breeze developed in the bay and everyone was sent out to race.

The first race, just a windward/leeward/windward course, started in a light breeze with most of the fleet choosing the right hand side of the course. Alistair Deaves (known as 'Devious' for his light air cunning) in his latest new boat found a few nice shifts up the middle and rounded clear ahead from World Champion Karl Purdie and Brad Douglas. While the fleet closed up on the long run, Deaves' lead was never seriously challenged.

Race 2 was held in similar conditions but with the breeze dying slightly. This time it was Junior World Champion Matt Stevens who found the best route and led around the top from Purdie and Luke O'Connell. The run became a very broad reach and places stayed more or less the same until the finish. One notable battle was between the three Weeks brothers for places 5-7, with the youngest Jake winning from brothers Kagan and Josh.

With the breeze almost gone and the light fading the fleet was then sent ashore, meaning that Stevens would take out the sacred Tiki and wear it for the evening with the blessing of the OK Kaumatuas. And what an evening it would be.

After two or three cold beers, at just 5.00pm Mr. Stechmann broke out the Rum Bucket and Mr Morrison filled it with rum - and a classic OK evening was under way.

While the fleet had of course distinguished itself on the water with our usual high level of racing, at this year's Brass Monkey the off-the-water performance was particularly impressive. This was our first regatta since the 2010 Worlds campaign, and therefore our first regatta in a long while without Worlds qualification/preparation to think about. Any thoughts of restraint on Saturday night were therefore entirely absent. After numerous 'Buckies' and some huge steaks, the fleet was ready to hit town having only suffered a few casualties.

Mr Stechmann was one; after leading the charge for most of the early part of the evening his spirit was broken when the Napier Sailing Club expelled his faithful dog Ralph, and he departed the scene. Mr Purdie and Mr McDowell also faded at that point (having brought their wives) and some of the juniors decided the pace was too hot and bailed out.

The remainder of the fleet then hit Napier's waterfront night spots, where Junior World Champion Matt 'Munter' Steven, proudly wearing the sacred Tiki, stepped up and took out the Golden Harpoon in devastating fashion – this heralded a new high (or maybe low) for the class, as the Tiki-Harpoon double has never before been achieved in a single day. The fleet spent the rest of the evening conversing with the locals, sampling rum and tequila and toasting Mr Stevens' efforts.

Sunday morning brought a forecast of 35 knots and huge swells, which might have tested the resolve of many after the exertions of the previous evening, however, at the club a steady 16-18 knots was blowing and the fleet suited up and put to sea. By the time Race 3 started the wind had dropped to around 15 knots, and together with a large rolling swell (which caused some inexplicable cases of seasickness), the conditions were almost perfect.

Dan Bush sailed a flawless first beat to round ahead of Purdie and the chasing pack. The first reach was awesome, with big drops and long rides available on the peaking swell. Purdie capitalised on the waves, showing awesome off-wind speed to lead by the wing mark and then to the finish.

Race 4 was sailed in similar conditions with the wind dropping off slightly towards the end of the race and again going left. This time Purdie made no mistakes and led from start to finish in his customary style. Brad Douglas sailed another solid race as did 'Whale Rider' Stevens.

With the wind still dropping and black clouds on the horizon, the final race got underway. Again most of the fleet again went to the right side of the course. Steve McDowell and Deaves went left and then tacked and were lifted right up to the top mark. McDowell rounded first followed by Deaves and Kagan Weeks. The first reach turned into a fetch and Deaves took the lead which he never gave up – another victory (and the sacred Tiki) for the Devious One in light, tricky conditions. As the black cloud passed the wind slowly filled in again allowing all the boats to finish and sail ashore.

And so Karl Purdie won his second Brass Monkey from Matt Stevens and Alistair Deaves.

The prize-giving was held at the Gin Trap bar and restaurant during the evening with an excellent buffet dinner provided. Many thanks to Monkey's Fist Yachting for another great event and to the Gin Trap who were the principle sponsor. Thanks also to Tim Sandall and his Race Committee team who did a superb job as usual.

The event looks set to become a regular on the annual calendar and is proving so popular that even the Australians are going to have one. Kiwis lead the way yet again!