Peroni Summer Saturday Series 2018 at Hebe Haven Yacht Club Race 6
by Chris Howarth, Fragrant Harbour 17 Jul 2018 00:05 NZST
14 July 2018
A curious Hotwired – Peroni Summer Saturday Series , Race 6 © Event Media
Rain and thunder storm warnings were in effect on Saturday, the 14th of July, as the Hebe Haven Yacht Club's race management team assembled on the committee vessel, Hebe One, for the penultimate afternoon's racing in the Peroni Summer Saturday Series 2018.
Race Officer, Geoff Taylor, supported by volunteers from No One Else, had provisionally selected a 17-nautical-mile course (117) for IRC, which would entail rounding a windward Club Mark, followed by Bluff Island (s), Steep (s), Trio (p), Table (p) and finishing at Little Palm Beach (LPB). HKPN, Sportsboats and J-80s were to have a 15nm race – Course 90 – including the Club Mark, Trio (p), Bluff (p), Table (s) finishing at LPB. A more sheltered Course 30 was proposed for the Dragons around the Club Mark, Table (p), Bay (p), Table (s) likewise finishing at LPB.
With a long windward mark in place at 100 degrees and 0.6nm distance, and a mark laid at Steep Island, all seemed in place. Although 3-metre swells were reported at Steep, and a squall passed over Kau Sai Chau Island into Port Shelter, the skies began to brighten and patches of blue appeared.
Winds were oscillating between 90 and 115 degrees, averaging 14.6 knots. However, at 1345 ominous dark clouds appeared over Clearwater Bay as a heavier squall approached. Winds reached 18 knots, gusting 25. The RO had no option other than to raise the AP postponement flag, notifying the 25 boats and their expectant crews that they would have to wait 20 minutes.
According to the Observatory, a second squall was expected to come through around 50 minutes later, with even stronger winds. Various options were considered but the lack of marks made it difficult to set an alternative geometric course within Port Shelter.
Taking into account the deteriorating conditions and the safety of the crews, the RO made the difficult call at around 1415 to abandon racing, sending everyone home. Two of the Dragons stayed out to practice, along with LoTech, but others seemed relieved to be heading home.
Back ashore, amongst the happiest sailors were the crew of Bits and Pieces whose four-year-old sails had not withstood an early blow.
Concerned for the safety of Eliza and Fai, who had been sent out in a small runabout to retrieve the Steep Mark, Hebe One headed for Little Palm Beach where the wind was averaging 27.2 knots, gusting 29.4! The RO's decision to abandon racing had been the right one, supported by many of the crews including the Magic 25s Hotwired and Gnarwhal.
The finale of the series will be two geometrics (races seven and eight) on Saturday, the 28th of July 2018.