Bay of Islands Sailing Week, Day 1- Light winds steady up

by Lesley Haslar on 23 Jan 2013
Lesley Haslar reports on Day 1 of the Bay of Islands Sailing Week

Beautiful sunny morning – about 5 knots expected to get up to 10 knots later in the day. Seventy excited crews ‘ready to roll’. Start boats are primed to report back race results 'soon as' so the volunteers in the result hut can get the job done.

The Sports Boat start was ‘all clear’ and so the racing began, Animal Biscuits went side by side with My Size and the nine yachts spread across the bay. Sport Boat racing was very competitive over the three races.

Mr Wolf, Wild Thing and First by Farr (C Division) were in tight at the beginning of the first race; Stratocaster making the leading group into a foursome within metres of the start. Drop Dead Fred came in from the starboard side – yes a great start.

The east-nor-east at a steady 10 knots made the competition ‘interesting’. Mr Wolf Skipper Alec Hansen and crew member Dave Rivington said 'today was three things – good, bad and indifferent – The first race was a warm-up; we were first on line in race two and second on line in race three, so we feel we’re in contention. The seas were lumpy in the lighter winds but today was good close racing'

E Division Race One was led out by Solveig, the rest of the fleet hot on her heels with Frivolous Fish giving her a hurry-up. Luxury Liner, an Elliott 5.9 slipped into contention as number three, helmed by 13 year old Horima Neville looking relaxed and in command.

Island Racing One start was nerve-wrecking to watch. Such close formation with a General Recall loud and clear. The second start was still tight, but the boats were able to clear out across the bay at high speed.

In A Division ‘Local boat does good’ – Kia Kaha bringing home the bacon on line in all three races today. Much of the time it was Kia Kaha Vs Georgia. Early afternoon the wind dropped a little but seas were lumpy so it certainly stayed ‘interesting’. (A post-race protest by V5 against Georgia resulted in Georgia being disqualified.)

Ash Hammond from Georgia; 'there was a lot of competition in our division today and Kia Kaha just had a ‘shine’ – so we have to work harder tomorrow. Georgia can point high and with factors in the right place she goes so well. Tomorrow is a new day'.

B Division: Matt and Scott Randle’s Overload, Scott as skipper. Said Matt 'A and B Divisions had tight racing today, the committee has done such a good job with the organisation. Our main adversary would be Power Play, and we need to keep an eye on Simply Red.

Thursday with predicted light winds (as of now of course) – could suit us….see you tomorrow.'

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