Etchells beat weather on Flight 3 of Tuesday night series

by Etchells NZ media on 13 Nov 2014 Unbowed by an ominous forecast, a hardy fleet of nine Etchells enjoyed eclectic conditions and close competition in Flight 3 of the Tuesday Night Series, sailed off Westhaven.

While the heavy winds held off until all were safely installed at the Members Bar at RNZYS, a few squalls and not a few shifts kept everybody on their toes for the three (or, more accurately, 2.5 races), managed with aplomb by the Megan Kensington and the Squadron team.

Race 1 saw the larger part of the fleet head off out of the blocks toward the North Shore, to some advantage, before two shifts leveled the field and brought the fleet close together at the top mark. A distinct bend in the breeze downhill favoured early-gybers and on lap 2 the whole fleet seemed to pick its way far more gingerly around the course - Valsheda (950) ultimately taking first place over Affinity (1059) and Split Decisions (914).

Race 2 was a similar affair, but errors at both the top and bottom marks reshuffled the order and Hayden Whitburn's Upfront (814) romped home first over Valsheda (950) and Bobby's Girl (1058), on her season debut.

But of course the highlight of everyone's evening was Race 3 in which your correspondent, ably assisted by Hugh Rebbeck and new recruit Jono Howson (last seen on the bow of an Etchells circa 1987), secured an historic victory through a combination of tactical brilliance, faultless seamanship and sheer, dumb luck (not necessarily in that order). Normal service will doubtless resume next week when your fleet captain shall, once again, lead from the rear...

Many thanks to the RNZYS for their assistance and hospitality.