Javelin 14ft Skiff 2009 Bay Nissan South Pacifics Results after Day 2

by Graham Roberts on 3 Feb 2009
Tauranga Yacht Club is hosting the 2009 Javelin Bay Nissan South Pacific’s and New Zealand National this week. A strong fleet of sixteen boats are battling for the title. After two days of racing, current National Champion David Brown and crew Graham Roberts, are leading the contest with Australian champs Aaron Hirst and Brett Taylor currently in sixth place.

Monday 2nd February 2009 report from crew of Flying Circus, Graham Roberts.

Sixteen Javelins drifted out to our western harbour course at 10.30am to start on a local sea breeze. Conditions were perfect with an eight knot north east breeze and the tide coming in. Local knowledge helped us in this race. With the tide racing in, you had to run up the bank in the middle of the harbour then over shoot the top mark and run in with tide. If you had to tack again in the tide you could not recover. For the second day, it was very close racing over the whole fleet with positions changing on every leg. This race was complex with plenty of negation on which way to go between crew and skipper. With a gust on the last kite downhill, we took the lead and were able to cover to the finish to get another win, then back to shore for lunch.

In the afternoon, Race 4, the wind was up to 15 knots with the tide about to start running out. Riders On The Storm (Ross Shanks) found boat speed and held a large lead on the rest of the fleet at the end of the first beat. Close racing behind, with positions again changing on every leg. At the finish only four minutes between second to twelfth place.

Back down for the next start. Race 5 and the wind was now a solid 20 knot breeze. With the tide ripping out, everyone crowded the committee boat and carnage pursued. After round the first mark Riders On The Storm had a narrow lead over us. On the first downwind, local sailor Ben Bax (Bay Nissian) sailed an amazing downwind to pass six boats to take the lead. With smart covering thereafter, they had their second win for the contest. Ross Shanks crossed the finish line in second place. This was another amazing race, with only three minutes from first to seventh place, in very difficult racing conditions.

Three races are planned for Tuesday 3rd Feb 2009, first race starting at 10am.

After five races out of ten - Provisional Results:

1. Flying Circus, David Brown, Palmerston North, 12 points
2. Philnhel, Philip McNeill, Bay Of Islands, 13 points
3. Bay Nissian, Ben Bax, Tauranga, 20 points
4. Riders On The Storm, Ross Shanks, Gisborne, 25 points
5. Bungholio, Rob Fordyce, Auckland, 26 points
6. Clamp products, Aaron Hirst, Victoria, 37 points

Full result at http://groups.google.com/group/javelinskiff/web/2009-bay-nissan-south-pacifics?hl=en

Watch live racing live on the Tauranga Yacht Club harbour camera
http://www.yacht.org.nz/index.php/weather/harbour-cam