Sanders Cup Interprovincial Challenge decided in last race

by Antje Muller on 28 Mar 2011
The second day of this year’s Sanders Cup produced a mixed bag of conditions and results.

West Coast had to resort to a local crew as Thure had taken sick overnight. Still their outing was only shortlived, as the attachment of the gennaker blocks proved stronger than what they were attached to.

Northland started the day well, leading around the top mark in race three, but gave it all away on the first downwind. The new leader East Coast Bays held on to their first place up to the third downwind leg when they were caught in light winds on the left hand side of the course and three boats got past. Bay of Plenty sailed to their third win and were looking well set to make it a clean sweep.

In race four, Bay of Plenty recovered from behind just to lose it again when going for the finish even though there was still a lap to go. Everyone enjoyed the good run in the breeze, and East Coast Bays with their new diamond spreaders won the race in front of Northland and Bay of Plenty. Manawatu got in trouble again with the conservationalists, this time because they were hassling a stingray who had no option left but to jump over their bowsprit.

All boats were very close together again in the last race for the day.

Misjudging how much speed Manawatu was carrying down the run, Bay of Plenty coming through on port had to luff up to keep clear, which saw the crew go overboard in a lovely swan dive. Still the gennaker was already retrieved before the boat hit the water, which earned Adam the title Supercrew! After a bit of assistance from the locals encouraging Northland to win at least one race, they took the chance when Bay of Plenty were out and gained a first in front of East Coast Bays and Manawatu.

The afternoon was spent at the Mount Maunganui Hot Pools, followed by a lovely dinner in town.

Coming into the last day, Bay of Plenty, Northland and East Coast Bays all still had a good chance of emerging victorious.

In contrast to the forecast of 20 knots and torrential rain however, Sunday morning surprised the fleet with flat calm and a sea fog rolling in. When the postponement was signalled, that was taken as a sign to go hunting for a second breakfast in the nearest cafe. The remainder of the morning was spent checking out all the boats and sails, comparing the gennakers in an impressive row. East Coast Bays packed up as skipper Ross was suffering from a sever stomach bug and had not recovered overnight.

Finally around half past two the postponement came down and especially Northland were eager to hit the water. They had to beat Bay of Plenty by two points to win the series and were betting on the light and shifty conditions to make it possible. After the start in about five knots of wind, the fleet split with North Harbour and Manawatu trying the left while Bay of Plenty and Northland kept together on the right, both having to beat the other to win.

It was North Harbour who led around the first mark with Northland trailing at the end of the fleet, but some pressure from windward got them back in the race and rounding the leeward mark together with Bay of Plenty, sporting and a good lead on the other two boats. On the next upwind leg, Manawatu found a hole to park in on the right hand side of the course while Bay of Plenty followed a nice lift through the middle of the course, starting the last leg on a comfortable lead, which they hung on to until the finish. North Harbour sailed around Northland on the port reach, and Manawatu chased them over the finish line completing the race on a very close third place in front of Northland.

With this win of the Sanders Cup for Bay of Plenty, National Champions and Kingham Trophy holders Ben Bax and Adam Scott-Mackie have achieved the rare feat of winning the three major trophies of the Class in one season. They showed great speed and crew work and are very deserving winners of this traditional Interprovincial Challenge. All our best wishes go with Adam who is planning to move to the UK this winter.

It has been a very closely contested series with the fleet often finishing within a minute even after four laps. Have a look at www.javelins.org if you want some fast affordable fun, or contact Class President Colin Shanks on shanksy@farmside.co.nz or 06 8622704.

Results
1st Bay of Plenty Bay Nissan (Ben Bax, Adam Scott-Mackie) 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 (4.0) 1.0 11.0 7.0

2nd Northland Full Frontal (Antje Muller, Craig Gilberd) 2.0 2.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 (4.0) 14.0 10.0

3rd East Coast Bays Riders on the Storm (Ross Shanks, Colin Shanks) 3.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 (7.0
DNC) 20.0 13.0

4th Manawatu Trailblazer (David Brown, David Feek (4.0) 4.0 2.0 4.0 3.0 3.0 20.0 16.0

5th North Harbour Absolute Marine (Peter Precey, Mark Findlay (5.0) 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 2.0 27.0 22.0

6th West Coast Peggy (Nadine, Moeller Thure Gnadenberg) 6.0 (7.0 DNC) 6.0 7.0 DNC 7.0 DNC 7.0
DNC 40.0 33.0