Tricky conditions test sailors at Vanaheim Finn North Island Champs

by Ray Hall on 25 Oct 2011
Labour weekend threw up light and testing conditions at the Vanaheim Technologies Finn North Island Champs held at Thames Sailing Club.

A solid turnout of 11 Finns saw good racing including a welcome return to the NZ Finn scene by Rob Coutts.
Day 1 saw 3 races in lumpy seas with a NW varying between 3-10knots. Race 1 showed quickly that the left side of course was favoured with Ray Hall choosing left and gaining a winning lead from Dave Hoogenboom and Rob Coutts. Good battles were seen between Dirch Andersen , Alan Dawson and Royce Hawkins and further back between Peter Hull, Stu Munro and Peter Atkinson.

Race 2 . the wind died to 3-4knts , Dave started well and dominated the left building a winning lead, Ray managed to get through to take second and Alan sailed the final beat well to take third. Gerrit Bearda sailed a strong race to push the place getters hard.

Race 3. The strongest wind of the regatta reaching 10knots, Ray got a clean break and protected the left to take the gun. Dave pushed him hard showing very good speed up and downwind with Rob third. The boys were pretty cold by now and were quickly ashore for a debrief and some great Thames hospitality.

Day 2. Race 4 started in 5knots NE apparently (felt like 2knts). This died by the top mark after Dirch, Alan and Royce had picked their way through the minefield of holes and current to lead at the top mark only to be hauled in by Dave, Ray and Rob. A Fiesty mark rounding ensued as 7 boats tried to round in 2 knts of wind and 3 knots of current. The wind crept in from the west and it remained close until the last beat to the finish which Alan sailed well taking the gun from Dirch and Rob.

Race 5 was confidently started by the RO only for the wind to die 1 min after the start. Gerrit sailed extremely well getting his MK2 martin into the light air groove with Ray only getting past him on the 2 beat and finishing a well deserved third behind Rob. Meanwhile there were placing to be sorted out with Alan, Royce, Dirch and Dave finishing within seconds of each other with more exchanges of views over rules being heard in the car park later.

Race 6 was abandoned so it’s was back to shore for a quick prize giving so the fleet could make its escape for the RWC Final.

A big word of thanks to the regatta sponsor Vanaheim Technologies

Results
PTS Place
NZL 2 R Hall 9 first
NZL 10 D Hoogenboom 16 second
NZL 23 A Dawson 16 third
NZL 9 R Coutts 16 fourth
NZL 22 D Andersen 24 fifth
NZL 233 R Hawkins 29 sixth
NZL 193 G Bearda 30 seventh
NZL 197 P Hull 43 eighth
NZL 209 S Munro 43 ninth
NZL 32 P Atkinson 52 10th
NZL 1193 Sarah D 55 11th