Bay of Islands Sailing Week - Day 3- With the wind comes the wipe-outs
by Lesley Haslar on 25 Jan 2013
Wired wins the wipe-out award on Day 3 of Bay of Islands Sailing Week Will Calver - Ocean Photography
http://www.oceanphotography.co.nz/
Lesley Haslar reports on the final day of Bay of Islands Sailing Week:
They wanted more wind?? They got way more wind.
East-Sou-East at 15 – 18 knots was the start of the day. This was only the beginning…….
B Division Race 1 – the breeze freshened. Power Play was ahead at the first cross-over, Elysium in second place. At the rounding of the top mark – there was no change. And so the race continued. Second time around the top mark first two positions still unchanged with Kaimai Express rounding in third place and Simply Red right in behind.
A Division Race 1 at the top mark Georgia was one boat length ahead of Kia Kaha with V5 close behind; a tight race.
At least half dozen dolphins checked out the top mark to make sure Quilter had laid it correctly…..
Second time at the top mark, Georgia was at least 300 metres in front, Wired next around with Kia Kaha third – V5 next.
This is racing….
B Division Race 2: Breeze up to 20 knots gusting 25. A good clean start. Deep Throttle and Overload pushing hard to have a nose in front. This is serious stuff now with white caps and 20 – 25 knots of wind.
In A Division Georgia was first to the Wing mark – then a catastrophe – Wired wiped out. And she was smoking literally. Over, down and out – then up again moving forward. Amazing. What an experience – what a sight.
The Official Boat was then called to tow in ‘My Size’ from the Sport Boat Fleet. 'The broken rudder was ripped off the back' said Tom Kiff, still with a smile on his face – 'that’s racing'.
With the third day of racing complete it was time to relax with friends and fellow competitors in the North Sails Marque.
There was awesome feedback from the competitors about the efficiency of the start boats and crews – all volunteers returning each year to be a part of Bay of islands Sailing Week. Thank you to each and every one of you. Not to forget the on-shore volunteers who standby daily to make it happen…..
The crowd at the North Sails Tent had a great time. Peter Montgomery again did a great job in presenting all the prizes, with the help of Jim Farmer….. What a team.
Fantastic professional photographs are available through Ocean Photography. And today Will Calver went up in a helicopter for even more variety. Go to his website http://www.oceanphotography.co.nz/!by_clicking_here
This regatta just gets better each year, with lots of positive suggestions offered to ensure it continues. Many skippers – and volunteers have already put their hands up for 2014.
For all results http://www.bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz/index.php/portfolio/race-results!click_here
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