Jack Tar Regatta decided after two days of light winds
by Andrew Delves – RNZYS PR & Communications Manager 24 Mar 2019 02:43 PDT
24 March 2019
Clockwork - Jack Tar Auckland Regatta , March 2019 © Andrew Delves - RNZYS
The 2019 Jack Tar Auckland Regatta, co-hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Buckland’s Beach Yacht Club, has now wrapped up after two days of very light winds on the water in Auckland.
Saturday saw no racing until the early afternoon, and even then it was like pulling teeth out there - with the first W/L race being a complete drift-off. The second race wasn’t much better, but credit to the race management team for being able to get two races in in what were very light shifty conditions. The harbour course was then abandoned to ensure all the crews could make it back to shore in time for the party at Jack Tar Restaurant.
Although initial forecasts were more promising, Sunday also began with very light winds and there was a general sense of déjà vu on both the RNZYS and BBYC courses. The first W/L race was slow going, and to make things harder the wind did a complete one eighty half way through the race which meant the fleet were having to carry their kites up to the top mark, making for an interesting aspect to the race. The breeze then filled in a bit and allowed the second W/L race of the day to be a bit faster.
The final race of the regatta was a harbour course that took the fleets on a track between Brown’s Island, Rangitoto and Takapuna Beach. By then the breeze was solid and finally allowed all of the boats to stretch out the sails and have a decent send around the harbour.
In the MRX Pacific Keelboat Challenge, which kicked off on Friday and featured crews from as far away as Hong Kong and Australia, it was the RNZYS team helmed by Matt Bouzaid that took home the overall victory, with Tom Macky 2nd and Stephen Ellis’ Hong Kong team 3rd.
A great feature and addition to this year’s regatta were the fleet of Piedy’s that took to the water, with seven in total providing a cool contrast to the entry list. It was Sam Marshall’s Motormouse that won the overall battle of the Piedy’s, with Pierre Harrison’s Red Label finishing 2nd and Wasabi helmed by Ryan Barron in 3rd.
The honour of the largest fleet in the regatta goes to the Sport Boat Division, with eleven of them racing it out on the Waitemata. Stuart Wilsons Angry Dragon was the victor on line, but it was Mike Hindrups W8-Up that took the overall handicap honours. Charles Hollings Atomic was 2nd, with Anne Hirst’s Team Sex rounding out the podium.
Another new addition to the regatta was the Division E fleet, with the initiative designed to get some of our Rum Racers and Cruisers involved in the fun. It what was a very close fought battle that came right down to the final race, it was Ross Chapman’s Charmonet that won the weekend, with Mike Malcolm’s Bird on the Wing finishing in 2nd.
Division B was dominated by Mark Roberts’s team on Extreme, with Mark Noyer’s Rattle n Rum coming in 2nd and the Young 88 Nona helmed by Carl Webster finishing in 3rd.
Disappointingly there was only one Multihull on the water this year, but a big shout out to Simon Hull and his Frank Racing team who still came out to race.
Lastly in the big boy’s Division A, there was plenty of excitement and close racing across the two days. Steve Mair’s Clockwork were the overall winners on handicap, with Jim Farmer’s Georgia impressively winning every W/L race on Line which gave them line honours as well as 2nd place on handicap. AJ Reid and his team on Anarchy finished in 3rd.
The biggest excitement of the weekend however happened at Prizegiving, with one of the lucky division winners randomly selected to win a trip for four people to the Tahiti Pearl Regatta thanks to Tahiti Tourism. In what was a real crowd pleaser, the seven division winners were called to the stage – each with their names in a hat. All names were then pulled out randomly, with the final skipper standing taking home the grand prize – and it was Ross Chapman and his Charmonet crew who were the lucky winners and will jet their way to Tahiti in May.
RNZYS thanks Regatta Sponsors Jack Tar and all other supporters of the regatta, as well as the Race Management teams who did a sterling job in what were pretty trying conditions. We look forward to seeing everyone back for the 2020 Jack Tar Auckland Regatta.
Full photo albums from both days racing on RNZYS Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RNZYS
Final Results online: www.topyacht.net.au/results/rnzys/2019/jacktar/index.htm