EVOLUTION 4SUPER SUMMER SPINNAKER SERIES – 2024.

Saturday was a great day for a cruise on the harbour!

With the zilch wind on the bridge at 9.30 and the harbour like glass ---! By 10.30 as we headed for the Watchman there was a hopeful zephyr.  By 11.30 we had anchored off the breakwater and with a light northerly breeze blowing over the saddle from Rangi’ we set the to mark near the Bayswater Buoy. 11.45 it was sailable and true – a good start and all clear at 1200. The two windward /leewards off West Haven took 40 minutes and another 50 minutes via Resolution to Bean Rock Buoy. They had been sailing an hour and a half, winds were light and there had been some big “holes” and some very lucky lifts with Ponsonby Scow, Tigga & Blowout all rounding within a minute. Flashwave was still coming!

Ponsonby Scow & Tigga then headed on a good breeze to round Rough Rock to Starboard while Blackout for and then Flashwave realised that by sailing direct back to Resolution, Rough Rock would be to starboard!

All boats sailed the correct course, two boats realised the anomaly! Tigga who sailed the longer course came home on her own breeze to finish only one & a half minutes behind Flashwave.

The course anomaly was entirely my fault – my apologies! But sailors can win and lose by carefully analysing the course. I shall now review all the courses.

While we followed the boats around Rough Rock in a good breeze the Classic fleet were parked on a glossy sea by Northern Leading in the lea of Rangitoto. Such are the vagaries of Auckland’s breezes.

It was a great day on the harbour. Except for the wash from all the power boats that knock the wind out of the sails and spill the coffee!

See you on the 9^th March.

Janet W

Article added: Sunday 25 February 2024