John Dixon Memorial Series
17/08/08 08:44 Filed in: August
Sixteen skippers registered their comfy sailing
cruisers to compete for the John Dixon Memorial Cup
Trailer Yacht Winter Series held at Lake Ngaroto. The
series proved to be a test of sailing skills,
patience and a watchful eye for the wind movement on
Ngaroto compared to the ocean waters of a coastal
bay….and I’m sure the surrounding houses had
spectacular views of the yacht’s heading downwind
with their spinnakers in full glory.
Six races were scheduled for the John Dixon Memorial Cup during July and August, including a reserve day which was used due to flooding of the ramp and jetty area. The lake had risen significantly, conveniently adding draft and good sailing water. The weather provided a mixed bag of sailing conditions – from no wind to a good steady breeze, sunshine and rain.
A good frost on Sunday July 6 welcomed the competitors and organisers with clear skies and the promise of the wind getting up. The first round commenced with traditional networking over a morning rum and ginger wine. After the briefing of the course and divisions the jolly sailors headed to out to the water. It was a great day on the water with a variety of displays in sailing techniques and procedures!
Two races were successfully completed with Fast Forward – Ross 780 (Division 1) helmed by Neil Hodges from New Plymouth and Concrete and Steel – Nolex 22 (Division 2) helmed by Dick Newman from New Plymouth crossing the line first for races 1 and 2.
Sunday July 20 was wet with a good breeze destined to stay around for the day. Once the traditional networking and briefing was complete 15 boats headed out to the water, and with one race complete, they headed back in for a hot lunch and warm up before heading back out. The wind stayed around for the afternoon and provided excellent conditions on the lake for a good sail. A ‘little incident’ of a capsize due to broken rudder added some drama and once the skipper , crew and vessel were safely ashore racing commenced. Fast Forward and Concrete and Steel cleaned up for the day crossing the line first for races 3 and 4.
Sunday August 10 the sun was out, the rain had stopped, 12 boats had returned for the final two races 5 and 6. The ramp was marked with pipe rods and the jetty was just visible above the water. Everyone was keen but the wind was not. So the traditional networking and briefing continued through the morning with racing scheduled for the afternoon. With everyone fed and hydrated the happy sailors headed out to the water to battle two more times for a placing or a hand on the Cup! Race 5 was shortened and then the wind conveniently got up for race 6. The finish line was close to the shore and provided a good view of the yachts coming in. A change in positions saw Winsome II –Young 6 (Division 1) helmed by Rob Ebert from Hamilton crossing the line first for races 5 and 6. Nauti-Bouy – Cherry 16 (Division 2) helmed by Don Latimer from Whakatane come in first for Division 2 in race 5 and Concrete and Steel held onto her placing crossing the line first in Division 2 for race 6. The racing was complete and another successful regatta hosted by Ngaroto Sailing Club can be ticked off the calendar.
Prize-giving was the order of the afternoon and the clubhouse was soon hovering with skippers and crew waiting for the formalities of up-stairs to be completed so the prizes could be awarded. The clubhouse horn sounded and everyone gathered for the moments of truth.
The overall winner of the John Dixon Memorial Cup 2008 was awarded to Fast Forward, helmed by Neil Hodges and crew from New Plymouth.
The Division placings are as follows-
Division 1
Nine boats sailed in Division 1 with Neil Hodges, helmsman of Fast Forward taking the honours of 1st place, 2nd was Ian Horner from Bonkers and 3rd Rob Ebert from Winsome II.
Division 2
Seven boat s sailed in Division 2 with Dick Newman, helmsman of Concrete and Steel taking the honour of first place. 2nd was Don Latimer from Nauti-Bouy and 3rd Murray Wall from Bluegrass.
A big thank you to all the sailors that took part, your support has made the John Dixon Memorial Trailer Yacht Winter Series a success. Special thanks to Shirley Wall and her Crew for keeping everyone’s appetites satisfied and holding things together, also to Danny and Ross for showing me the ropes of OD duties. I learnt heaps about race rules, course setting and patrol boat management and got lots of great photos.
Cheers Ann Byford.
Six races were scheduled for the John Dixon Memorial Cup during July and August, including a reserve day which was used due to flooding of the ramp and jetty area. The lake had risen significantly, conveniently adding draft and good sailing water. The weather provided a mixed bag of sailing conditions – from no wind to a good steady breeze, sunshine and rain.
A good frost on Sunday July 6 welcomed the competitors and organisers with clear skies and the promise of the wind getting up. The first round commenced with traditional networking over a morning rum and ginger wine. After the briefing of the course and divisions the jolly sailors headed to out to the water. It was a great day on the water with a variety of displays in sailing techniques and procedures!
Two races were successfully completed with Fast Forward – Ross 780 (Division 1) helmed by Neil Hodges from New Plymouth and Concrete and Steel – Nolex 22 (Division 2) helmed by Dick Newman from New Plymouth crossing the line first for races 1 and 2.
Sunday July 20 was wet with a good breeze destined to stay around for the day. Once the traditional networking and briefing was complete 15 boats headed out to the water, and with one race complete, they headed back in for a hot lunch and warm up before heading back out. The wind stayed around for the afternoon and provided excellent conditions on the lake for a good sail. A ‘little incident’ of a capsize due to broken rudder added some drama and once the skipper , crew and vessel were safely ashore racing commenced. Fast Forward and Concrete and Steel cleaned up for the day crossing the line first for races 3 and 4.
Sunday August 10 the sun was out, the rain had stopped, 12 boats had returned for the final two races 5 and 6. The ramp was marked with pipe rods and the jetty was just visible above the water. Everyone was keen but the wind was not. So the traditional networking and briefing continued through the morning with racing scheduled for the afternoon. With everyone fed and hydrated the happy sailors headed out to the water to battle two more times for a placing or a hand on the Cup! Race 5 was shortened and then the wind conveniently got up for race 6. The finish line was close to the shore and provided a good view of the yachts coming in. A change in positions saw Winsome II –Young 6 (Division 1) helmed by Rob Ebert from Hamilton crossing the line first for races 5 and 6. Nauti-Bouy – Cherry 16 (Division 2) helmed by Don Latimer from Whakatane come in first for Division 2 in race 5 and Concrete and Steel held onto her placing crossing the line first in Division 2 for race 6. The racing was complete and another successful regatta hosted by Ngaroto Sailing Club can be ticked off the calendar.
Prize-giving was the order of the afternoon and the clubhouse was soon hovering with skippers and crew waiting for the formalities of up-stairs to be completed so the prizes could be awarded. The clubhouse horn sounded and everyone gathered for the moments of truth.
The overall winner of the John Dixon Memorial Cup 2008 was awarded to Fast Forward, helmed by Neil Hodges and crew from New Plymouth.
The Division placings are as follows-
Division 1
Nine boats sailed in Division 1 with Neil Hodges, helmsman of Fast Forward taking the honours of 1st place, 2nd was Ian Horner from Bonkers and 3rd Rob Ebert from Winsome II.
Division 2
Seven boat s sailed in Division 2 with Dick Newman, helmsman of Concrete and Steel taking the honour of first place. 2nd was Don Latimer from Nauti-Bouy and 3rd Murray Wall from Bluegrass.
A big thank you to all the sailors that took part, your support has made the John Dixon Memorial Trailer Yacht Winter Series a success. Special thanks to Shirley Wall and her Crew for keeping everyone’s appetites satisfied and holding things together, also to Danny and Ross for showing me the ropes of OD duties. I learnt heaps about race rules, course setting and patrol boat management and got lots of great photos.
Cheers Ann Byford.