North Island Laser Champs, Lake Taupo
01/12/07 15:49 Filed in: December
1st and 2nd December 2007
All bathed in sunshine and with a light sou-westerly breeze fanning the lake 50 Standard Lasers and 45 Radial rigs were neatly assembled on the beach in front of the Lake Taupo Yacht Club. (The World Laser Radial Champs are to be sailed off Takapuna around Easter 2008; this has helped to stimulate increased interest in particularly in the Radial rigs.) That was indeed an inviting sight from the vantage point of the briefing on Saturday morning. I was one of the first out onto the pristine waters and looking back, what an impressive site all those flashy white sails in front of the newly and aesthetically painted clubhouse. Later in the day a bride was to be arriving by floatplane and debarking onto the beach ready for her big day; with panoramic views of the lake and onto the snow capped mountains beyond, the clubhouse is sure a special place.
With the first warning signal due to go at 12.25pm the breeze looked good. About 40 minutes late we eventually got underway in a fading and by then a shifty breeze. The first start a general recall, then out came the "I" flag and then the mass standard rig starts became more conservative. For me my start was at the non-favoured end of the line but in clear air and then with a right wind shift occurring that lasted about 3/4 of the first leg saw me handily placed (and quietly admiring my skills) towards the top mark. I eventually sailed into 19th place amongst the Standard Lasers in the first race. Could I improve on that, could I even hold onto it?
The wind went up and down and a fair way around the compass during the rest of the day. I was never able to read the conditions quite as well again. In race two I certainly didn't find the pressure that some had, and race three showed promise at times up the beats. Still I kept my head well above the water and enjoyed some good moments and some exhilarating reaching especially in the late afternoon when sailing back to the beach and beers.
Sunday dawned fine and very still. A little breeze emerged and we were sent out on to the lake on time. Alas after an hour and a half we were sent back to the shore when the breeze failed to establish. You can guess the next step, once back on shore the breeze again developed and back out on to the water and the racing eventually started after a general recall and the introduction of the "Z" flag. Two races were completed, slowly; nothing was for certain till the finishing line was crossed. Many of us in the final race who went out to the right on the final beat finished out side the time limit (although it looked very good for a while until those lefties struck a small breeze that left us for dead).
For me I was pleased to sail into 35th place overall. Other names some of you will know, Sam Meech 20th (Tauranga), Barry Cutfield 30th (Whakatane), Nick Page 34th (Pupuke), Mark MacIntosh 36th (Port Ohope). Results are on the Lake Taupo Yacht Club web site.
Ross Wrenn
Ngaroto Sailing Club
All bathed in sunshine and with a light sou-westerly breeze fanning the lake 50 Standard Lasers and 45 Radial rigs were neatly assembled on the beach in front of the Lake Taupo Yacht Club. (The World Laser Radial Champs are to be sailed off Takapuna around Easter 2008; this has helped to stimulate increased interest in particularly in the Radial rigs.) That was indeed an inviting sight from the vantage point of the briefing on Saturday morning. I was one of the first out onto the pristine waters and looking back, what an impressive site all those flashy white sails in front of the newly and aesthetically painted clubhouse. Later in the day a bride was to be arriving by floatplane and debarking onto the beach ready for her big day; with panoramic views of the lake and onto the snow capped mountains beyond, the clubhouse is sure a special place.
With the first warning signal due to go at 12.25pm the breeze looked good. About 40 minutes late we eventually got underway in a fading and by then a shifty breeze. The first start a general recall, then out came the "I" flag and then the mass standard rig starts became more conservative. For me my start was at the non-favoured end of the line but in clear air and then with a right wind shift occurring that lasted about 3/4 of the first leg saw me handily placed (and quietly admiring my skills) towards the top mark. I eventually sailed into 19th place amongst the Standard Lasers in the first race. Could I improve on that, could I even hold onto it?
The wind went up and down and a fair way around the compass during the rest of the day. I was never able to read the conditions quite as well again. In race two I certainly didn't find the pressure that some had, and race three showed promise at times up the beats. Still I kept my head well above the water and enjoyed some good moments and some exhilarating reaching especially in the late afternoon when sailing back to the beach and beers.
Sunday dawned fine and very still. A little breeze emerged and we were sent out on to the lake on time. Alas after an hour and a half we were sent back to the shore when the breeze failed to establish. You can guess the next step, once back on shore the breeze again developed and back out on to the water and the racing eventually started after a general recall and the introduction of the "Z" flag. Two races were completed, slowly; nothing was for certain till the finishing line was crossed. Many of us in the final race who went out to the right on the final beat finished out side the time limit (although it looked very good for a while until those lefties struck a small breeze that left us for dead).
For me I was pleased to sail into 35th place overall. Other names some of you will know, Sam Meech 20th (Tauranga), Barry Cutfield 30th (Whakatane), Nick Page 34th (Pupuke), Mark MacIntosh 36th (Port Ohope). Results are on the Lake Taupo Yacht Club web site.
Ross Wrenn
Ngaroto Sailing Club