There was wind to suit almost all types of yachts. Very light from the north for the race before lunch, then later the wind shifted to the north west and strengthened up to 15 knots gusts in the forth and final race. Alex Kraayenhof flew the windward hull of the Paper Tiger well above the water to take firsts on the water and on handicap in races three and four. These placings could not head off the consistence of Melissa Wall and crew Emma Yates in a Phase II who on count back pushed Adrian France (and son) into second place on handicap. Micah Wilkinson and dad Peter won races one and two on handicap and sailed into third on handicap. The racing was very close.
The Laser class was a battle between Arthur Giffney in his very new Laser and Ross Wrenn, who alternated the firsts with Wrenn having the final say by just 14 seconds. Danny Padman kept in touch for much of the racing but just not at the finish line. Linda Wilkinson sailing a Micron in the youth class fleet with three firsts and a second was too good for Jacob Miller (Optimist, Cambridge) and Mathew Ward who ventured into a Starling for the day.
Thanks to Gordon, Mike, Owen for the on the water duties, for the results Murray and Janice and Shirley for making sure the clubhouse (BBQ and those all important prizes) ran smoothly.

An impressive fleet of 18 yachts, from Optimist (Shaun Rumbles who completed the six hour solo keeping up the Rumbles family tradition) through to an Elliott 7.4 (Gordon Wallis) tested their light weather sailing skills for the annual Six-Hour Race. Five marks were positioned at the extremities of the lake, pushing the course beyond the normal boundaries. Several boats popped spinnakers to try and aid their progress around the course, "Columbine" and "ResiVor" had particularly colourful sails and of course the big blue aboard "Southbound" could not be missed. The Feva sailed by Micah Wilkinson (and crews) supported a fluro gennaker seen well full when sailed into the right spot.
In addition to the racing, each sailor had a set of wooden "chips" that were to be thrown into ("at" for some) a plastic drum on the deck of the pontoon anchored out in the lake in front of the clubhouse. The light wind from mainly the north and north-west ranged in strength from 1 to 5 knots (very occasionally more for the lucky, or down to nothing), but usually something, provided a challenge while gaps between boats could change rapidly. For the record Ross Wrenn in a Laser completed 8.5 laps of the course, winning the centreboard fleet on line and handicap. Gordon Wallis on "Southbound" lead on the water completing 8.1 laps but after handicap correction John Roszak aboard his Kestral 18 "Y-Knot" took the Trailer Yacht fleet after completing 6.5 laps on the water.
The "Chip" counting revealed that Ross Wrenn got all (8) "chips" in the drum. Alex Kraayenhof had the heaviest bump on the pontoon with a small abrasion on the bow of the PT as evidence. Alex Wilkinson sailing a Tiger Cub aside the pontoon almost wiped Murray Wall (our intrepid close-up photographer) off with the end of the boom and into the water. Lucky Murray had a good keen eye. Thanks to the lap counters that included Janice and Shirley. The famished and thirsty sailors appreciated the snacks before the spot prize presentation.
Next Sunday, 25th November 10.30am briefing, sees the Waikato Lakes regatta at Lake Ngaroto. Our Trailer Yachties (Owen and Gordon, so volunteers contact these two) are running the regatta; let's have a real big centreboard fleet racing. We expect sailors from Cambridge and Hamilton to be competing too.

Terry Valder took first place in the A Class sailors and first overall but only after very close competition from Richard Dent (2nd), Jason Johnstone (3rd) and Mark Bell (4th), Ian McLennan (5th) and Wayne Hayman (6th). Jason Johnstone sailing in the B Class surrendered his lead he held at the end of Saturday, his 3rd placing in the only race on Sunday not good enough to maintain his position after the drop, but a great result for the young contender.
The wind on Saturday sprung up after an early lunch and continued mostly between 8 and 14 knots throughout the afternoon when four races were completed. The sailors relaxed during the evening and enjoyed a feast from the Clubhouse kitchen. After more relaxing on Sunday morning, another lunch a breeze finally struggled to cover the lake. Just one race was completed as the breeze stuttered, the race being shortened and racing for the day finished by 2.45pm. Prizes included electrical heaters (for the night had been cold) and framed photos of the best shots from the weekend. Photo CDs are being posted to contestants.
Thanks to the sailors who came from Napier, New Plymouth, Tauranga, and Auckland, you're a great bunch on and off the water. Thanks also go to the crew at Ngaroto who helped at the regatta, the very good turn out (Danny, Tom, Alex, Ross, Evan, Claire, Owen, Bob) made the regatta most enjoyable to run.

The Six Hour Race starts at 10.00am next Sunday. Come for a great day out on and off the water.

4th November 2007
In the Laser fleet, Ross placed first followed by Danny, Jamie (all from Ngaroto), Harl Harris (Cambridge) and Pete Horton (Ngaroto). Alex was second in the Open fleet sailing his Paper Tiger Southern Comfort (taking all the line honours on the way). Shaun Rumbles was third in the Opti fleet. Other sailors from Ngaroto to compete were Micah and Linda (RS Feva, complete with the fluro yellow spinnaker flying on off wind legs) and Alex (Tiger Cub). The wind, from the north-north west was in the 10 to 15 knot range with gusts higher, enough to raise the hull of the hull of the Paper Tiger on many occasions.
The next Waikato Lakes Regatta is at Lake Ngaroto on the 25th November, briefing at 10.30 am.

Next weekend (10-11th November) we have the Paper Tiger Freshwater Regatta at Ngaroto. Briefing is at 10.00am. A good big fleet looks very likely and will start to arrive on Friday night. There's a dinner on Saturday night, breakfast on Sunday morning and lunches over the BBQ. Plenty of good racing too!