December
Hamilton Xmas and Waikato Lakes Regatta
21/12/08 17:05
20th December 2008
Ken Atkinson (Hamilton) won the Laser class with four first placing from Arthur Giffney (Ngaroto) and Ross Wrenn (Ngaroto) in a fleet of six Lasers. Arthur held first place in all but the last few minutes of race one, Ken picking the best of the northerly wind as the front arrived. There was nothing much between Ken and Arthur in the second and third races, but in the final race Ken managed to finish the first beat well, catch a great breeze in the following reach and then on the first down wind leg too. The gap never closed but a tight race developed for the second (Arthur), third (Ross) and forth placings (Duncan White), just a few seconds between them at the finish line.
The patrol boats were kept busy making rescues when the wind generally strengthened and flicked to the northwest occasionally after the lunch break. The shallowness of the water increased the frequency of the mastheads finding the lakebed, the mud and weed when yachts were capsized.
Fleets included Optimist, Open (NS 14, P Class and Frostply), Starling, Zephyr, Laser and 3.7 Class.
Six Hour Race
14/12/08 11:10
13th December 2008
Sailors were brimming with racing fever, excitement and extra sustaining fuel to keep their bodies running for the six hours to have any chance of winning the most enduring race on the Ngaroto Sailing Club’s calendar. With boats rigged 30 sailors listened carefully to the details given at briefing. The course consisted of four coloured marks, with the start being out in front of the Clubhouse at exactly 11.00 hours. The course was to be interrupted for most sailors by a secondary competition, the throwing of wooden tokens into the target pontoon positioned just off the shore for in full view of the Clubhouse spectators.
The on the water race was a very tightly contested affair between Danny Padman, assisted by his Laser supporting a brand new sail and Ross Wrenn (Laser). They both picked the best of what little wind there was at the start and along with Thomas and Josh in a Frostply, Murray Wall in a 420, and a little further back Peter and Jamie (Joker) all made a break from the rest of the field. Danny and Ross sailed the race as if they were joined by a piece of string; Thomas with Josh along with Murray came and went as if on a bungy cord, that later in the race became a little more stretched. Philip Phillips and crews (Mike Allison) performed better when the wind briefly lifted in places later in the day and remained the only boats not to be lapped by the leaders.
Ross eventually put his bow at the head of the fleet three minutes from the finish time, helped by Danny having the only capsize of the day right in front of the Clubhouse when rounding mark one for the ultimate time while trying to execute a roll tack with just 10 minutes to go. The string shortened, a tacking duel developed in a stuttering breeze with Ross just having the better (luck) of the last few minutes (and an eye on the time).
Owen and Steve (Joker) eventually recovered from a poor start to thread their way through the other Trailer Yachts to win that race on the water. Trevor Crosbie assisted later by Peter van der Stap (Joker) and Rob Greenwood (with David and Gordon) aboard Hamal a Hartley 16 pushed hard at the stern of Johnston’s Joker ResiVor.
While leading on the water may be important, the Trophies are won by the handicap competition (after the laps completed are corrected by boat handicap). Thomas and Josh in the Frostply kept moving well in the conditions and proudly took the Mitchell Plate for the first time.
Rob, David and earlier Gordon in the Hartley 16 took out the Trailer yacht handicap Plate narrowly from last year’s winner John Roszak (Kestral 18) and then back to the Hartley 18 sailed by Micah and Peter Wilkinson.
The winner of the token throwing competition was Ross (18 points) followed by Thomas and Josh (17) and to Danny (16). Many sailors had delighted in stepping off their boats and onto the pontoon to place their tokens (one at a time of course) into the “bulls eye bucket” for maximum points.
The wind during the day was never more than that forecasted, nothing more than a knot or so (unless you got really lucky hiking was not needed), it was from all direction of the compass and one of those days when there were always patches of glass between the zephyrs of breeze.
The famished sailors were treated to a great variety of delicious dishes for the Pot Luck Xmas dinner. Ragina was thanked for all her efforts, as the official lap counter and kitchen manager. The desert that followed was truly mouth watering. Thanks to all, the Christmas spirit in the club is well alive!
Sailing next weekend (Saturday, 20th December) is at Hamilton Lake, the final round of the Waikato Lakes series and the Hamilton Christmas Regatta. Check on www.hyc.org.nz for details.
Coming up in the New Year are:
• Kawhia Regatta, New Years Day. The Ngaroto competitor base for the regatta is at the batch of Chappy and Angela Farrell and family at Kawhia.
• The trip to Lake Tawarewa. From the evening of the 23rd January to Monday the 26th January. Linda Civil’s (ph 07 827 0567, 021 827 095) family batch at Lake Tawarewa is the base for the excursions.
• Club sailing at Ngaroto starts on the 1st February with Sprint racing, 10.30am briefing.
• The New Plymouth Regatta, 7th and 8th February 2009. This is a great club trip, trailer and centreboard yachts sail out into the Tasman Sea from the hospitable New Plymouth Yacht Club www.npyc.org.nz
Sailors were brimming with racing fever, excitement and extra sustaining fuel to keep their bodies running for the six hours to have any chance of winning the most enduring race on the Ngaroto Sailing Club’s calendar. With boats rigged 30 sailors listened carefully to the details given at briefing. The course consisted of four coloured marks, with the start being out in front of the Clubhouse at exactly 11.00 hours. The course was to be interrupted for most sailors by a secondary competition, the throwing of wooden tokens into the target pontoon positioned just off the shore for in full view of the Clubhouse spectators.
The on the water race was a very tightly contested affair between Danny Padman, assisted by his Laser supporting a brand new sail and Ross Wrenn (Laser). They both picked the best of what little wind there was at the start and along with Thomas and Josh in a Frostply, Murray Wall in a 420, and a little further back Peter and Jamie (Joker) all made a break from the rest of the field. Danny and Ross sailed the race as if they were joined by a piece of string; Thomas with Josh along with Murray came and went as if on a bungy cord, that later in the race became a little more stretched. Philip Phillips and crews (Mike Allison) performed better when the wind briefly lifted in places later in the day and remained the only boats not to be lapped by the leaders.
Ross eventually put his bow at the head of the fleet three minutes from the finish time, helped by Danny having the only capsize of the day right in front of the Clubhouse when rounding mark one for the ultimate time while trying to execute a roll tack with just 10 minutes to go. The string shortened, a tacking duel developed in a stuttering breeze with Ross just having the better (luck) of the last few minutes (and an eye on the time).
Owen and Steve (Joker) eventually recovered from a poor start to thread their way through the other Trailer Yachts to win that race on the water. Trevor Crosbie assisted later by Peter van der Stap (Joker) and Rob Greenwood (with David and Gordon) aboard Hamal a Hartley 16 pushed hard at the stern of Johnston’s Joker ResiVor.
While leading on the water may be important, the Trophies are won by the handicap competition (after the laps completed are corrected by boat handicap). Thomas and Josh in the Frostply kept moving well in the conditions and proudly took the Mitchell Plate for the first time.
Rob, David and earlier Gordon in the Hartley 16 took out the Trailer yacht handicap Plate narrowly from last year’s winner John Roszak (Kestral 18) and then back to the Hartley 18 sailed by Micah and Peter Wilkinson.
The winner of the token throwing competition was Ross (18 points) followed by Thomas and Josh (17) and to Danny (16). Many sailors had delighted in stepping off their boats and onto the pontoon to place their tokens (one at a time of course) into the “bulls eye bucket” for maximum points.
The wind during the day was never more than that forecasted, nothing more than a knot or so (unless you got really lucky hiking was not needed), it was from all direction of the compass and one of those days when there were always patches of glass between the zephyrs of breeze.
The famished sailors were treated to a great variety of delicious dishes for the Pot Luck Xmas dinner. Ragina was thanked for all her efforts, as the official lap counter and kitchen manager. The desert that followed was truly mouth watering. Thanks to all, the Christmas spirit in the club is well alive!
Sailing next weekend (Saturday, 20th December) is at Hamilton Lake, the final round of the Waikato Lakes series and the Hamilton Christmas Regatta. Check on www.hyc.org.nz for details.
Coming up in the New Year are:
• Kawhia Regatta, New Years Day. The Ngaroto competitor base for the regatta is at the batch of Chappy and Angela Farrell and family at Kawhia.
• The trip to Lake Tawarewa. From the evening of the 23rd January to Monday the 26th January. Linda Civil’s (ph 07 827 0567, 021 827 095) family batch at Lake Tawarewa is the base for the excursions.
• Club sailing at Ngaroto starts on the 1st February with Sprint racing, 10.30am briefing.
• The New Plymouth Regatta, 7th and 8th February 2009. This is a great club trip, trailer and centreboard yachts sail out into the Tasman Sea from the hospitable New Plymouth Yacht Club www.npyc.org.nz
Pokeru Series
08/12/08 07:30
7th December 2008
The afternoon northerly wind developed around midday as forecasted, Hamish and Evan set the triangle windward leeward course and raised the three lap flag. Arthur Giffney narrowly beat Danny to the top mark and for a while it looked like Arthur would sneak away with the race. Danny exploited a lift on a beat on the second lap to take over the number one position. The final downwind leg was Danny’s undoing, Arthur taking over the lead, rounding mark three and reaching through to the finish. Alas for Danny (and also Alex K) they thought there was another lap so Ross and then Josh slipped through for second and third places on the water. Ross headed the fleet in the second race for the first two laps before Arthur sailed under him on a reach, Arthur eventually sealing another win by stretching the margin on the final downwind leg.
Thomas and Shaun experimented with the club’s new Windrush 12; look for an improvement in the future.
Owen and Janice Johnston won the first Trailer Yacht race from Mike Allison and Micah Wilkinson; but just by a few seconds. Mike Allison won the second race comfortably on handicap after picking the best wind and shifts on the upwind legs. Johnston and Wilkinson dead heated for second place. David Chin who finished both races even had time to pipe a tune over the lake in a quieter spot towards the end of the day’s activity.
Thanks to Hamish and Evan for picking the conditions, setting a great course, and to Claire for the Clubhouse duties.
The afternoon northerly wind developed around midday as forecasted, Hamish and Evan set the triangle windward leeward course and raised the three lap flag. Arthur Giffney narrowly beat Danny to the top mark and for a while it looked like Arthur would sneak away with the race. Danny exploited a lift on a beat on the second lap to take over the number one position. The final downwind leg was Danny’s undoing, Arthur taking over the lead, rounding mark three and reaching through to the finish. Alas for Danny (and also Alex K) they thought there was another lap so Ross and then Josh slipped through for second and third places on the water. Ross headed the fleet in the second race for the first two laps before Arthur sailed under him on a reach, Arthur eventually sealing another win by stretching the margin on the final downwind leg.
Thomas and Shaun experimented with the club’s new Windrush 12; look for an improvement in the future.
Owen and Janice Johnston won the first Trailer Yacht race from Mike Allison and Micah Wilkinson; but just by a few seconds. Mike Allison won the second race comfortably on handicap after picking the best wind and shifts on the upwind legs. Johnston and Wilkinson dead heated for second place. David Chin who finished both races even had time to pipe a tune over the lake in a quieter spot towards the end of the day’s activity.
Thanks to Hamish and Evan for picking the conditions, setting a great course, and to Claire for the Clubhouse duties.
Kind Fairy
08/12/08 07:30
A Complete Make Over
6th December 2008
A very kind saint (believed to be St Peter) descended upon the Clubhouse during the week and not just for only a few minutes. The tower walls, window frames and deck painting have been completely finished. Surplus paint on the glass scraped off and the windows cleaned. The Clubhouse is now right back to pristine new condition! A huge thanks to all those many people, their enthusiasm, skills and equipment that has set the club up for many years to come.
Members of the Hamilton Marathon Clinic had their Christmas outing at the newly painted Clubhouse on Saturday morning. Nothing like a run/walk around the lake and up Bank Road and back to start the day. Especially before a grand breakfast banquet that included desert in the sunshine streaming in under the veranda and views over the panoramic lake and onto the rowers in training for the next regatta.
6th December 2008
A very kind saint (believed to be St Peter) descended upon the Clubhouse during the week and not just for only a few minutes. The tower walls, window frames and deck painting have been completely finished. Surplus paint on the glass scraped off and the windows cleaned. The Clubhouse is now right back to pristine new condition! A huge thanks to all those many people, their enthusiasm, skills and equipment that has set the club up for many years to come.
Members of the Hamilton Marathon Clinic had their Christmas outing at the newly painted Clubhouse on Saturday morning. Nothing like a run/walk around the lake and up Bank Road and back to start the day. Especially before a grand breakfast banquet that included desert in the sunshine streaming in under the veranda and views over the panoramic lake and onto the rowers in training for the next regatta.