23rd to 26th January 2009

A magic weekend of sun and water over Anniversary weekend for the Ngaroto sailing Club.
A tent city appeared on the house lawn at Lake Tarawera from Friday evening with Trailer Yachts, Phase II’s, Lasers, a 420 and sailing canoe ready for a splash in the crystal clear water. A social sail on Saturday in the Trailer Yachts to the Hot Water Beach and a long soak in the hot water was the order of the day. With very little wind kayaking, biscuiting and water skiing providing new experiences, exercise and the odd minor injury for many.





On Sunday two races were planned. The first race to get to Humphrey’s Bay was abandoned due to lack of wind and the dinghies were towed into the bay. After a brief walk up over the hill to Lake Okataina for those keen, a swim and afternoon tea in the shade - the wind had freshened. An exciting Le Mans start for first the sailing dinghies and followed by the trailer yachts provided much amusement for all competing as well as those watching. The afternoon sail provided a wonderful sight as the sails spread out across the lake. Monday was a quieter day with the early morning water skiing taking its toll on even the younger generation so swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, basking in the sun in the lagoon interspersed the tent city being packed away. Many thanks to the support crews on the water as well as on the shore organising the sumptuous meals and we look forward to making it an annual club event.
Linda Civil
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24th to 27th January 2009

The 2009 Laser Nationals at New Plymouth have to rate very highly. A top venue, an exceptionally well-organised NYC team both on the water (blue ocean water, sunshine, a race committee that got the racing underway and wind from 11 to 25 knots) and off the water (200+ dinners on Sunday night, plenty of helpful support staff and storage for the 131 Lasers).
Master sailors numbered over 60 and were split into twostarts, half the sailors sailing the Standard rig and the balance sailing Radial rig Lasers.

I arrived to find great camaraderie between fellow yachtsmen from a great array of provincial centres. From Port Ohope Barry Cutfield proudly wore his lucky Ngaroto Sailing Club cap. Kent Copplestone now a sailor from the Manawatu club and past visitor on many occasions to Ngaroto; Kent is still in the open fleet and has done very well in recent times. Ian, the “Canon” Wallace now sailing under the Panmure Lagoon banner looked fit, filled with enthusiasm and ready to make the most of the regatta. Ken Atchison from the Hamilton Yacht Club rounded off our “regulars”. Molly, Sam and Simon Meech who have all sailed at Ngaroto (when living at Pirongia) were competing in the Youth Radial and Standard rig Laser Master fleet respectively.

Good sailing winds arrived on time each day, capped off with a 20 to 25 knot blow and waves to match on the forth day. Imagine on a reach surfing down a wave and straight onto the next, so fast at times that the 20 plus knot wind was not enough to fill the sail, the speed down the wave matching the wind. And like that for the whole leg. Exciting; I can assure all. Down wind somewhat frightening at times!

For me sailing in the Grand Master Standard rig fleet I placed 3rd after Bob Blakey (1st) and Ian Wallace (2nd). Bob had the ability to sail well in all conditions (I managed to finish ahead of him in two races), Ian handled the windy conditions on day four better than I who had some swimming experience in the Tasman, and was excited to take over second place.
Ken had a first place in a race on day three; Barry took second place in the same race. Sam Meech took first place in the Youth Radial fleet!

Full results should be on the Laser web site soon.

Ross Wrenn

Well there might not have been much wind, but Ngaroto yacht club covered a fair amount of water at speed. About 20 members of the club spent a wonderful weekend at Tarawera. Lots of Toys, hooning, waterskiing, biscuiting, canoening (and no Nigel didn't fall out) even some sailing, but most of all good food and company.

Many thanks to Rosaline and Linda Civil for your hospitality.




some pictures here, more at David Chins website.

PS rumour has it that a certain Ross Wrenn came third in the Laser Nationals Grand Master Division. Fantastic Ross.

Well, it is too late for Merry Christmas but we hope the New Year has started well for you all and we wish you all the prosperity for the remainder of it and beyond. It is almost two years since we have last been at Ngaroto but we have not forgotten you and we sometimes talk about the old good days in the Waikato. We live close to the water now at Half Moon Bay.

Wojtek is attending a local college and I still teach at Onehunga High School.

Last year was a mixed bag, as unfortunately my mother has died and I had to travel to Poland for the funeral. We are still sailing here, though not in the club as during the term I could not find time to take Wojtek to races and regattas but he is learning a bit of windsurfing. We also sail on the Hauraki Gulf in a small keeler (Raven 26), and last week we had a big trip to Rakino island, Coromandel harbour, Waiheke island and back to Auckland. The weather for the trip was perfect and it was really enjoyable. The enclosed photographs are from the aforesaid trip, during which we saw a multitude of different marine life, including gannets, penguins, some sort of petrel and even a whale, which we were unfortunately unable to capture on camera.

Once again best wishes for New Year,

Jacek and Wojtek Krzyzosiak

5th to 10th January 2009

Bob Preston sailed extremely well to end with just 6 points from the six race, drop one race series held at the Nelson Yacht Club.

Terry Valder (Wind Torque) a member of the Ngaroto Sailing Club and regular sailor at the annual PT regatta at Lake Ngaroto was the first Grand Master home and 8th overall.
Others who regularly sail at Ngaroto are; Ian Mclennan (Love Over Gold), was the first Great Grand Master and 10th overall, Mark Hatch (Crazy Diamond, New Plymouth Yacht Club) 6th overall, Jason Johnstone (X Factor, New Plymouth Yacht Club) came 18th overall and the second Junior and Lynley Manning (One Fish Two Fish) was the first female competitor and 34th in the fleet of 47 yachts.

Congratulations to you all and hope to see you at Lake Ngaroto in November 2009.

All the best to those sailors who are going to sail in the PT International regatta at Easter in Australia.

Neil and Alison Hodges and crew from New Plymouth sailing the Ross 780 “Fast Forward” took over the lead position on leg three and continued on to narrowly win on line from “Bonkers” skippered by Ian Horner also from New Plymouth. The third and forth places in the Trailer Yacht fleet went to the Joker 6.7 “Columbine” Chappy and Angela Farrell and to Owen and Janice Johnston in another Joker 6.7 “ResiVor”. Gordon Wallis and crew of Nigel McCarter sailed the Hartley 16 “Hamal” to be the fifth Trailer Yacht over the line, just two hundred meters behind the Jokers and took second place on handicap.
The centreboard section on line was taken by Arthur Giffney in a Laser who came through on the last leg to relegated Ross Wrenn (Laser) to second. Philips Phillips followed a margin back in his Flying Dutchman.
Kate French sailed the course in a Laser Radial, enjoying the experience on the harbour in a breeze that occasionally saw boat planing. Laurie Hoverd jumped onto a locally owned Cheery 16 for a sail though the blue and sun bathed waters. The race took near 1.5 hours for the leaders.

Pre race there had been much good banter especially amongst the Ngaroto Trailer Yacht fraternity. “ResiVor” was the target of most of it. On the water she appeared to have had her wind indicator tampered with, upsetting her ability to pick the wind? “Columbine” and “ResiVor” swapped the lead five times during the race, but Chappy timed his sprint up the last beat and held on to the finish.

Ross led the centreboard fleet almost all the way. A senior moment let him down when sailing the last leg, unfortunately not focusing on where the finish line was and letting Arthur slip through for the glory.

Gordon kicked him self for a poor start. He has now realised that Hartley’s need to be started like a centreboard yacht, stay close to the start line and sheet in a few seconds before the gun (none of the starting from way back, with momentum and trying to time the run).

Wayne and Kerry Satler (New Plymouth) parked up on a sand bank for a time during the race. What was he up to? And he used that for an excuse for not heading the handicap steaks! What do you think?

New Year at Kawhia is becoming a bit of a tradition for the Ngaroto Yacht Club .... convivial company, heaps of food, camp on the lawn or in the boat then a New Years Race according to Kawhia rules ...they get to set the handicaps.
Beaut day, who cares what the result was, but for the record and in tiny type

CHAPPIE BEAT OWEN, BUT IT ISN’T GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO HIM.

Oh and Gordon and Nigel came second on (Kawhia) handicap in a stolen boat,
More details from Ross next week.
Have a look at the photographs.