Boats came from Hamilton (7) also Torbay (Phase 2) and Manly (3.7 class) to join the nineteen Ngaroto sailors for the Lake Ngaroto round of the Waikato Lakes series regatta. The day started slowly with an attempt to start the first race in the morning abandoned due to lack of wind. The BBQ beckoned in the balmy 28 degrees in the shade of the Clubhouse while the northerly slowly gathered. The four scheduled races were completed, and included the need for hiking in races three and four as the predicted breeze gathered momentum. The breeze that was initially intercepted by softer patches along with some sizable shifts challenged sailors. Visiting sailors took out the junior fleet (Annie Oxborrow, P Class), Intermediate fleet (Nicholas Oxborrow, Starling), Laser fleet (Ken Atchison) and 3.7 class (Phil Ash).
Thomas de Meijer and crewmember Josh White (Ngaroto) headed the Phase 2 fleet, ahead of Aidan and Chris Knight (from Torbay) who sampled the lake conditions ahead of the Phase 2 Nationals to be sailed here at Ngaroto in April 2009. Thanks visitors we appreciate your willingness to travel; you added greatly to interclub sprit in the Waikato. Sailors received a selection of sailing products that included gloves, boots and a starting watch sourced from www.nzsailing.net Thanks to the members who helped run the day (Owen, Gordon, Rob and Nigel on the water; Ragina, Janice, Jackie and Peter for anchoring the Clubhouse duties).
• The Pokeru series starts next Sunday, training from 10.30 am then racing after lunch.
• Then the Six-Hour Race on Saturday the 13th; start at 11.00am, followed by a Pot Luck dinner and on into the night.

Regatta photographs are here

The Clubhouse looks very smart with the roof painted, the exterior walls including the gables, eves, bargeboards, spouting, tower deck, doors and window frames. Not just one coat but two over most of it showed the power of the sprayer, rollers and brushes. The roof was painted a darker shade of green, the spouting and bargeboards to match. The tower’s window frames were repaired and now just need a final coat of paint to wrap the whole job up. Thanks to the great team who helped, more than my fingers and toes could count; they really appreciated the morning tea too.

Mangapiko races 5 and 6 (final)
23rd November 2008

What a great day for a sail, near 15 knots from the north and nice and warm all day. Sailors were put through their paces in the morning; rounding a top mark (developing their technique) and then off to a wing mark making sure that they gybed safely and efficiently. Although the sailors sailed at their own pace they would have been well stretched due to the shortness of the leg and the breeze.
Alex Kraayenhof revelled in the wind aboard his Paper Tiger, Alex enjoys his sailing and this day was about as good as it could get. He finished first on the water in both afternoon races. Alex Wilkinson won both Intermediate races, while Ross Wrenn and Arthur Giffney took the senior centreboard races on handicap. Much to the delight of Gordon Wallis sailing the Hartley 16 “Hamil” he was seen planing at times, to take handicap honours in both Trailer Yacht races.
• Waikato Lakes Regatta is being sailed at Ngaroto next Sunday. Briefing is at 10.00 am.
• Also remember the working bee again this Saturday (29th) to paint the exterior of the Clubhouse. 9.00 am start time. Thanks.

Flag Pole back in full use
22nd November 2008

The flag pole that dates back from last centenary (we think actually in the late 1800s) was thoroughly prepared, repainted, re-rigged and hoisted back into place. The pole will be able to stand proud next to the Clubhouse and be in use for many years to come. The exterior walls and roof were pains takenly prepared (scraped, wire brushed, sanded and water blasted) for their painting next Saturday. Repairs to window and doorframes and also spouting were also completed.
Thanks to the team of near 20 members, their skills and their equipment; the day achieved every thing that was anticipated (even with morning tea thrown in too thanks to Janice, Linda and Alex). Within a few hours from the start time at 9.00 am next Saturday the 29th we should see the Clubhouse completely repainted and looking its very best.

Paper Tiger North Island Grand Prix Regatta
15th and 16th November 2008

Sailors from as far as Auckland, Wellington, New Plymouth and Napier made Lake Ngaroto their base for the weekend’s Paper Tiger North Island Grand Prix series regatta. Terry Valder (Auckland), Mark Bell (Howick), both regular “A” Grade sailors at this regatta were first and second respectively and a relative newcomer to the class Hayden Percy (Napier, “C” Grade) challenged hard for the lead but was pleased with a third place overall. The first “B” Grader was Las Gallagher (Howick) followed by Scott Pederson (Napier). Erik Kraayenhof was the second “C” Grade sailor and the best performed Ngaroto club sailor. Spot prizes were won by Lynley Manning (Wellington) and Cam Mans (Ngaroto).
Prizes included Start Watches, Sailing Boots, Gloves and an Aquafleece sailing jacket thanks to New Zealand Sailing Ltd, www.nzsailing.net (Auckland). The prizes were well appreciated and will certainly make a difference to sailors performance and comfort on the water.
The wind challenged sailors over the weekend; those who could sail well in lighter conditions, picking the shifts and stay in the puffs for the longest were rewarded with good placings. The wind direction varied from the northeast to the northwest, moving frequently during the racing. The highest puff recorded was 12 knots, some lucky sailors were able to raise a hull above the waters but not for too long. Four races were sailed on Saturday, the remaining two sailed back to back on Sunday. The courses were all trapezoid in nature, Sundays course including a “Gate” to add another dimension for sailors to contemplate.
Favourable comments about the venue and the Club’s hospitality make this regatta one of the best on the sailing calendar for Paper Tiger sailors. The venue might be “homely” but the boats are high tech, many control adjustments possible to match the sailing conditions. Eight “A” Grade sailors were amongst the fleet of 17.
The Ngaroto regatta team did another top job. The “kitchen” team can certainly whip up a great meal for the famished sailors (preparation is combined with a lot of kitchen chatter, some under strict embargo to male ears). The race staff got on with the job of race control, course setting in difficult conditions and results collation. (Claire, Linda, Ragina, Janice, Anne, Danny, John, Owen, Ross, Jamie, Thomas, Shane, Alex, Tom and Philip; maybe a few more, many hands made for an enjoyable weekend regatta).

• Next Saturday, starting at 9.00 am we’ll start to clean and paint the exterior of the Clubhouse and flagpole. The following Saturday should see the job finished and the Clubhouse looking like brand new!
• Sail on Sunday, training from 10.30 am and racing from 1300 hours, the final two races of the Mangapiko Series (Anne Byford OD).

What another great day at Lake Ngaroto, 18 yachts racing while another three just went for a cruise. The day started with training in the morning; some seasons in the Clubhouse then out on to the Lake to practice. The topic was sailing the first up wind leg and rounding the top mark. Sail settings for the leg and today’s breeze, picking the shifts, approaching the top mark and your routine before the mark to prepare for the next off wind leg. The breeze was perfect, averaging 10 to 12 knots with gusts a little more from the northeast.
Several younger sailors shone during the racing. Leanne and Melissa Wall aboard their 420 (Leanne has been campaining it at regatta for several months now and it was noticeable that her sailing had improved. She was well up amongst the Laser fleet. So too were Thomas de Miejer and Josh White sailing a Club Phase II, they were well ahead of Jamie and Shaun Rumbles, and Shane and Jaeden Buxton all teamed up in other Phase IIs. Alex Wilkinson put her Starling through its paces, not phased at all by the wind. Brother Micah along with father Peter sailed their Hartley 18 well to take a couple of seconds on corrected time. The Hartley 16 (Hamel) with Gordon Wallis and crew David aboard won both races after handicap correction.
In the Laser fleet Arthur Giffney after trailing for a couple of legs in the first race left the others adrift. Arthur Ferguson, Ross Wrenn and Danny Padman were never too far from each other. Nigel Ball and Kate French were in the good company of several Phase IIs.
Alex Kraayenhof led all races on the water but alas handicap correction relegated him to mid fleet positions (doing a couple of extra legs in race 4 did not help with the placings but knowing Alex he sure would have enjoyed the sail in the strongest wind of the day).

• Next weekend 15th and 16th November sees the Paper Tiger Grand Prix Regatta sailed at Ngaroto. (This is part of a four race series they run Horowhenua, Turangi and Taupo are other venues). Briefing at 10.00 am, dinner Saturday night. Prize giving is on Sunday after racing is completed.
• The final round of the Mangapiko series is set for 23rd November (following the mornings training).
• Club working bees are being held on the 22nd and 29th Nov. to prepare and paint the exterior of the clubhouse. Start time 9.00 am.

Waikato Lakes Regatta, Lake Karapiro
2nd November 2008

What a successful day for Ngaroto sailors. Shaun Rumbles took first place in the Optimist fleet, Jeaden Buxton second. Micah Wilkinson, Alex Wilkinson and Blake Buxton took first, second and third places respectively in the Starling fleet. In the senior open fleet consisting of Lasers and a Phase II, Ross Wrenn placed first, Danny Padman second and Jamie Rumbles third.
The breeze was from the southeast, 10 or 12 knots or so for the first race and then getting a little lighter for the second race. There was some talk as we left the shore about the need to do granny gybes because of the gusts. However the gybe mark was in a more sheltered part of the lake, sailors ultimately really wanting more wind at the mark. The direction was ideal for sailing on Lake Karapiro, with the wind much steadier from this direction than when from the west.
After lunch the third race started in a lighter breeze that half way up the first leg changed through 180 degrees, the upwind leg changed to straight down wind. Jamie Rumbles rounded mark one in first place. Another direction change made the second leg into a beat, also the third leg. Big holes in the breeze developed later in the shortened race, even the current at Karapiro was apparent in the 100-meter leg to the finish line.
Basked in sunshine some of the younger sailors delighted in capsize practice after the finish, a great way to finish off the day.
Ngaroto holds a round of the Lakes Series on the 30th November. Briefing at 10.00 am. It would be great to see sailors from the other local clubs, Hamilton and Cambridge at the regatta.
• Next Sunday (9th November) sees the second round of the Mangapiko Series sailed at Ngaroto. We had a great turn out for the first round; let’s do the same for the next!
• The Paper Tiger Regatta is on the following weekend (15th and 16th November), when there is no club sailing scheduled.