Sailing Today - 8-7-2012.

This morning saw the winter series at Pakuranga SC continuing, in light, testing conditions.

In the light winds, it was the starling "Quicksilver" that got around the course quickest, living up to it's name.

Here's a few pic's of the mornings action, showing a beautiful day on the Waitemata harbour.

Click the image to see it bigger, they're in low-res, but I am happy to provide higher resolution copies on request.

Beautiful day out there!

Todays overall winner!

Gypsy

First Scout Cutter today

Close racing for second and third!

Right to the wire, 278 just crossed the line ahead of 131.

In the afternoon, sailing on the Manukau harbour, was the third day of the Manukau Yacht and Motorboat Club winter series for trailer yachts.

In the light conditions, Hartley 16's took the line honours, just edging out the top Noelex's in both races.

Conditions were really shifty, and resulted in several attempts at laying the start line, before they could get a start away.

Pic's of trailer yacht action...

The Noelex fleet approach the bottom mark.

Three of the Hartley fleet beating upwind.

And also happening at MYMBC, the youth training is going really well. Here's a few more pics.

After sailing, I took a trip out to Weymouth, to check out the work on the new slipway and jetty.

Work has only started, and it looks a bit like a building site, but here's a peek...

And thats it from me today.

Except to say that not a single Weymouth boat went racing today, we should be ashamed of ourselves!

Pakuranga Sailing Club website

Pakuranga Sailing Club have started work on their new website.

We will be providing some pictures and help with setting it up, but the credit really goes to Rose-Mary, who is busily working away as we speak.

Check it out here but remember it is a work in progress, and only went live mid-week. It's a sportsground site, so a big thanks to SPARC for providing the hosting free.

If you've never been to Pakuranga SC, it's off Bramley Road, in Farm Cove. Although tidal, the water is clean, and quite flat, and the junior racing is great, especially during the winter series.

More winter sailing... July 7 & 8, 2012.

Saturday 7th seems to have absolutely nothing on, anywhere. However, there's something on almost everywhere on Sunday.

Sunday 8th...


On the Waitemata...


Pakuranga SC dinghy winter series continues at 0830.

PLSC Winter series for Lasers continues at 0930.

Taikata SC has frostbite racing at 0930.

And on the Manukau...

French Bay YC has winter sailing #2 at 1030.

Manukau YMBC Trailer Yacht winter series continues at 1300.

Waiuku YC has winter series #4 at 1300.

So there it is -

Remember, each club has it's own "niche", with PLSC being a Laser stronghold, MYMBC being a trailer yacht club, WYC and FBYC cater to all dinghy classes, with PSC mainly catering for junior sailing, Starlings, Sunbursts and Scout Cutters being the main classes.

Plan your weekend carefully, and you could really cram a lot into one day!
If my spare parts arrive in time, I hope to be sailing at two venues again, it really makes getting up worthwhile!

Winter sailing at Pakuranga and Manukau

This morning marked the start of the Pakuranga Sailing Club dinghy winter series, sailed at farm cove.

The fleet was mixed, with a handful of various classes, competing alongside a large number of Scout Cutters and Sunbursts.

The fastest sunburst eventually took the honours, with the breeze varying between 10 and 20 knots.

In the stronger bits, a few sailors managed to capsize, but everyone had a great day out, and looked pretty tired by the end of the second race.

Here's a few pics... Click on them to see them full-screen!

ok, More than a few!

This afternoon saw the start of the Trailer Yacht series at Manukau Yacht and Motorboat Club, which was well attended with 4 Noelex 22s, and several Hartley 16s. I was trimming on one of the Noelexs, so no time for photos, sorry.

The Noelexs proved faster today, with the top three placings on line going to them, followed closely by the top hartleys. In the first race, the first five boats finished within 100m, and the whole fleet within just a few minutes.

The second race was also a Noelex benefit, with the top two boats managing to get a slight jump on the rest, with the other Noelexs just edging out the Hartleys.

Hopefully next time, on June 24, I will be able to sail in both events.

Weymouth Trailer Yacht Summer Series

Here are some proposed dates for a summer racing series for trailer yachts and bigger dinghies at Weymouth YC.

Sunday February 12 Briefing 11:30, Start 12 noon.

Sunday February 26 Briefing 11:30, Start 12 noon.

Sunday March 11 Briefing 11:30, Start 12 noon.

Sunday March 25 Briefing 11:00, Start 11:30am.

Two races each day, on one day there will be a long harbour course. Day and course to be determined according to the weather.

These should give anyone interested a decent chance to try out our local patch before the Manukau Regatta on April 8.

And don't forget we hope to have dinghy sprint races on Saturday the 7th as well, with some decent prizes up for grabs, and entry is free for Regatta participants. $5 for others. Entry includes a drink and a sausage!

Awesome sailing today.

Today saw the last 2 races of the Pakuranga Sailing Club winter series.

The weather was fantastic, with about 10 knots of wind straight down the channel, flat water, and moderate temperatures. Long wetsuits were ideal.

The race management was very good, with a well conducted briefing, good simple courses, and great prizes awarded at the end, for both place-getters, and a few by lucky dip.

There was a good fleet of sunbursts ( If I'd realised that earlier, I would have brought one of those over instead of my Laser ) and a good fleet of Scout Cutters, with a handful of other boats thrown in for good measure.

I think it ranks as the best bit of club sailing I've been involved with for some time.

Action on the water was fiercely contested, with some great battles in both fleets. I also spotted a few boats touching bottom in the shallow water near the clubhouse, trying to gain a tiny advantage.

It was great to see another club trying to build our sport, through grass roots level, and helping to increase participation.

Thank you PSC, respect is definitely yours.