A little update

Weymouth hosted the YNZ "Have a Go!" scheme earlier this week, reports are that some 35 kids from local schools got to try sailing, and several have shown an interest in taking up the sport.

The "AK Splash" water safety fun day run by teams such as Coastguard, Surf Life Saving, Westpac Rescue Helicopters, Auckland council, and Mai FM, among many others was a very good event, with children being given "passports" upon entering the grounds, with various stations giving stamps to fill them up. Once the books were full, kids could take them up to the event managers site and win a prize. 500 of those prizes were new RFD lifejackets, and if the kids already owned a good lifejacket, they could get one for a parent or sibling.
Thanks to all those who made this event a huge success, water safety is a major part of what all water-sports clubs should be about!

and finally...

The annual Crew.Org.Nz end of year Rum Race is in its final preparation stages. 

Top prizes this year include a $3500 SUP.

The Ogre has said that dates should be finalised early this coming week.

More info here as soon as it becomes available, or go to www.crew.org.nz and check it out for yourself.
Last year I think we had 87 boats, the goal this year is to top 100.
We were the only small boat (excluding Weta's) to be involved last year, and the huge adrenaline burst of trying to get to the finish line before the huge ORMA 60 Vodafone (we failed, maybe this year) was with me for weeks afterward. Mark foy starts and different length courses, coupled with the brilliant Racetrack handicap system meant the whole fleet finished within just a few minutes. Simply awesome.

Coming up this month on the Manukau.

Saturday 9th November :
Series A at MYMBC  3pm.
Club day at Clarks Beach, 1pm.

Sunday 10th:
Club day at Weymouth, 2pm.
Open day at French Bay, 2pm.

Saturday 16th:
Club day at Waiuku 9:30am.
Club day at Clarks beach, 1pm

Sunday 17th:
TY race 2 at Weymouth, 9am.
MYMBC series A at 10:30am.
Spring series at French Bay, 10am.
Champs series at Waiuku, 10am.

Saturday 23rd:
Club day at Weymouth, 1pm.
Memorial cup at MYMBC, 2pm.
points racing at Clarks Beach, 1pm

Sunday 24th:
Club day at Weymouth, 1:30pm.
Spring series at French Bay, 1pm.

Saturday 30th:
Club day at Clarks Beach, 1pm.
Working bee at Weymouth -please note some roads around Manurewa will be closed this morning for the Santa Parade.

Sunday, 1st December:
Club day at Waiuku, 9am.

And coming up early next month:

The second annual Manukau Meltdown regatta is being held at Weymouth Yacht Club on Saturday December 7th. More details coming very soon.

What's happening at Weymouth

Coming up at Weymouth Yacht Club this weekend we have the first of this seasons River Races on Saturday, followed by the first Harbour Race on Sunday.

The river course will see dinghy classes racing up the Pahurehure inlet towards the Papakura motorway, around a few channel markers, and finishing in front of the clubhouse.

Sunday's harbour course will start and finish in front of the clubhouse, and larger boats will head out into the main harbour, tackling semi-open water, and rounding the Wiri LPG terminal. Depending on the weather, the course could stretch as far as the airport or further.

Both courses will be set according to conditions, and while we will have full safety cover on Saturday, boats participating on Sunday will need to be self-sufficient, as conditions out in the main harbour can be quite hazardous. For this reason, Saturday is being promoted as a dinghy event, and Sunday as a trailer yacht event.

Trailer yachts can race on Saturday if desired, and large dinghies can race Sunday, subject to a safety inspection.

Both days events count towards their respective series points, and club handicaps will be applied afterwards to determine results.

Come along and join in on the day that best suits your needs.

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!

Final races for Weymouth TY's

The last two races for the Weymouth Yacht Club summer Trailer Yacht series didn't happen last Sunday, as the wind was over 30 knots, and quite gusty.

Instead, members busied themselves throughout the day ensuring that everything is organised ready for the Easter weekend Manukau Regatta.

We also got a chance to inspect the newest addition to our TY fleet, as Rob L brought his Hartley along, hoping for a good day.

The club now switches it's focus back to dinghy sailing, and following the Regatta, we will be having (previously unscheduled) racing for small boats whenever we can, right up until the start of the MYMBC Winter Series in June, or until we all decide it's getting too cold.

Bumpy rides for the trailer yachts

Sunday 26th saw the second day of the Weymouth Yacht Club TY summer series, and what a day it was!

Before the start, it was decided that, in the light winds at the time, and with a favourable forecast, a course around and beyond the Wiri LPG terminal was a good idea.

As the local Waka Ama paddlers were out in force, we decided to start directly in front of the clubhouse, which was just off to the side of their course.

It would have been an impressive sight, with around ten Wakas, four racing yachts, and several sea scout boats all whizzing around, plus of course the local fisho's motoring in and out.

Of course, the breeze then started to build, and then build some more.

At the start, Aaron, sailing with six year old Ashley as crew in the Cherry, acted as gate boat, and with the breeze now up, they couldn't hold the boat down, so sailed the beat with no jib.

After almost a mile of beating, Murray and Ajith in the Quicksilver rounded the first mark just ahead of the two Rob's in the Beachcomber, with the Cherry a little further back in third, while Pete, sailing the Paper Tiger was just behind them, having turned back to rescue his hat!

The next part of the course was interesting, as the gusts off the headland laid most of the boats on their ear at some point. As this was a close reach, Pete put the hammer down on the cat and disappeared into the distance, rounding the LPG terminal a good ten minutes in front. This was more of a feat than it seems, as the waves out there were over a metre high by this stage, and the breeze approaching 20 knots.

Sadly for Pete, he rounded the terminal the wrong way, which meant he was not classed as a finisher in the race. On the way back, even though he was backing off quite a bit, the cat proved to be faster than the rescue boat on several occasions.

As the first trailer yachts approached the terminal, Murray still held a slight lead over Rob, with the Cherry, still with no jib,  well behind in third.

Rounding the terminal, things went slightly wrong for Rob, and they lost a lot of ground, slipping back to the point where they rounded the next mark only just ahead of Aaron.

Turning downwind for the ride home, Murray now held a commanding lead, and would be unchallenged for the rest of the day. The beachcomber and the cherry started their usual drag race, and, with the wind now behind the boats, Aaron hoisted his jib, whilst Rob put up a bigger one.

The cherry, being lighter, planed most of the way back, slowly gaining on the beachcomber. Aaron decided to stay well to leeward, away from the shore, while Rob decided to go high, out of the tide.

Rounding the final mark before the finish, the cherry was just ahead, and managed to hold the lead to the finish.

So, after three races, we have had three winners. The rest of the series is shaping up to be great - join us for some more hot action!

What's happening..... in the weekend.

Saturday -
Weymouth YC has training at 11:45.
FBYC Regatta runs both days - arrive 10:30.
Waiuku YC have a Clarks beach trip.


Sunday -
Weymouth YC has race 2 of the Trailer Yacht Summer Series, Briefing at 11:30.
MYMBC has the final day of their series C, at 13:30.
FBYC regatta continues, also summer series 4. arrive at 11:00.
Waiuku return journey from Clarks beach.

And of course, for any laser sailors.....

Panmure Lagoon Sailing Club are holding the 35th annual;

RSA Regatta - open to all laser 1 rigs ( Standard, radial, 4.7 ) 
Registration from 0900,
Briefing 0945
First warning signal 1030 sharp.

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!

Labour weekend sailing... or lack there-of!

None of the Manukau clubs have anything scheduled for this weekend, or Monday.

Early morning/late evening tides have probably put a stop to that.

One thing that could be done, subject to enthusiasm, and decent weather, is an Out and Back cruise, departing from your favourite launching place early Sunday Morning, and going out with the tide.

With a little communication and planning (eg swapping mobile phone numbers or similar), all the boats could meet up somewhere, either for a BBQ on the beach, or just raft up for a picnic, floating down the channel.

Trailer yachts would be best, as obviously the rafting-up idea wouldn't work with Lasers, but anything with a halyard could do it!

Once the tide starts to flow back in, we could all head back to where we came from.

High tide is around 7:30 am, so it's an early start from Weymouth or Mangere, but without work or school on Monday, it doesn't matter if we get back a bit late, just as long as it's daylight.

Next weekend (29/30 October, 2011) seems to be a busy one, with sailing planned at most clubs for both days.

South Auckland Sailing 17 & 18 sept, 2011.

PLSC handicap series race 3 on Sunday, 11:00 start.

FBYC reserve day for the winter series on Sunday, 12:00 start - phone to check first!!


Nothing planned for Weymouth, Manukau, or Waiuku.

Clarks beach and Pakuranga programs unavailable.

Informal trailer yacht harbour race from Weymouth on Sunday, late morning/early afternoon start depending upon weather. Contact me for details.

Sunday's forecast

I haven't done much this week, and with the pending battle coming up on Sunday I thought I should put the forecast into perspective. Just in case any international readers want to know what's happening.

The average wind speed is 18-20 knots (Force 5).
The wind gusts are 26-28 knots (Force 7).

Wind direction - Southwest, which is the prevailing wind in this area. It usually feels stronger than it really is.
                           ---------------                     --------------                   -----------------

The Cherry (my boat) is 4.75 m long, 2.15 m wide, sleeps four adults, and weighs 220kg fully rigged. It has no internal ballast. The working sail area is 11.4m2.

The Quicksilver (Rob's boat) is 5m long, 2.24 m wide, also sleeps four, and weighs 408kg, with 108kg of ballast. The working sail area is 17.7m2.

Neither of us will be carrying spinnakers.

With the rig size being offset by the weight difference, its easy to see why these boats are quite closely matched in theory. IF we manage to get decent starts, then there could be quite a battle!!

I know rob spent a few hours recently tuning up ready for a windy weekend, to be faced with drifters up 'til now. I spent about an hour doing the same thing today.

Of course, tuning on the driveway is fine, but until we get on the water, I have no real idea how well it's  worked. We're pretty much ignoring the Noelex's and Hartley's, although if we happen to be close, then who knows!

Check in here Sunday Arvo to see how it all goes down.

2011 Trailer Yacht North Islands

What: NZTYA North Island Champs
When : 3 & 4 September 2011
Where : Tauranga YC


Click here for more information.

Sailing at MYMBC this Sunday.

Race 2 of the Manukau Yacht and MotorBoat Club's winter series is scheduled for Sunday July 3rd.

Start Time is 1100, so make sure you leave plenty of time to rig.

The forecast according to Windfinder is fine, some light cloud, and easterly 10 knots gusting toward 20.

With a high of 14 degrees, wrap up warm, and the sailing should be great!

Clubhouse on Kiwi Esplanade, half a k past the outboard boating club buildings.

New images added to Weymouth site.

Two new images have been added to the Weymouth Yacht Club gallery.

Although taken at MYMBC, these images depict the type of action we like to see out on the water.

A good breeze, and close racing, it doesn't get much better!

Thanks Rob for the photos.

Trailer Yacht Action

Anyone with a 16' trailer yacht, Hartley, Pelin, Quicksilver etc are invited to come racing at Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club tomorrow at noon.

At this point, Weymouth will be represented by Robert in a Quicksilver, and me in a Pelin Cherry, weather permitting.

There is also early morning Laser racing at 0845, at PLSC. Not sure whether I can be bothered getting up that early, and rushing to change boats late morning.