Issue date
Junior and senior members of the New Plymouth Yacht Club split into teams of six to contest the Climate 24 Hour Yacht Race, which ran over 22-23 December.
Sailing the seven yacht club-owned 420 dinghies the teams started with a Le Mans start, and then raced over a short inner harbour course, meaning close quarters racing for the full 24 hours.
The weather played its part too, with light winds and warm day and overnight temperatures making the all night viewing very comfortable in front of the brazier on the beach, with the teams having a compulsory crew change every two hours for the duration of the race.
“It has been 13 years since the last 24 hour race at the club when sunburst dinghies were used and it is certainly one way for the members to get to know each other a little better,” reports YNZ Regional Support Officer Wayne Holdt.
“The fleet were doing ten minute lap times during the first part of the race, but when night fell so did the wind and 25 minute lap times were not uncommon, there were big losses and gains for some teams as the breeze came from different directions during the night.”
The winning team with 125 laps were, Paul Moriarty, Alec Frankham, Tristan Hodge, Rebecca Haylock, Adrian Robb, and Emily Batchelor.
