Issue date
The 14ft Javelin Skiffs got together on Lake Taupo last weekend, for their New Zealand Championships.
A new boat being built along with a date change reduced the fleet, but the racing was just as competitive as ever.
In the first race, the oldest boat Hot Gossip lead for the first lap but could not defend the lead in shifty and gusty conditions, and Thumper took the victory. With the wind coming up to 25 knots, there were amazingly fast gennaker rides, and several capsizes.
Phlipnhel was doing fine with the replacement skipper Wade, leading around the top mark several times, but unfortunately broke their mast after a capsize, which took them out of the contest.
After the first three races on Friday, the four leading boats were within four points of each other, leaving the contest wide open.
The Saturday started well for Trailblazer with a win coming from third, catching the leading Thumper only at the last top mark. Flying Circus had a good race, beating Bax Contractors across the line, thereby putting the three Lee hulls in the first three places. Brilliant sunshine and warm water but cool breeze made for wonderful sailing conditions.
Bax Contractors downhill
In Race Five, Bax Contractors had bad start, crossing the fleet astern on port, but after tacking and going left found a favourable shift, which saw them coming into the top mark second behind Thirty Something. Because they managed to stay inside until the anticipated shift came, they got to gybe and pass them, winning the race. Trailblazer and Hot Gossip would have been in touch but got knocked around the top mark. Hot Gossip managed a third place ahead of Trailblazer in the finish.
Due to big holes and shifts, the first beat of Race Six was very challenging. Hot Gossip went up the middle and caught some good lifts, with Bax Contractors following them and rounding the top mark in second place behind them. Trailblazer got buried, never reaching the definitive right hand shift and could not recover on the one-lap track, even though choosing the Lake side on the downwind looked famous for a while.
Thumper
Bax Contractors showed great boat speed on the light-wind run going lower and faster that all of their competition. Hot Gossip was struggling with taking on water, which saw Thirty Something and Full Frontal beating them to the line as well.
After six races, there were still only seven points between the first and fifth placed yacht.
If the racing has been close on the first two days, it only got closer through the final three races. Brilliant sunshine and a moderate wiring breeze provided a great stage for the epic battle to win the Ray Eade Cup.
In the morning, current leaders Thirty Something looked like they had their hands on the Cup as the light Northerly winds died out and the fleet was kept ashore. Black Bart used the spare time again to get in more time on the water brushing up on their roll tacks.
The lake breeze set in around lunchtime however, slowly building to around 12 knots, but with big holes and breeze lines across the course. Trailblazer came up to form in race 7, using their local knowledge to win ahead of Bax Contractors and Thirty Something. This closed the gap to the two leading boats and gave Trailblazer a realistic chance of competing for the title. Bax Contractors were ahead and focussing on keeping in front of their closer rival Thirty Something
Nonetheless Thirty Something took the lead in race 8 and held it to the finish, winning ahead of Bax Contractors with Trailblazer having to fight up through the fleet into third place. To come out on top, the Davids now had to win the last race with two boats in between them and the two leading boats. Therefore they shut out those two competitors at the start. That saw Trailblazer come around the top mark second behind Thumper and in front of Flying Circus. Success seemed achievable when they caught up to the leader at the last mark rounding, but Bax Contractors fought hard up the last short beat to finish in second place ahead of Thumper and Flying Circus, which secured their overall win.
The National Title along with the Ray Eade Trophy go to Ben Bax and Dylan Doug, the oldest skipper and the youngest crew in the fleet. Congratulations!
Winner of the John Long Memorial Trophy for second place went to David Brown and David Feek who narrowly beat Wade McGee and Demian Dixon.
Best Female Skipper was Sara Watters with Hamish Norton crewing who finished fourth.
This year, the DFL trophy went to the fifth place holder Antje Muller and Kez Cameron.
Big thanks go to the Lake Taupo Yacht Club for hosting the event, and the officials and volunteers who made this exciting regatta possible.
The next competition will be the Sanders Cup Interprovincial Trophy held in Whangarei over Easter.
For more information on the Javelin Class please visit our website www.javelinskiff.org.
