Snow Boots or Sailing Boots

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Issue date

8 Oct 2014

YNZ Regional Support Officer Graeme Wall tells the yarn of his recent trip to Te Anau…

There are two things in the deep South that will, this time of year, inevitably herald a strong sou-westerly weather change and bring with it a smattering of snow and a good chill factor. They are a good lambing season and the Opening day of the Summer Sailing.

This past weekend was no exception. In Southland there are plenty of lambs in the paddocks and on Saturday most of the Otago Harbour Clubs were planning on starting their seasons sailing.

Further south on the shores of the beautiful Lake Te Anau is the Marakura Yacht Club. They too were planning on kicking off the summer season this past weekend. As the local YNZ Regional Support Officer I thought it was a great opportunity to get across for some Fiordland hospitality and a sail in this opening weekend, so after being invited over by the Immediate past Commodore, Daryl Parkes, I was all set to head south early on Saturday morning following a pre-season pot luck tea at Port Chalmers Yacht Club the night before.

Waking up early on Saturday morning to a strong southerly gale with snow in the air I found myself having reservations about towing my Paper Tiger over for the weekend – a bit wussy I know. I headed off leaving the yacht behind but armed with plenty of other fun stuff to keep the Te Anau crew entertained – like a rules seminar.

As I drove southward I couldn’t help notice the definite change to white on the surrounding hills coming down on to the paddocks to eventually settle on the road between Gore and Lumsden and beyond. Couldn’t help wondering if yachting was on the agenda or if the skiing fraternity would be out and relishing this late flurry.

15 minutes out of Te Anau watching the Downer Truck doing his thing to keep the road clear

As the photos show I stopped short of Te Anau where the snow was settling well and a Downers truck had just been through to sweep the road clear, undeterred I pressed on windscreen wipers clearing the snow so I could still see the road ahead. At some point the notion of a yacht race later that afternoon doesn’t seem to be a high probability.

I arrive in Te Anau to a very gloomy morning with fresh snow covering the surrounding mountains of Fiordland. I was informed that first thing that morning the snow was settling around the township. Thankfully the land wasn’t cold enough for it to settle too long.

Snowcapped peaks greeted me upon arrival at Te Anau – spectacular

Making my way to the club I found Daryl Parkes opening up and getting ready for business as usual. Will the recent snow be a problem? He didn’t seem to think so. May put a couple off but the breeze looks okay so why not. Yes why not indeed. With the absence of my own PT, I was offered a Laser to sail. Being an ex Southland boy I wasn’t going to let a little snow or chill factor deny me of a good sail.

A course was duly set by the Race Officer, John Hefford and a small mixed fleet ventured out on to the lake for two races that afternoon in what turned out to be a fantastic breeze. The following day the club put on three more races in still less than balmy conditions but a good breeze nevertheless.

Sunday saw the snow replaced with a heavy down pour of rain and an increasing wind and concluded with a good burst of thunder and lightning. The breeze really came up for the last of the three races on Sunday. Having got myself into a good position (in front) of Daryl Parkes for the last race my over confidence must have kicked in. After what was an off the wind ‘seat of your pants’ ride in a borrowed laser – hoping not to return a broken rig to the owner – I managed a series of spectacular capsizes. Somewhat wet, a little cooler and now behind Daryl I completed the last race of the weekend - it was certainly a wet day at the office for me.

Local YNZ RSO Graeme Wall (the author) having a wet day at the office

Now, please don’t think it snows every time they go sailing at Te Anau, they do have long hot beautiful summer days; but as I said above lambing and opening days of the summer sailing season can have a habit of attracting cold southerlies like moths to a light bulb.

Past Commodore, Daryl, are they sunglasses or snow goggles?

The neat thing at Te Anau is it didn’t stop proceedings at all. The kids in the Optimist and P class all had a great time on the water and yes probably stayed a tad longer in the hot showers after.

I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend down south at Te Anau. Come rain, snow or even sunshine, they’re keen to get out and go sailing.

They have a full programme of events for this coming season along with their Learn To Sail Coaching. Two of their youth sailors, Tom Bell and Cameron Campbell, are combining with another couple of Southland Sailors to head up to Kawau Island in December with the RNZYS youth training week.

How did Otago Harbour fare on past weekend? On the Saturday the snow didn’t stop anyone but the sou-westerly of 35+ knots gusting 47+ knots did tend to keep them ashore on the Saturday.

Sunday, however, saw the Broad Bay Boating Club hosting their Regatta in a great northerly breeze and a good turnout of yachts. Broad Bay has a knack of picking the right day.

And how did I fare over the weekend? Well not being a Laser sailor I must admit that had become reacquainted with both my lower back and legs. Maybe a bit more time is required in the gym. Thanks to the Commodore, Lance Shaw, and all his team at Marakura for putting on a fun weekend and not allowing a little bit of snow to get in the way of summer sailing.”

Tom & Cameron enjoying a good ride on Sunday afternoon