Issue date
This salty blog was penned for us by Carl Reinsfield of Pterodactyl (Birdsall 39). Below he tells his tale of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club’s Tauranga to Whitianga 2013 sailed Saturday 26th January. Or you could just check out the video.
We decided to enter the Tauranga to Whitianga race on Monday 21st January five days prior to the start. This decision was initiated by a visit from Crewman Preston who expressed a positive interest. After a few phone calls and once locked in a myriad of tasks emerged which had to be completed before we would be up to speed.
This included:
- Delivering the boat from Whitianga to Tauranga
- Refueling prior to departure
- Booking a berth in Tauranga
- Booking a Cat 3 inspection
- Purchasing new flares, VHF handheld, Almanac and other equipment required to comply with Cat 3
- Organising Crew
- Organising Lift and Hold for Hull cleaning
- Registration and crew info to Club Secretary
- Prepping and cleaning of decks
- Lubrication of winches, blocks, poles and running rigging gear,
- Registration of PHRF Certificate, overlooked at expiry date.
- Food, water and Drinks
- Set the boat up with all running rigging in place and wool all Kites
Finally round 8.30 PM Friday 25th all was in place. Not bad since the delivery to Tauranga took place on Wednesday the 23rd.
All the crew began arriving at the berth at 6.45 am but despite this good timekeeping we dropped lines at 7.10 am leaving only 50 minutes to get to ABouy.
The main was hoisted immediately we left the marina. We headed up the channel. The tide was still running in fast at the entrance. We hugged the coast round the Mount and added an extra 500rpm the tachometer in true leadfoot style.
The kite was attached and ready to go when we killed the motor at ABouy and sailed on a reach under main only up the Line. We had absolutely no idea of the start time at this point and lucked out when we saw Sabian and General Jackson running for the line at the windward end, marked by Catamaran Fully Charged.
We changed course and followed them in, crossing the Line in 3rd place and with the Kite up and drawing. The General was only sailing under main at this point and had a man up the mast, so we slid past them and set our site on Sabian, shifting to windward as he defended.
After 20 minutes we had cleared the competition except the sports boat Frenzy who was coming thru real fast to leeward. He had the lead just north of Karewa Island and continued to extend until he blew his kite outside of Waihi beach. This enabled us to draw level whilst they changed down to there gennaker, once this was set they changed course and went out east, In the meantime we continued to sail the Rumbline
Heading to the east of Slipper, The Swell had the effect of pushing the aft end of the boat to leeward so there was plenty of work to be done by the helmsman and trimmers to keep the flow attached, great fun and managed to get a lot of surfing into the mix, even more so after passing Slipper island at around 11.30 am, where the waves get a little bigger and steeper.
Being motivated by Frenzy, a couple of miles out to windward sometimes looking as if ahead and at others behind, kept everyone on their toes. We had a real blast between Slipper Island and Mahurangi Island outside of Hahei.
Once we had South Sunk Rock behind us we made the decision to drop the kite and two sail reach for the line a true north point between Centre Island and Cooks Bluff. This was a conservative but save option and the majority of the fleet followed this procedure.
With this sail set we finished without incident at 13.00 hrs 36 min 05 secs, 5 hrs 36minutes from the start time. A very Fast race indeed, with most of the fleet finishing before 6 hrs was up. I have done this race at least 10 times and this is by far the best condition and elapsed time I have experienced.
Thanks to the fabulous Crew and crew work.
Thanks to that dedicated Group of sailors and Race organisers at TYPBC.
Thanks to Russthesailor at MBBC for processing the results.
Thanks to YNZ KORC Administration services, for processing PHRF on Friday 25th
Thanks to Honorary Yacht inspectors for advice and short notice response.
Thanks to misteroger01 Productions Nice Work
Will be replacing the “Appleton’s” Rum with “Blackheart” next year.
