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NZ Race News (Archives) |
August 23rd, 2003Thundercat racing at Waihi BeachTHIS IS THE WEATHER FORECAST: I've been up on the roof and its peee-ing down with rain! (Monty Python 1968) As for the real weather conditions; 1.5 to 2m
messy waves building to 3m with light off-shore winds turning
to strong on-shore as the day progressed. On Friday several
people asked if we were still racing? The answer for the future is - if
I am RD the decision will be made at the venue on the day,
unless the conditions are so bad that the authorities ban water
activities in the area, in which case I would call the event off the
day before. Inclement weather will not stop the winter
race calendar. These races are held for those who want the
experience! The conditions on the day I would describe as
CHALLENGING and RACEABLE.
More drama in race two when Aaron and Shane of Build Smart hit a double wave, and both were pitched out of the boat headfirst - 'assume the white knuckle grip guys'. In the third race Robert and Carl of AquaPro were very unlucky after fighting to get the lead from C&A Racing but flip on the final lap.
Race 10 became the last race of the day because we
were without a serviceable boat to marshal the Final.
This is something we will need to work on in the future and I for
one would like to see us having a fulltime marshal boat in the club. Lowrance Matrix with Stacey Aitken and Helen as co-pilot, ran a very respectable third place on the day finishing every race. This is not Stacey’s usual style - Helen must have been a calming influence giving them a solid performance Yeah Right!!
Our new Harbourmaster, Jon J Moore from
Environment Bay of Plenty came down to see us and was happy with our
set-up. Thanks for the visit Jon, hope to see you again soon
and the offer of a ride to you or any of your department is open
anytime we are at the beach. And
to our members - keep your boating standards up both socially and on
race days. Thanks to our officials Greg, Corinne, Bruce and
Wayne - without you the club would not be able to operate. Alan Astrop |
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Ten
crews took up the challenge & the rest stayed home. The first
race saw the Takapuna Panelbeaters crew of Martin and Stacy do
a perfect barrel roll between D-E buoys. Martin later said all
they need was one more puff of wind and they would have recovered.
These boys are keen and were ready to race in their next heat with
help from other racers. I even saw one of the girls pulling
over the motor for them. 
We
hit trouble in the sixth race with Matamata Motors and C&A
Racing both flipping within meters of each other running into the
onshore wind. Then Swashbucklers had engine trouble leaving
only two finishers Heritage Tiles & Build Smart. 
Eta
Ripples and Heritage Tiles both had a good days racing finishing
first and second with only 50 points between them. Sorry we
could not give you a Final. 