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NZ Race News (Archives) |
November 15th, 2003 - Mount Maunganui - Kawera Island (3 laps)Mount Maunganui Long-haulLong Hauls are always a favorite for the crews - a chance to sit in your boat for 3 hours and cruise the open waters in comfort……………well okay, maybe not! However, this was the only chance to get in some much needed long haul practice before the NZ Championship Series which starts January 2004. Looking out from the beach the sea was dead flat, with talk of possibly running cleavers. But further out you could just make out the white caps forming on the open water so choosing the right propeller would be important. Mt Maunganui has a pretty nasty shore dump where the beach ramps down very quickly, meaning if you hold your boat in the surf line for the start, the co-pilot is up to his chest in water while the driver is lucky to have his ankles wet! To make life easier the boats lined up about 200 metres off the beach and started with the drop of the green flag from the Marshal Boat.
All 12 boats got away cleanly and headed to Karewa Island, which lies to the North, about 15km away. On the run out all boats took a direct line to the marshal boat anchored off Karewa Island, but the run back to the Mount saw the first 4 boats split away from the pack and hug the coast line looking for shelter from the wind, and some flatter water. This strategy seemed to pay off as the gap between them and the rest of the field slowly opened up. The race was 3 laps long so the choice of completing a compulsory fuel change after the 1st or 2nd lap was left up to each crew. ‘Radio Pacific’ with James Astrop and Cameron Adshead soon opened a commanding lead after the first lap. Almost ½ a lap clear of the next boat it looked like it was going to be a easy victory in their new boat…until they flipped on the 2nd lap - bad luck guys but good on you for getting it re-started out there and finishing all 3 laps. Besides the odd crewman going overboard the rest of the race went smoothly. There was a bit of confusion regarding fuel change procedure and direction around the buoys, but this was cleared up at de-briefing at the end of the day.
Congratulations to Waz & Flash in ‘Armour Linings’ for taking first place. The blood coming out of Flash's elbow and lower back from rubbing on the boat looked pretty damn painful - the sacrifices we make for 1st place eh? Special mention must go to 2 familiar faces seen back on the beach. Ric & Gail Dunn were back to help out for the day, with Ric as Race Director and Gail stepping in to help sort out entry forms and money. Thank you both. A big thank you to Juicy Jules and our new lapscorers Michelle and Helena who looked after the points scoring. And a huge thank you to Bruce Williamson (and family) who stepped in at the last moment and provided us with a Marshal Boat at Karewa Island and to the 2 sweeper boats who had to sit back and watch the other guy’s have all the fun racing. Next weekend the Thundercats will be North at Waipu Cove for a day of Surfcross. See you there PS commiserations to all the partners who’ll have to spend the
next few day’s listening to the moans and groans about aching
bones and joints Rod
Klaassen |
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