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NZ Race News (Archives) |
February 14th, 2004 - Orewa Beach - Kawau IslandRound 4 - NZ Thundercat Championships - LonghaulLOVE IT? HATE IT? or just grit your teeth and bare it! Long-hauls are in a class of their own with stamina, strength, and skill all playing a part. A touch of 'BRING IT ON' attitude will see a crew give 110% and create a sense of pride and achievement at the finish. The weather started with doom and gloom high winds plus low visibility, but soon turned into a pretty good day with long stretches of easy flat water changing to 1 metre slop chop, bone jarring, unreadable lumpy stuff. The first of three laps (each around 70km) started a break down into two groups. The top three, Waikato Sandblasting, Radio Pacific, and Hydraulink Racing were followed closely by the rest of the field. Fletcher Reinforcing, Plumbquick, Reaction Screenprint, 0800 Propeller and Mustangs 269 managed to stay within a few minutes of the leaders.
As the conditions for the day improved the faster boats started to pull away and spread out. All competitors managed to finish the first lap. Just two boats had problems with broken gear, and one boat ran out of fuel on the second lap. Nobody got lost this time although Selwyn from 0800 Propeller was mislaid for a short while before he was found by a Marshal boat. Use of the new VHF Radio’s funded by The Southern Trust gave us much wider control over the course and competitors with a range of 20km. The only drawback seemed to be no repeater station at the back of Kawau Island so this station had to use cell phone communication. Due to several NO SHOWS and five disqualifications, eighteen boats moved position on the leader board making it a real battle in the midfield placings. Credit to Waikato Finance who was ready to give up after the first lap but with heaps of encouragement from the small crowd kept going to finish and gain valuable points. On an official note, two protests were heard and have been dealt with in a civilized manner. One competitor who did NOT protest but had a lot to say about his disqualification proceeded to play mind games with the RD’s for half an hour or more, which I believe is not in the best interests of the sport. If a competitor will not accept the RD’s decision and does not produce the $20 protest fee they are wasting everyone's time. Due to the excessive debating, the planned random engine checking was not carried out, thus leaving a greater work load for officials at the end of the National Championships. To all other competitors thank you for your support. HUGE THANKS to the assistance given by the twenty plus officials, marshall boats and helpers who got behind this event, without you we can not operate.
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Alan Astrop