I felt comfortable with the first leg, just an extension of a coastal classic race that I have done many times. The forecast was light air but having worked until midnight the night before on preparation, I thought an ‘easy start’ would be ok. But when the wind fades to nothing and the wind direction indicators on the mast start to rotate round and round and round and there is a swell coming from a far away place that just makes the sails crash against the mast and you are just doing all you can to try and get those sails to stop crashing and start sailing it is not easy or nice its like ripping your heart and brain out….
Ok that sounds dramatic but it’s true.
In fact we got a good solid start. Off Devonport wharf, little to leeward but going fast and managed to hold pressure. Able to hoist spinnaker early we got to gybe first around north head and held good clean air all the way down Rangitoto channel. We actually led the pack most of the way to Tiri channel, which was great. Sadly our early advantage was stolen from us as the wind filled from behind and brought everyone up to us and thus started the grind that we would work all the rest of the race.
Night fell off Leigh and morning found us off Tutukaka. All night long and through the next day we simply gave it all we had to keep the boat moving in very light winds and a swell that tore the wind out of our sails on every crest. Does that sound dramatic again? seriously sorry but I need you to understand the real pain that sailors endure when you’re absolute best effort just cant make the boat move.
Our second evening found us off the coast between Bay of Islands and the Cavalli Island group. With the breeze fading again, we decided to move inshore in the hope of finding a land breeze, which usually only extend a few km offshore and are often short lived. Fortunately we found what we were looking for in the middle of Matauri Bay. With our new code zero headsail working well, we picked our way between the Islands and mainland, recording our fastest speeds for the leg. The breeze strengthened and we changed to our light air headsail for the beat to the finish.
We finished at 4:46am, after narrowly beating Physical Favors in a short battle to the line. Our result, 13th on Line out of the 37 boat fleet.
Things that worked well:
- New spinnaker
- New code zero
- PredictWind.com weather files, downloaded and displayed on Expedition navigation and yacht racing software.
- Our fantastic team of supporters, who helped us through last week. Including but not limited to Steve and Megan, Janet, Jenny, Alison, Jackie and Neil.
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