And into season 4…..

 

Four years on from a causal suggestion by Rob that he was able to crew for me on a friends Young 88 for the SIMRAD, and Rob and I start another season of 2-handed sailing.

This season is a little different… there is no multi week race, but we still have some exciting sailing planned.

In 18 days time we race to Russell as part of the Coastal Classic. Labour weekend is simply a “NO GO zone” for anything but sailing. Rob and I have won the last two years on PHRF for the 2-handed division, and finished 4th outright in division 3 last year. We also learnt the other day that we hold the Farr 11.6 record for the race, which we set in 2009 of 14 hours 52 minutes.

Race 2 for the summer is the 320 nautical mile race round White Island. In 2011 the race had a different course and sent the fleet north rather than south. The reason being was due to the Rena wreck and the amount of debris still on the course area. This year we will be sailing round the active volcano.

Race 3 is a new race for us. Starting on February 19th a short 500 nautical mile blast up the Northland coast round the 3 Kings Islands and return. A race promoted by Round New Zealand winner Chris Skinner of Truxton, this race has not been run for many years.