Adding to our Kapiti-Chetwoods record earlier this year, we had great conditions for this years race. Taking such a big chunk out of the record was quite a surprise as Blink was in cruising mode, -we were heading away for a few weeks in the Sounds immediately after.
Lots of video to edit ... But wont be available until we are back to civilisation and computers
Vesna with some editing from Dave put a description of the race on the RPNYC site, www.rpnyc.org.nz, included below
The pics are from Debs
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Happy Anniversary, Dear
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BY VESNA WELLSON OFFSHORE
A couple of days out from the Cook Strait Classic it was looking like a drifter, but we weren’t that concerned as we only had five crew available. A day out and the drifter was changing to something more promising so a couple more crew would be rather helpful, and we were pleased to rope in Vicki and Stephen from Incantare. It happened to be their first wedding anniversary and we thought we should set the bar fairly high for experiences. Stephen also had the same idea and arranged some beautiful dolphins for Vicki at the start line.
head of the start we ummed and ahhed about flying the fractional zero or the #2 jib but poking our nose into Evans Bay to find the wind quite forward from the SE settled the argument – the #2-that-reefs-to-a-3 was the go. We got a decent start below the fleet and got our nose ahead to lead the fleet to Kau Bay, which normally ends up as Blink’s parking lot. This time there was good breeze and we kept the lead on our main rivals, Wedgetail, and Satellite Spy from Waikawa.
The breeze settled in to around 18-23 and the boats split at Point Howard. We wondered about covering Wedgetail but had a good lift so worked across to the Eastbourne side of the harbour and tacked our way up to Moaning Minnie. The wind was gusting around 28 knots and there was some chatter about reefing but we dismissed the idea as it wasn’t far to Minnie where we expected to ease off to a nice reach across the south coast. Wedgetail made a gain by going in to Scorching Bay but it wasn’t enough and we led at the mark.
Cracking off at Moaning Minnie the obligatory check was made for any chance of flying the fractional zero to Sinclair but, as is always the case, it was too shy so we two-sailed it. The helmsman, trimmers, and foredeck staff were getting twitchy so we prepared the 200m² A2 gennaker for the big yee-ha that would follow.
We launched the A2 at Thom’s Rock and it did not disappoint – a boisterous wind gusting to 30+ kept us busy and consistently doing over 15 knots, with a top speed of 19.6, which let us put some ground on Wedgetail and Satellite Spy. A couple of small lie-downs and skids indicated the the wind and waves were on the up, and the race record looked like a possibility.
The happy couple trimmed their seal-skin socks off and got to know the Blink day spa experience. Vicki, not to be outdone by Stephen’s start line dolphins, had arranged a graceful albatross or two.
A couple of miles out from Tory the big red kite was getting to be a handful and we pinged it for the fractional zero – setting up for the drop was the cue for Huey to send send a puff and we had a little lie down. This is where Wedgetail made a significant gain and we could see big white Bertha approaching fairly swiftly. Tory was typically fickle and unpredictable, and we had to get rid of the fro and tack/gybe/furl our way to the finish line where we arrived about 22 minutes ahead of the record set by Wedgetail a couple of years ago. Wedgetail came in about 8 minutes later, also beating their record.
We popped some bubbles to celebrate a great win and romantic anniversary getaway. A wonderful day out, with great crew and a top way to finish off a year of sailing on Blink.
The next race is the Wellington to Nelson Race starting on Friday 22nd January – the forecast is sunny and mostly following breezes
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[The copyright holders for the background music are monetising this video, so it is blocked in some countries and wont always play in this Blogger window ... If it wont play for you, heres the link to watch it on YouTube ... Blinks Cook Strait Classic 2015 ]
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As a reward for our General Handicap 1st place in the RPNYC Xmas Series, we had ordered a 25 knot southeaster for the CSC, although a southerly would have done. Until a few days out, it looked like a drifting race. Then it looked like a low 20s headwind. Craig ran the course through Expedition a day or so out and it thought we might challenge for the record time. Really? Uphill?
We had debated for days whether wed hit the line with the A3 or C0 up, but in the end it was a bit windy so we just 2-sail reached across Evans bay. In front. Then we went to pop the A2 and expected to get out of the harbour fast. But we werent quick at hoisting and then when we did, there was a nice half-hitch in the furled sail about halfway up. This clearly wasnt going to work so down it came. We gybed a couple of times to stay out of the incoming tide while the Div 1 fleet either sailed past or nearly sailed past. Eventually we got the big red one into the air and made good time to the harbour entrance, where we furled the sail very early (and avoided further issues). Ran Tan exited the harbour and turned right with Wedgetail in pursuit, a long way ahead. We lost a couple or minutes or so relative to where we should have been.
A quick 2-sail reach, full main and medium jib to the wind factory, where it became apparent that wed need a reef. And then another.
From there on in, it was more or less mid-30s northerly, up to 40. We had a brief spell of 31-32 knots halfway across which felt like a lull. We sailed a tight reach, holding just over 10 knots boat speed, all the way across, which gave us a good lead on the rest of the fleet.
[Ran Tan in background]
The brains trust were aiming for a slightly south approach to Tory, as the tide usually carries boats up north. This didnt work for us at all, we ended up needing to tack our way up to Tory entrance, where we tacked out further than we wanted to avoid an Bluebridge ferry heading into Tory. When Bluebridge then called us on the VHF to tell us to watch out as they were exiting Tory, there was momentary confusion until it was apparent that this was Inconvenient Bluebridge Ferry number 2. Which made us take a course right at the northern edge of the channel, out of both the wind and the incoming tide. Once in the channel, suddenly we were in calm water, warm, and slow. We found some patches of breeze to sneak over the line slowly, in first ahead of Ran Tan by just over 10 minutes.
Total time 3 h 28 m 37s, race record 3 h 23 m 23s. Final results: 1st on line, 2nd on General Handicap, 3rd on PHRF.
[time-lapse of race]
We motored into Ngaruru Bay and threw an anchor over for some drying out and eating and drinking where we were joined briefly by Ran Tan and Wedgetail.
We debated whether to stay overnight and head back the next day but the overwhelming consensus was that wed go back that evening.
Which was interesting. 35 knots across the middle of the strait, #4 and 2 reefs, consistent mid-teens speeds and Gordie having a lovely time surfing across the second half of the strait.
One of the aforementioned Bluebridge ferries exited Tory as we did and they werent very far ahead of us by the time we got to Wellington harbour entrance. We took 1 hour 20 minutes from Tory Channel to Karori light, and under 3 hours into the inner harbour.
[time-lapse]
Things got interesting in the wind factory again. wind built to the 40s and then we saw sustained visits into the low 50s a few times. We went to take down the jib, early in the takedown the guide line broke and suddenly were fighting a half-filled sail, so it became a bit challenging. Once we got it down, Blink moved along quite nicely under 2-reefed main alone until we covered the last couple of miles to the harbour entrance. Then we decided we couldnt be bothered fighting our way into the harbour in a gale so we motorsailed in. In about 12 knots of wind.
Thanks to Mark and Mike for the pics
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Not one of our best races - we had a very slow light air start out of the harbour, and had a very costly sail change to the heavy jib. so we got a bit of a sailing lesson from the Crusader team who led us out of the harbour by a healthy margin.
Once we got going in decent breeze we started to get back into the race, but were not able to catch Crusader on the downwind run to Tory Channel Entrance.
Tory Channel Entrance, finish line drawn in
We were surprised at not being able to hold our A2 kite in a little over 20 knots - had a few round-ups so were forced to sail low and slow to keep upright.
Eventually we worked out the problem ... our rudder angles didnt end up right after Blinks Birthday earlier this year, had a toe-in angle of about 4° instead of 1.5° ... so the inner sides of the rudder blades were spending much of their time stalled and at the very least dragging.
Great raft-up after the race, Blink even had her mirror-ball ...
Then off for a few weeks fast cruising. Should be much more salubrious than previous years ... lots more room, hot shower, fridge, freezer (ice cream!! Woohoo!!) etc..
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The RPNYC Island Bay Race was held on Saturday, 2nd November being an 18 or so miler. This was Blinks first opportunity to turn right out of the harbour and have a little sniff of Cook Strait following her sea trials and early races in the confines of Welly Harbour. We had gone out early with Booboo (Josh Tucker) from North Sails who had come down especially to sail with us and check our sail configuration, furlers, etc.
The start was a Mark Foy and Blink scored a fairly late start of 12.55pm with only Ran Tan and the Tri following us 5 minutes later.
The first leg was uphill to Korokoro giving us an opportunity to see what she could do in a fairly moderate breeze. She trucked her way up wind, slightly cracked off, averaging 9kts over ground
The breeze built as we rounded the Korokoro mark and a woop woop down leg followed. Initially wind was mid teens, but then started blowing about 18 to mid-20s, we hoisted the A2 and Blink took off. When you are pushing it in a gusty Wellington northerly with an A2 (200m2 of kite), you are bound to have a couple of lie downs (which we did) but she got up pretty quickly. Most interesting one was near Barretts reef, perhaps not the best place to have a nana nap.
With boat speed in the early 20s (we did 22 knots speed over ground a few times, with 2 knots of tide against us), we were sailing faster than the Bluebridge Ferry on the downhill. There were many grins all round. As we got to the Barretts reef buoy, we had a bit of trouble getting the A2 furled up and were at danger of making fast passage to Antarctica. We eventually dropped the kite conventionally and headed to the Island Bay marks.
The rest of the race was a reaching course around the mark, back to Barretts Reef buoy and trucking it up wind for a final reach home finishing at the club house. We passed enough boats and started to hunt a little pesky Shaw 650 (Magic Trick) who started earlier but just managed to beat us on line having had a glamour run, perfect conditions for them.
Blink was the fastest around the course beating Wedgetail (Welbourne 42), Ran Tan (50 footer canter), and the trimaran. Magic Trick scored first and Blink second on general club and PHRF making it Shaw sweep.
It was a fabulous insight to what Blink is capable of and she absolutely loved both the uphill and down hill runs. She is perfectly well balanced, easy to handle and makes her crew extremely happy.
It was awesome having Booboo on board and even more so given it was his birthday. A few birthday beers flowed after the race to celebrate, and a clubroom full of RPNYC folks sang him a big happy birthday.
Next up: Brothers Race, first Cook Strait crossing, next Saturday. Mr Shaw will be joining us for that one.
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From memory, 60 degrees for 36 hours. I could have that wrong - but Craig wont.
Oven walls are panels, built into an enclosure around the boat
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