Leander 2021 - NPCL, Lyttelton Harbour
Sadly the fleet is a little lean this year as, injury, uncompleted upgrades and other commitments have kept a several boats off the water.
Day 1
Race 1 and 2 were run back to back in a tricky 4-15Kn NW breeze. Positions changed regularly and massive leads turned into equally large deficits. Most boats spent time parked watching the fleet sail up to or often round them. Being first around a mark often gave the rest of the fleet a big hint to go the other way.
Race 3 was even more difficult with a 5 - 14Kn NW with long fingers of breeze and nothing over large parts of the course. Despite long periods off the foils upwind, the foiling boats, travelling faster than the wind, were able to ride the leading edge of a single gust all the way down the course.
Day 2
Race 4 was a fairly consistent 6-9Kn Northerly slowly moving NE as the race progressed.
Doug and Nick in Massive attack, started, headed right and lead by the entire downwind leg as the following boats rounded the top mark. They finished well before anyone was near the top mark.
As it was too light for windward foiling The Weapon and TheVirtual had a close foiler vs non-foiler race for second place with James and Rowan finishing just 2 seconds ahead of the rapidly approaching foiler.
Races 5 and 6 were run in a nice steady 14-12Kn NE with a flat sea.
Perfect foiling conditions lead to a predictable result with the foilers taking out the two afternoon races. Great rides all round, especially for James and Amelia in Rampant with their exciting twin wire kite runs.
Super Cup Sprints Series will be on Sunday off the rocks near the Coastguard from 12:30pm
Day 3
Race 7 and 8 were run in the morning with an 18-20+Kn NE, outgoing tide and big seas. As everyone had got used to flat water and lighter breezes, most boats used max sails. The sea state caught out a lot of boats and most of the fleet had multiple swims in 1 or more races.
After lunch, the final race was run in bigger seas than the morning. Breeze was up over 25Kn with the odd 28Kn gust. Only two boats finished with others retiring with damage.
Final Results
| Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 4 | Race 5 | Race 6 | Race 7 | Race 8 | Race 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Boat | Skipper | Crew | Total Points | Place | Points | Place | Points | Place | Points | Place | Points | Place | Points | Place | Points | Place | Points | Place | Points | Place | Points | |
| 1 | 607 - The Virtual | Paul Roe | Malcolm Snowdon | 793.333 | 2 | 80 | 1 | 100 | 1 | 100 | 3 | 66.667 | 1 | 100 | 1 | 100 | 3 | 66.667 | 1 | 100 | 2 | 80 |
| 2 | 609 - Massive Attack | Nick James | Doug Gale | 680 | 1 | 100 | 2 | 80 | 3 | 66.667 | 1 | 100 | 3 | 66.667 | 3 | 66.667 | 1 | 100 | 3 | 66.667 | DNS | 33.333 |
| 3 | 582 - Chemical Weapon | James Collett | Rowan Sinton | 525.476 | 3 | 66.667 | 3 | 66.667 | 4 | 57.143 | 2 | 80 | DNS | 25 | DNC | 0 | 5 | 50 | 2 | 80 | 1 | 100 |
| 4 | 589 - Merde | David Pairman | Owen Daniell | 488.413 | DNS | 28.571 | 5 | 50 | 2 | 80 | 4 | 57.143 | 2 | 80 | 2 | 80 | 4 | 57.143 | DNF | 22.222 | DNS | 33.333 |
| 5 | 601 Rampant | James Maynard | Amelia Collins / Ayla Mahabeer | 405.556 | DNS | 28.571 | 4 | 57.143 | 5 | 50 | 5 | 50 | 4 | 57.143 | 4 | 57.143 | DNF | 22.222 | 5 | 50 | DNS | 33.333 |
| 6 | 600 - L2 | Steve Hogg | Kasper Hogg | 137.143 | DNC | 0 | DNC | 0 | DNC | 0 | DNC | 0 | DNC | 0 | DNC | 0 | 2 | 80 | 4 | 57.143 | DNC | 0 |
James and Rowan are the well deserved Leander Cup Handicap winners. And congratulations to Amelia for winning the Youth Trophy.
Day 4 Super Cup Sprint Series
A 12 - 18Kn SW breeze made for great sprint racing. The course was perfectly oriented for spectators. TheWeapon was fast and sailing well, but after race two had to retire, having popped a diamond which was heard by spectators all along the breakwater. There were swims a-plenty in the puffy conditions, but everyone seem to have a great time. Sadly when launching into the Southerly Rampant lost a fight with the floater and broke their prod, meaning James and Amelia didn't make it out to continue their excellent contest.
| Boat | Skipper | Crew | Points | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 4 | Race 5 |
| R607 - TheVirtual | Paul Roe | Malcolm Snowdon | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| R589 - Merde | David Pairman | Owen Daniell | 14 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| R609 - Massive Attack | Nick James | Doug Gale | 15 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| R582 - Chemical Weapon | James Collett | Rowan Sinton | 19 | 2 | 2 | DNS | DNS | DNS |
| R567 - Raptr | Philip Royds | Matt Clarke | 22 | 5 | 5 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| R601 - Rampant | James Maynard | Amelia Collins | 34 | DNS | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC |
Naval Point Club Lyttelton, the race management team, and volunteers ran an excellent and enjoyable contest. Thanks to Tony Taylor (RO days 2, 3 and Sprints), Ross May (RO day 1), Marty Waldron, Tony Lee, Graham Williams, Andrea Howland, Bob Gordon, Ernest Hustedt, Graeme Grant, Mike Bourke, Steve Skinner, and our own Tony Park.
Special thanks for funding from Pub Charity Limited.