Canterbury Champs
This years canterbury champs was raced over 2 weekends at CYMBC and
was a good chance to show the Woofs that they can't beat all of us
all the time (only most of the time). Race 1 & 2 on the 29th of January featured a moderate
NE breeze (moving NW at times) and 10 starters.
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| Sean and Steve showing some style |
Race 1 was a chance for
92 MoreFM
to try out their lovely new pink kite. Showing great upwind speed,
Chappie and Nellie led
VR and
Acid Rock around the first few marks.
The power of the new kite was evident as they pulled away downwind
(...watch out for these guys at Leander 2000...). The shifty conditions challenged all
the crews and positions changed throughout the race. Sean and Steve
in the
'Weapon finally overhauled Dan and Steve in
Acid Rock on
the last long haul off the wind to win by 3 minutes. Nice.
Last years
champs Tony and Force in
Dirty Dancing recorded their best result
for the contest to finish in 3rd place.
The breeze increased noticably for Race 2 and moved slightly left
for the start resulting in a port biased line. The Am. Cup style dragrace to
the top mark was won by Acid Rock, hotly chased by VR with the 'Weapon
powering over the top at the mark. Meridian Energy
got their act together in the stronger breeze and won by over a
minute from 92 MoreFM
who managed to hold off Acid Rock by 2 seconds.
5th of February Races 3 & 4
 |
| Acid Rock Bites the Dust |
Old men of the seas Sean and Steve on the
'Weapon decided (rather wisely) to opt for the flat
jib on what was to be a day of carnage. However, with 11 boats on the start line the R-Class boys
managed to show the rest of the club fleet just what a good fleet looks like.
Most boats opted for a two sail reach across the tight first downwind lead,
92 MoreFM and
VR both flew their kites in an attempt to make up for somewhat shocking
starts and were 1st and 3rd round the bottom mark. The
92 MoreFM
boys were off up the beat and only
Chemical Weapon stayed in touch.
Acid Rock and
VR fought out for third place, both having trouble
with either kite hoists or drops. Chappy and Nelly were at their
best in this weather and beat Sean and Steve by just over a minute
and
Acid Rock and
VR by 15 minutes. The rest of the fleet were well back
with the
Montana Bakery
Daniel and Paul doing well to finish in 6th position.
The conditions took their toll on the fleet with 3 DNFs.
Gryphon having broken their mast (hold onto that mainsheet Walter...)
and
Sydenham Bakery
having cracked their mast base (flexi-masts don't work too well...) and
BusterBloodvessel
ripping off a section of mast track on the first leg and managing to break
a carbon mainsheet block hanger, the fleet was looking a little worse for wear. Great rides tho...
 |
| Dave and Tim well under control |
BUT at the top end of the fleet, the action was hotting up. After race 3
Chemical Weapon
and
92 MoreFM were both tied on 237 points.
Whoever returned with the best place in the fourth and final was going to take out the title.
Both boats returned to shore for adjustments between races and repair battle wounds. Both
Acid Rock
and
VR also returned to shore with a broken jib sheet and sheared jib fairlead bolts respectivly.
VR decided less sail
would be a good idea, so put on the small 3m
2 jib and reefed down the main.
By the time Acid and VR started, both 92 MoreFM and Chemical Weapon were off, and racing the rest of the course seemed futile. Acid went round 2
marks and decided to call it a day. VR went on for most of a lap until
also deciding to call it a day, opting for a high speed crowd pleaser instead,
with a couple of gybes past the club for good measure (the kite drop was...well...not so successful...).
Meanwhile, back on the race course, Chemical Weapon's forestay had 'crept' 1m down the mast, cutting a nice
groove through the carbon, effectivly handing the race to Chappie and Nellie. 92 MoreFM was the only boat to finish and were deserved winners of the Contest, a major turn around from last year when they broke their mast and
nearly destroyed their sails.
Full Results
R Class vs Car - R Class Wins
 |
Danny gets 10 for artistic interpretation
|
6 Feb Coaching was shortened by Gale Force NW winds. Meanwhile, not to be out done, during the
indoor coaching the Montana boys decided to take in some flight training.
The hull and prod of
Montana Bakery,
was blown across the rigging area, into/then over Danny's car
landing 4m into the car park. Fortunately the boat is ok, but I think
Danny will have trouble explaining to the insurance company how he collided
with a boat while his car was parked. 'Honest, it just flew across
the grass and hit the car'.
