Dolphin Cafe Pegasus Crest Sprint Series

The view from the bottom of the bottle on Liquid - by Steve Fortune

As per usual, a stunning hot day was arranged in Akaroa. Thanks to the organisers for that. However, due to a late start by Liquid, we were unable to enjoy the fineries of a pre-race lunch and wine. A couple of regulars were missing, but the addition of a Jav to the fleet, and the racing debut of the striking Pork Sausage gave a nice fleet of 7 boats. Conditions were a light-moderate north-easterly, which was highly variable, shifty and gusty in behind the hill. The mixed up wind, and longish (for a sprint) course, would mean racing would be very tactical and intense, with large gains and losses possible.

Race 1: A distinct line of breeze to the left of the course and a left hand phase a minute to go, had the bunch going for the pin. A last minute RH shift allowed us a sweet start on the middle of the line, and we won the drag race out to the left breeze line, to be first around the top-mark closely followed by Meridian. We dragged each other out to the right, while Paul Sneaky Roe, unethically gybed without us, took Subwoofer down the left side, grabbed a blinder of a gust, and lead around the bottom. We passed them on the shifty upwind leg. You can't teach an old Subwoofer new tricks, so they tried the inside line again, but the wind wasn't there this time, and got passed, we finished Liquid, Meridian, Subwoofer. (Apologies, but can't remember the rest).

Race 2: Everyone was gunning for the favoured side - looking left again off the start. We were late and got squeezed out, tacking off early to the right. The wind then died and shifted right. We picked up a jammy RH gust no-one saw coming, and lifted up to the front. Nice one. A few more shifts (picked this time) saw us clear out and win comfortably, followed by Meridian again.

Race 3: A cracker of a race. A left hand phase meant a pin bias. We were high and early, so got pushed over the line. We tacked into clear space dipping below the line, before heading right. We alternately looked winners and in the crapper, as the wind shifted all over the show. Eventually a big LH gust took the fleet over us, and we were 4th in a bunched rounding. Ahead of us, Subwoofer gybed out of our way, and away from a juicy gust to our right. We got it nice and early, sucking as low as we could with it. Ahead of us, Meridian and Chemical Weapon battled for supremacy. We started to lose the gust near the bottom mark and started to lift, so gybed early well inside the others. Another gust allowed us to suck low enough to the mark, ahead of the other two coming hot and fast from the right. Just as we were celebrating our comeback, and salivating at the thought of three in a row, disaster struck. Just as we were rounding the mark, as I was binning the kite, Dan slipped off the wire and we capsized right below the mark. A quick righting, and we got going just behind the bunch lead by Meridian. They cleared out upwind, to round first, followed by Subwoofer, Chem Weapon, Liquid and Montana Bakery, who were passed sitting in a hole out to the right. Chem muffed their hoist, and we rode over them in a cracker of a RH gust, chasing Subwoofer down. We stuck on their inside the whole way down in their bad air (the love muscle had beans for breakfast), watching Chem recovery and suck low inside both of us. We matched Subwoofers gybe, trying to sneak over inside them. However they got a bit of a jump and lead us off towards the line. A gust from the left allowed us to lift off them around 15m from the line, giving us enough room to sneak a gybe in, getting them on starboard metres from the line. They crash gybed, but we held enough momentum to ghost through half a prod-length ahead. Finishing order: Meridian, Liquid, Subwoofer, Chemical Weapon.

Race 4: Again a pin bias. Again we were above the bunch and early and got pushed over 10s to go. We slowed and dipped behind Meridian and Chem, who were both well over the line, but declined to return despite our encouragement. We were in their shit air, so tacked away, dipping transoms to do so. We headed for a RH gust, and came back on it, recovering somewhat, but still still away from the favoured LH side. Meridian and Chem cleared out on a good LH gust. We followed them around the top mark. A procession to the bottom meant no change. We passed Chem on some good shifts upwind, and thats how we finished, Meridian, Liquid then Chemical Weapon. At this stage it was neck and neck between Meridian and Liquid for the contest, with two wins apiece.

Race 5: After a poor start, we were forced to tack right early, with the breeze definitely favouring left. We were not too concerned as we had a good cover on Meridian, who had a shocker of a start and Chem, who was between the two of us on the right. Heading left, Montana Bakery and Subwoofer cleared out. The breeze was quite settled for the remainder of the race, and thats how it finished. Montana, yet to feature in the placings, had a fine win, followed by Subwoofer, Liquid, Chem Weapon and Meridian. This gave us a little buffer going into the 6th and final race.

Race 6: A shocker of a start, saw us following the fleet on a nice lift to the right. The wind died, and gradually everyone tacked away chasing a wind-line to the left. We were being lifted however, so we persisted, spotting a small gust to the right. The wind died more and the fleet parked up, as we carried on, still being lifted, so by the time we got to the gust, we were well in front. We tacked with the gust and carried it to the mark. The wind came in nicely around the top mark and we sailed away to a huge lead, getting on twins for the finish and the race and contest win. Meridian finished poorly, leaving second wide open with Meridian, Chemical Weapon and Subwoofer all quite close. No-one bothered adding up the points, so skiffing was the winner on the day.

With all the sailing over and done with, we settled back for the real reason we were here, enjoying some fine food and beverage in the sun. Thanks to the Dolphin Café for their hospitality. This is always a major highlight in the yachting calendar.