Canterbury Championships NPCL

NPCL regatta weekend and Phil Folter organised (well done Phil) an excellent buiding easterly, topping out at just over 20kts average, with an incoming tide, making for fast sailing conditions.

Five R's made it to the start with Meridian Energy, Dave Pairman and Tim Allan, leading off the line. Subwoofer, sailed by Paul Roe and Steve MacIntosh, had good pace and height and climbed out above the fleet on the first tack. Meridian managed to pickup some weed and dropped back, being lead by Bulley Hayes, Daniel Folter and Paul MacGibbon and Liquid, Mitch Dean and Tony Park around the first mark. Bulley Hayes managed to haul some distance in to Subwoofer downwind before their kite outhaul failed. Leaving Liquid second after the first lap. L2 sailed by Sean Milner and Doug Gale suffered with Doug having trouble with the new extra slippery kite sheets in the fresh conditions. Subwoofer's kicker broke twice, but did little to slow them down and they comfortably lead Liquid and Meridian to the finish.

Race 2, Subwoofer lead off the line in the freshening conditions and built a good lead. Meridian followed with Liquid showing good form. Subwoofer managed a spectacular ("best in a long while" - Liquid crew) full speed cartwheel just before the final gybe to the bottom mark. This allowed Meridian to apply some pressure on the short beat to the finish, with Liquid third.

The Canterbury Championship will be concluded at the Charteris Bay Yacht Club next Saturday, 26th November.