Kerikeri Cruising Club

Goodyear Autos and Appleton Rum Race 4

    Click here to see race results. 

Sunday the 13^th June saw 21 starters face the starter in the Goodyear Auto and Appleton Rum race 4.  A cold blustery SW wind of 25knots gusting 35 had most boats putting in reefs in their mainsail and pulling on the wet weather gear.

Some confusion during the start sequence meant the B division start was delayed and the A division sent away first.  Even on the first beat the big catamaran Razzel showed her true colours and pulled away from Physical Favours and Saggita to round SW buoy in the lead.   She continued to stretch away around the complete course to cross the line nine minutes ahead of Physical Favours with Saggita a further minute back.   Razzel won the bottle of rum for the handicap prize by two minutes from Saggita and Nice One.

Aalitta surprised the B division by leading part way up the first beat before That Girl showed her authority to take the lead. Wavelength chased That Girl hard but could not close the gap and crossed the line two and a half minutes behind with Aalitta third. However, Aalitta won the handicap prize by just 14 seconds from Wavelength with Manuia third.

There were two withdrawals with damage which considering the conditions showed that the last few fresh weeks have sorted out the odd bit of weak gear.