Kerikeri Cruising Club

Willis Sails Winter Race 5

   Click here to see race results.

Saturday’s gale left a large swell for the 17 starters of the  Willis Sails Winter race 5 to contend with at Kerikeri and only some very light patchy breezes to steady them as they swooped over the large lifts.

Physical Favours

It was a spinnaker start for the B division which looked promising but half way to the Black Rocks it died out and left large holes. At one stage the lowest handicapped boat in the fleet Vixen piloted by John Wallace was leading while the light air flyer Coyote Blue went from first to last as it fell into a patch of no wind. To add to Coyote Blues problems they picked up large amount of weed on their keel which proved difficult to dislodge.

Pete Mclea celebrated his 50^th birthday by taking not only line honours, but also the handicap prize in That Girl.  He was followed over the line by Wavelength and Vixen who also took second and third on handicap.

In the A division Animal Biscuits made a great start and negotiated the minefields to cross the line first from Wild Card and Deep Throttle who withdrew after the race for failing to observe a fairway mark.

The handicap section was won by Physical Favours from Wild Card and Petty Cash.

In the PHRF section Physical Favours was again first from Wild Card and Tongue Twister.

This race proved to be a true test of ability to read the water and avoid the no wind areas.