Kerikeri Cruising Club

Willis Sails Winter Race 7

    Click here to see race results. 

The sun was out but the 15 knot SW breeze made it cool for the start of the Willis Sails Winter race 7 at the Kerikeri Cruising club on Sunday the 18th.

There were 18 yachts at the start line and the B division got away cleanly on a kite start towards the Black Rocks on a tight reach.

That Girl assumed her usual possey at the head of the fleet followed by Coyote Blue and Golden Delicious sporting a new mast and rigging after losing hers in an earlier race.  Wavelength took over third position on the beat to Brampton Buoy but lost a lot of yards due to misjudging the tide at the buoy which by now was racing out.  That Girl crossed the line three and a half minutes ahead of Coyote Blue with Golden Delicious a further minute and a half further back. When the handicap results came out it was Coyote Blue by one second from That Girl with Golden Delicious a minute and a quarter back. However, these results are provisional due to an unresolved protest.

In the A division The battle between Deep Throttle and Tongue Twister the two canting keel boats continued with the Shaw sport boat Animal Biscuits in the mix as well. The course suited Deep Throttle who rattled around the bigger course to finish six minutes ahead of Animal Biscuits with the big catamaran Razzel a further 3 minutes back.

The Ross 30 Physical Favours skippered by Pete Woods took out the handicap prize by a whopping six minutes from Tongue Twister and Deep Throttle.

It was a glorious winter’s day to be out sailing and showed that winter sailing is best.