Kerikeri Cruising Club

Goodyear Autos and Appletons Rum Race 7

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They say that sailing in very light airs is character forming and Sundays Goodyear Auto and Appleton’s Rum race 7 was certainly that with 0 to 5 knots and forty degree wind shifts to contend with. At the start line outside the Kerikeri Cruising Club it proved difficult for some of the twenty boats to even cross the line. Large areas of no wind created a minefield for the yachts to negotiate and it was common for boats to go from the front of the fleet to the back in the space of 100 meters.

It took some of the B division nearly half an hour to go the short distance to the Cocked Hat marker but That Girl and Coyote Blue worked out to the front closely followed by Bedouin. Manuia hit the spur at The Brothers quite hard but the only damage was to a bottle of rum which broke in a locker much to Wynn Judd’s chagrin.

That Girl crossed the line just 5 seconds ahead of Coyote Blue with Bedouin 40 seconds further back.  Bedouin took out the handicap prize from Coyote Blue and Scout.

In the A division Deep Throttle worked her way into the lead from Tongue Twister who was only 2 handed which on a canting keel boat is tough work. This was the position at the line with Physical Favours crossing in third.

Tongue Twister also took out the handicap section and the bottle of rum from Hicky Burr and Sagitta.