Updated: This is not the North Island Champs for the Javelins. The Champs are at Lake Rotoiti at Easter. This Regatta will be part of the Traveller Series
…from Mike Dunlop (Vice Commodore at Evan’s Bay Yacht & Motor Boat Club)…
Really happy to announce our regatta in April will be called the LIDGARDS SAILS Evans Bay Regatta. We look forward to working with Lidgards and it’s new owners to make this two day event memorable. There will be a new sail won at the regatta and lots of other awesome prizes so mark April 5-6 th on your calendars.
It is incorporating Hartley 16 traveller series, Wellington trailer yacht championship, Javelin North island champs, PT’s a classics race Cruising div and plenty of centreboarders so tell your mates and get involved.
There should be some more exciting sponsors/prizes to announce soon
March 27th – April 1st 2013, Bay of Islands Yacht Club, Ti Point, Waitangi, New Zealand
Close bottom mark roundings – 2013 South Pacific and New Zealand National Championships
This year, it was New Zealand’s turn to host the Interdominions in the 14-foot Javelin Skiff. The Bay of Islands put on some superb racing conditions for the fleet with sunny weather and anything between 5 and 18 knots of wind.
True to its purpose, the practice race was held in a steady moderate breeze, and even Flying Circus made it around the course upright although stand-in skipper David Rohwetter had never helmed a Javelin before. Both Australian boats left the competition far behind.
On the following day, a South-East gradient wind combined with a sea breeze made for more trying conditions. CST Composites convincingly won the first race, showing what their boat was designed for. With slightly heavier wind and a steep chop forming, Phlipnhel had a major speed advantage in the second race winning ahead of Bax Contractors. Bungholio broke their mast on Brampton Reef, Thirty Something’s tack line block disintegrated, No Name Required snapped the track of their self-tacking jib, and Blunderbus collected Hermione Rock with their centreboard on their way back to shore. Tools, glue and carbon were needed to get all but Bungholio ready to race for the next day. The biggest challenge was posed to Phil McNeil whose crew had to leave due to a family emergency. Luckily, local icon Neil Deverell was available for the remainder of the contest.
Neil Deverell and Phil McNeil with their trophies
Fat Boys showed their mettle scoring two wins and a second place on the next day, but Philpnhel remained ahead. Orgasm Addict missed the first race because of a broken masthead eyeot but managed to fix it for the remaining two. Though Clamp Products broke their forestay attachment in the second race, they managed to tie the stay back on to finish the race. Unfortunately they damaged the mainsail when putting the rigg tension back on, which meant they had a certain ‘Black Pearl look’ about them for the remainder of the day. Full Frontal found their form in the second race and scored a third place.
After engaging in diverse sports during the morning, the fleet visited historic Russell on the lay day and got together for dinner in Opua. Sadly, all four visitors from Western Australia started suffering from sickness.
Trailblazer found back to their usual form on the following race day but still did not manage to stay ahead of Phlipnhel in the changing conditions. In the third race that day Riders on the Storm lead the fleet around the track by a clear margin from start to finish with Bax Contractor finishing second. After the evening dinner, the Head Brother placed some heavy fines on offending BEWs, and even the volunteers did not escape unscathed.
Class President Colin Shanks presenting the DFL Trophy to Sarah Dunckley
The final day of the South Pacifics started with clouds and without wind. After midday the sun had come through and a light sea breeze set in, though not enough for another race. Instead, some keen brothers took the helm of their respective skippers and had a fantastic race in light airs, with the boats finishing in very similar order as throughout the weekend.
Congratulations to all trophy winners
Breakage Trophy: Grant McDuff and Greg Watkins for breaking the mast of Bungholio
MFU Dog Trophy: Damien Dixon and Wade McGee for losing the crew over the side and breaking the tack line block.
DFL Trophy: Sarah Dunckley for the skipper with highest score who finished all races
John Long Memorial Trophy: David Brown and David Feek for second in the NZ Nationals
Ray Eady Cup: Phil McNeil and Neil Deverell for NZ Nationals winner
Air New Zealand Interdominion Trophy: Phil McNeil and Neil Deverell for winner of the South Pacifics
Crews Race Trophy: Neil Deverell for winning the crews race.
At the prize giving, Ben Bax was recognized for his immense contribution to the class. As Gold Card holder he is retiring after a very successful career in the Javelins. His boat is on the market, but we all hope to see him at Javelin contests still.
Bax Contractors had the oldest and youngest competitor on board. Serving lunches was the designer of half the boats in the fleet David Lee
Many thanks to all competitors, supporters and organisers!
Antje Muller.
The beautiful sailing water of the Bay of Islands were the venue of the 2013 Javelin Skiff South Pacifics
Phlipnhel leading Trailblazer around the bottom mark
Riders on the Storm with Waitangi in the background
New Zealand was represented by the “P&O NedLoyyd New Zealand Javelin Team”, and sent very strong crews including the current National Champion, Ex National and Sanders Cup Champion to attempt to retain the South Pacific Title. The team had 2 brand new boats, and two boats less than 2 seasons old.
Final Race Report
A warm and weak westerly sea breeze of around 6 – 10 knots greeted the fleet on Melville Water for the final heat of the South Pacific series. Racing yesterday had been extremely tight over 3 races on a shorter course close to the club, with Australia’s National Champions Fat Boys holding a 4 point lead over New Zealands Bungholio going into the final race. The Kiwi crew needed to win the final race, with Fat Boys placing 5th or worse to win the title.
After a number of delays while the breeze sorted itself out, the race got underway with the 4 top Kiwi boats all leading out strongly on the left side of the course. The Fat Boys went right into the early pressure but failed to reap much reward , turning 6th at the top mark behind Bungholio, Phlipnhel, www.javelins.org and Flying Circus. The downwind saw the Kiwis extend their lead but good work by Victoria’s Unzipped saw them up to 3rd.
The second lap saw more of the same with frequent tacks and crossings as crews sought to maximise their gains in the flukey conditions. Phlipnhel had worked into the lead while Just Do It had also climbed onto the rear of the leading group. Fat Boys was struggling to make inroads and would eventually settle for 7th, their worst performance of the Series. The outcome overall came down to the battle at the front; if Phlipnhel held out Bungholio then Fat Boys would win on countback. With a 40m lead at the final turn it was looking as if this would be the case. However some terrific work by Rob Fordyce and Craig Gilberd saw Bungholio win the gybing duel down the run to cross a few seconds in front of fellow countrymen McNeill and Smith on Phlipnhel and secure the South Pacific Championship.
In the final race the P&O NedLoyyd New Zealand Javelin Team secured 1st, 2nd 4th and 5th places over the line, and ended the series with 4 boats in the top 7.
Random Comments
Excellent results by Manawatu/Horowhenua sailing club member David Brown to win the 1st heat of the championship, and finish 7th in a highly competitive fleet.
JAVELIN SAILING ASSOCIATION (WA) Progressive Results for JAVELIN South Pacific Championships Races = 10. To Count = 8
