Final Training Day

The final playday before the racing events kick off on Castor Bay was a pleasant one for most.  @PredictWind had the winds pretty much spot on again with 6-8kts.  A few sustained puffs up to 11kts here and there, and a NNE direction, which is onshore here.  Out in their chosen training zone there developed the expected short chop as the wind over tide conditions pushed waves up to half a metre or so, but nothing they can’t handle. 

There were many boats out by now, as all but maybe 10 have arrived, and probably 30 boats were seen spread about the whole of the bay, searching for those elusive little gusts so beloved by us all when the wind is down at this level.  It was interesting to observe that old 16th century English proverb ‘Birds of a feather, flock together’.  While most of the Classic boats, relishing their freedoms, seemed to be seen usually individually, or just in pairs, beating or WildThinging about.  Whereas the Open foilers were seen usually in pods (see yesterday for explanation) as moving en masse across the horizon.  Makes sense really.  They all need to calibrate themselves, and to verify their mode settings in the company of others. 

This class, in both categories, is very good at sharing ideas freely.  It is one of the things most commented upon by newbies, and we should be very proud of this ethos and keep it firmly in our hearts.   Happy to discuss ideas and techniques, each has discovered as they realise that they can all have something to bring to the table and fully realise every day is a school day for each. Plus it’s just bloody great fun to sail in a bunch.

The water was warm and turquoise, it was ‘too turquoise’ apparently, in the photos, according to one online observer of the photographs, maybe dial down a little, they suggested.  So, we just need to find a way to desaturate these real-world conditions then.  Maybe we move it to the North Sea in future.  Honestly, some people….    

There were a few interesting new things to be seen.  Wayne Mercer has finished his final Tool, named the Tool II.  The mould was chopped up so this boat becomes the Spitfire XXIV of the line and the ultimate version.  He looked delighted with it and expressed as much on his sail back to the beach.  The build progress can be seen on the Facebook Group ‘A Class Cat Tech’.   The New Scheurer G8 also looks like a total weapon, as previously discussed.  Then there is Darren Bundock’s new blade shaped rudders.  This has already broken the internet and may well destroy the planet, according to some sources.  We shall report in due course.

So, Saturday is the Regatta warm-up event.  2 races over 2 days.  The weather pattern has been looking to change though with some unstable cells happening to the North of the North Island.  A weather eye needs to be kept as it could change quickly in these parts.  It’s not called ‘The Land Of The Long White Cloud’ for nothing.

@predictwind @milfordcruisingclub @guppypix