Auckland Race Day
The weather forecast was accurate for a change. The heavy winds and rain of this morning disappeared about 12.30 for a great race day. No rain and the wind bounced around quite a bit making it difficult for sail choice. Most did 4 changes over the day as we started with good 3 metre weather, then dropping to about 12 knts, only to come back to 15–18 knts for a couple of races and then 8–10 knts for the last lightweight race and the heavy weights race being stopped through lack of wind. We only got in 3 long races down the road and then a wind shift meant we used the short circuit, covering 5 laps for the race. We used the grass to slow down while the wind was up, made a bit of a mess with the wet ground and quite difficult to harden up on the grass without the whole kart sliding around. Some mastered it better than others with one person missing the corner completely and ending up in the pond. No damage to kart or person but Orca now has a pond mate. With the wind up the gybe mark caught some out, sliding across the road into the ditch and ending up in the mud. Again no damage but it did mean some lost places. Despite the changeable conditions everyone seemed to enjoy the outing although numbers were down, probably because of the morning weather. Haydn looks to have run away with the lightweights but it could be close for the minor places. The heavy weights is still very close with Orca having 3 wins from 5 today with some good starts and clever tactical sailing. Will have to wait for results to see how the handicaps work out but with mostly across wind sailing all day this normally means the back markers come into their own. Race results out tomorrow. The last race day for the winter series is next Sunday, same time, same place and hopefully a full turnout.
Russell
As founder member of the very exclusive BPP Fishing Club, it is a great honour to formally welcome a exceptionally keen new
assistant floundering member.Having passed with flying colours the strict qualifying rules and putting forward his claim to
uncharted waters we now have" LAKE O " west of " LAKE ORCA ". His high speed approach and unwavering direct line to
Lake O must determine a name to remember and honour this brave manoeuvre .I hereby name new member Dolphin Hammerhead
Wet Jellyfish Snapper Wayne of Lake O. ~ or Dolphin Wayne for short!!!!!! Well done~
cheers Orca
catch ya at the Ponds.
p.s. visual evidence appearing soon !
There’s one ABC tradition ORCA has forgotten about, and that is the NAME must have only FOUR letters. Like ORCA!
As the manoeuvre was the act of avoiding the cars, better known as “carping” then the new FOUR letter name for the Lake O(sborne?) entrant should be CARP.
CARP is also described as a “symbol of great aspirations and strength, often represented leaping a waterfall”, which is very befitting of and for Wayne.
And should he choose to “go on a bit” we can always remind him of Wiktionary definition : ” To complain about a fault; to harp on”.
Or else we just settle for ORCA’s given name of DOLPHIN (or DOLI for short). That has a certain ring to it! Roll on the visual evidence.
But what a day – the rain held off for the entire race time making Tricia’s job as record keeper just that little bit more pleasant (thanks Tricia – as always). When I got home I just got inside and we were hit by a hail storm – 33mm in 15 minutes, it looked like a water fall befitting of Lake O. The hail blocked the spouting and the rain just poured on the ground. The deck was white with an even cover of hailstones and it lasted for over an hour. Our neighbour was lived here fr 28 years and has never seen anything like it.
The “dial-up” was very relaxed with one direction of travel instead of the normal “figure 8” and 8 in Heavy, and 14 in middleweight. Despite the regular gusts there were no other mishaps (just one of the juniors doing a capsize on the grass).
Cheers
Grant
Thanks Russell
Now about the naming business – we cant give Wayne O a less glamorous title than he deserves – I was thinking minnow – spelled - MIN O - in honour of his slimming effort but what about:
Rgds
Dog fish
However , on reflection ~as with your current kart speed, "Mako" is even more quite GOOD. Time will tell ,
but if we say it often enough it should stick, just like Orca.
cheers and thanks,
hope I'll catch you and Jenny (da Lovelly Ones) at the Ponds Sunday,
Orca
Hi Hot Dogfish
I gotta agree that MAKO has a nice ring to it. Sounds more sporting too! The sail looks like a fin. MAKO was looking pretty good in the race results until had had to withdraw on Sunday. This will make him all the more keen for the Worlds, coz he knows he’s in with a chance!
Who better than a MAKO to lead the charge of TEAM ABC?
ORCA - Next you’ll be hyphenating your sailing name. Or is it Wet Dave Bush-Orca already. Doesn’t help the call for Starboard rights – we need to keep it short, and in Hot Dogs case LOUD!
To all would be fish, a reminder that “TOTAL IMMERSION” is the qualifying criteria for entry to this exclusive club! Come to think of it I’ve done that at Karioitahi!
Cheers
Hi Zorro
Maybe you could make a rule that people with fishy names should wear life jackets!
Actually when I went for my swim at Kariotahi an automatic inflatable device attached to the back frame would have great – could have surfed in on the wave!
Rgds
H-D
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Good wind at the moment – about 15 knts NE tending E at times. Maybe less at the park but should be heaps for racing. Hopefully this will hold for the afternoon. Meet about noon for set up. Gate closed about 12.30, briefing 12.50, race start 1 pm. All welcome. $5 entry for those who haven't entered for series.
See you there.
Russell
The wind is holding – Russell’s forecast looks good and we should be okay until about 3 PM, so please be ready to start on time.
Please remember to volunteer to help the scorers again today – if we all do one race it will be really easy.
For those going back to your car to do a gear change between races remember to keep an ear out for any course changes – the “airport style” tone from the starting system is the clue. Any doubts – please ask.
See you all there. It’s shaping up for another fantastic day.
Regards
Grant
In response to the spurious allegations that in race 1 I tore off my helmet and flung it into the path of Barry who was understandably behind me, I say "pah". Yea, though we were locked on equal points leading into the final race day, the spirit of sportspersonship (God I love this PC language) prevailed and bribes to other contestants to block said Barry fell on deaf ears (perhaps more a reflection of the demographic of the ABC than testament to integrity). Now let the facts paint a picture of the day. In both of my minds I was clearly the fastest blokart in race 1 (and for the entire day if you ask me) and in travelling at warp speed one is prone to wind pressures seldom encountered outside a laboratory wind tunnel. The sheer force of the wind tore my helmet buckle assunder and thrust (yes thrust!) my helmet into the path of the hapless Barry. Obviously I can I have no notion whether he needed to take evasive action because I was still travelling faster than the wind and was unable to see that far behind me.
It is a unfortunate that the officials decided to ignore superior sailing skills and issue a disqualification for sailing without a hat (I didn't know it was a fashion show) but I'm sure that will be one of my dropped races. Barry and I battled for top half placings right through the day and had a great time. We didn't care where we finished in the pack so long as we were within a couple of places of each other and it went right to the last race - now we need to wait for the results after dropping 2 worst finishes.
Today was a fantastic day's racing with great weather and great company. Thanks to all who helped make the ABC Winter Series a success.
Graham
This "tearing off helmets" is a bit of a worry. ORCA had that happen too in one of our races, and I didn't think it was deliberate, but given I was nibbling at his heals with 3rd place in reach and I nearly ran over it, perhaps he knew something I didn't. He was okay scooping up a glove or a sock a few laps before, but not so game to try a helmet? Question is did David hang onto 3rd, or did a "wild card" sailor come through from behind. Results are expectantly awaited.....today?
Hear hear to the second helmet ruling of the day – good call Wayne. We take safety seriously! And at the end of the day I domn't think this will affect the placings.
Hi,
Can you please add me and Mandy to the Ninety mile beach trip. A cabin would be great if there is a spare (Friday and Saturday night). Failing that we have a tent.
Thanks
Rod
Nice to have some warm(ish), dry, windy weather for a change...
Hats off to you Graham (or should that be helmets) - you “won” fair and square – at least back amongst us mere mortals (i.e excluding Hadyn).
Unfortunately our rivalry won’t continue thru to the “Worlds” owing to you being a skinny little middleweight. Maybe there is still a chance for you to put on the required 6 or 7kg?
But of a worry this Ingall Dynasty in the ABC lightweight class (first the 100km race now the winter series) – I guess we should be thankful that Trish has hung up her Kart at present – and so we avoided an Ingall Trifector!!!
I have a feeling Mr MAKO (who - if nothing else is showing good speed) might provide some stiff competition at the “Worlds” - there being far less ponds and trees at the Papamoa Track.
For those who missed it (like me) you can view the TV3 news item at:
Cheers
Barry C (42)
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