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13.10.03 Auckland Race Series - round 1
The first round of the 2003 Auckland Race Series was held last Saturday
4th October. With a promising weather forecast for 20-25 knot South
Westerly winds, Pt. Chev Sailing Club was chosen as the venue for the
day. With a fantastic turnout of 25 people all keen on racing slalom,
a figure 8 slalom course was set with an expectation of a steadily building
breeze and a heap of racing.
However it was just not going to be an easy day - the wind just would
not settle in strength or direction (very unusual for Pt. Chev), making
the running of good figure 8 slalom very difficult. There were numerous
false starts, course changes & consequently a lot of stuffing around.
Despite this 6 just acceptable heats were held (see results attached)
in very marginal conditions.
Based on experience gained over the past two years, and particularly
Saturday 4 October, figure 8 slalom will no longer be a course format
utilised by The Auckland Race Series. Instead we are gearing up to be
able to use a 6 buoy downwind slalom format instead. Downwind slalom
allows more latitude for wind changes while also allowing more than
one heat to be on the course at the same time, meaning that we can get
through more races.
The next round of the Auckland Race Series will be held on Saturday
18th October, followed by the inaugural Auckland Slalom Championships
which will be held on the 1st & 2nd of November.
Cheers, Jono
Results:
1
2
3
4
5
6
6
8
9
10
10
12
12
12
15
16
16
16
19
20
21
21
23
24 |
Jared
Scollay
Roger Tweddell
Luke Watson
Jono Squires
Darryl McConnell
Burkhard Vierth
Ian Young
Maury Leyland
Stu Cowdell
John Duncan
Bruce Nicholson
Nick Lichtwark (J)
Jim Rodgers
Trent Cornwall
Max Cross
Anthony Katavich
Matt Guadagni
Vaughan Harrison
Matt Phipps
Andrew Heaps
Cam Pitches
Jason de Vink
Chris O'Connor
David Scollay |
28.10.03
Auckland Race Series - round 2
The second round of the 2003 Auckland Race Series was raced last Saturday
18 October. With a questionable weather forecast for 15kt southwesterlies,
Pt Chev sailing club was once again chosen as the venue. Despite there
initially being very little wind, a windward - leeward course was set
with the intention (hope) of at least running fun racing should the
breeze not co-operate.
However, as it turned out, the breeze did behave enough to allow for
the completion of two fun races and two officially counting races.
Race one, held under the fun flag in a light, fluky 5-8kt breeze, was
taken out by Ian Young followed by Boogie & then Max Cross. Race
two saw a subtle increase in wind strength, however it remained quite
unstable in direction. Nevertheless, it was enough to tempt the sceptics
off of the beach and out to the start line for the second race. By the
time the flag fell for the start of Race 2, the breeze had increased
to a relatively steady (by Pt Chev standards) 8 to 12kts, thus allowing
for the first official race of the day which was won by Jonathan Squires
followed by Luke Watson and Jared Scollay.
With the breeze looking more suitable, the countdown for Race 3 started
in similar conditions to Race 2. However Pt. Chevs unusually gusty conditions
were to have the last say - the breeze dropped well below the minimum
almost at the same time the flag fell for the start. As such, this race
was continued under the fun flag and was, in a repeat of the first race,
taken out by Ian Young.
Race 4 was run in what turned out to be a light, fluky breeze of of
8-10kts. This was enough to be regarded as an official result by the
race committee in the start boat. Again the race was taken out by Ian
Young, who's job was made somewhat easier by some of the leading competitors
disqualifying themselves by being over early.
Round 2 Official result: (based on the combined result of the two counting
races, Races 2 & 4. These races will count towards the overall season
result).
1. Jono Squires
2. Ian Young
3. Luke Watson
4.
Burkhard Vierth
4. Max Cross
6. Jared Scollay
7. Anthony Katavich
8. Stu Cowdell
9. Trent Cornwall
10. Nick Lichtwark (J)
11. Steven McEwan
12. David Scollay
29.01.04
2003 Auckland Race Series final report
The Auckland Formula Championships
The second annual Auckland Formula Championships were held last weekend
(17-18 January). Despite a less than promising forecast, which nevertheless
was enough to at least send competitors to the beach, sailing conditions
turned out to be near perfect for the penultimate round of the 2003
Auckland Race Series. With Kohi Yacht Club as the backdrop, the plan
was for eight races, in four blocks of two, over the course of the
weekend.
With a fresh breeze of 12-15kts out of the north-east, a compact windward-leeward
course was set with racing getting underway at 1330. Race one set
the scene for the following races; Jono Squires comfortably taking
the gun followed by Luke Watson - the main variation for the rest
of the day being in who would get third. Saturdays honors for third
were shared between Jared Scollay, Anthony Katavich and Ian Young,
while Daryl McConnell (Tauranga) demonstrated just how far he has
come this season by pushing hard on several occasions to break into
the top 3. Race one was not without carnage though - Max Cross managed
to crash so hard he ripped the hook clean off of the harness, however,
undeterred, Max partook in some fast talking on the beach to secure
himself a replacement harness and hence enable him to remain in the
racing.
Following the end of race two competitors were given a short break
upon which they could contemplate the steadily strengthening wind
- race 3 & 4 being kicked off in a now stiff breeze of between
18-22kts. Neither race was particularly notable for anything other
than race three seeing the closest finish in the Auckland Race Series
yet - Luke Watson just edging out Ian Young to take third by about
3-4cm!
Day two saw everyone return to Kohi Yacht Club for a repeat dose.
Again, conditions were perfect - a solid breeze of 15-18kts out of
the north east. A slightly longer course was set in the same spot
as Saturday, and racing kicked off on time at 1330. A re-vitalised
Luke Watson came off the line firing in race five, and lead to the
top mark however this was not to last as he was overhauled on the
first downwind by Jono Squires - who ultimately won the race, followed
by Luke Watson and then Anthony Katavich. Race two saw Watson first
around the top mark but was again passed on the first downwind to
finish second followed by Kevin Trotter, who had somehow found his
way onto the race course and into the top 3. After a short break race
seven was started in what turned out to be an ever decreasing breeze
of between 12-14kts. Anthony Katavich sailed a sensible tactical race
to take out second followed by Kevin Trotter in third. After some
discussion (and indecision), race 4 was started in a wobbly 10-12kt
breeze. Unfortunately the breeze did not hold, the race being abandoned
& continued as a fun race that was ultimately won, after an intense
battle, by Kevin Trotter from Anthony Katavich in second and Ian Young
in third.
After seven counting races, two discards were allowed meaning competitors
could drop their worst results. As such, final results of the Auckland
Formula Champs were as follows:
1. Jono Squires (Mistral Devil 3, Neil Pryde, Windsurfing South Pacific)
2. Luke Watson (Mistral Devil 3, North)
3. Anthony Katavich (Mistral Devil 2, Gaastra)
4. Ian Young (Mistral Devil 1, Neil Pryde)
5. Darryl McConnell (AHD, Neil Pryde)
(Please see attached spreadsheet for a complete set of results).
Thanks!
Thanks, as always to the team who make this circus possible - to Roscoe,
Alan & Lee for setting an excellent course & running flawless
start procedures; to Lara for keeping track of everyone & taking
over the safety briefings after some competitors were seen falling
asleep, and finally thanks to everyone who ponied up to race and managed
to sit through the safety briefings!
Furthermore, thanks has to go to all the people and organisations
that get behind the race series and make it possible. In particular,
to the shops who sponsor us - Windsurfing South Pacific, Pt. Chev
Sailboards, Bayswater Windsports, Windscene (who kindly did all of
the artwork for this years race series and supply the three nicest
buoys), Derek & Steve from Wind & Kite Magazine (who will
be running an article on the race series in the March 2004 issue)
and Carbon Art in Taranaki. Finally, special mention to Luke Watson
from North Sails and Murray Thurston and the committee of the Kohimarama
Yacht Club, without whose support the 2003 Auckland Race Series would
not have happened.
Overall Results, End of Season BBQ & Prizegiving...
Following the success of the BBQ at the conclusion of the North One
Hour Classic, there will be an informal, end of season BBQ & prizegiving
on Sunday 22nd of February at 19 Harapaki Road, Meadowbank, kicking
off at 4pm weather permitting - a bbq reminder will be sent out closer
to the time. We'll supply the food & soft drink but you will need
to bring your own booze. All entrants to any race day of the 2003
Race Series are welcome to come along, so we will see you then.
Anyway, overall results for the 2003 Race Series are as follows:
The Auckland Cup (Overall Result 2003 Auckland Race Series)
1. Jono Squires
2. Luke Watson
3. Ian Young
The Auckland Slalom Championships
1. Jared Scollay
2. Ian Young
3. Darryl McConnell
The Auckland Formula Championships
1. Jono Squires
2. Luke Watson
3. Anthony Katavich
The Auckland Race Series Junior Cup
1. Nick Lichtwark
That's all for this year. Its been a good year, thanks to all for
getting involved.
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