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Post by fish on Apr 9, 2023 12:50:14 GMT 12
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Post by sabre on Apr 9, 2023 15:09:59 GMT 12
Such an iconic race. I was seriously keen on the C32 "Nerrissa K" a few years back when it was for sale. Will be interesting to see how she goes.
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Post by fish on Apr 9, 2023 15:43:17 GMT 12
According to the tracker one boat, Apriori, has stayed in port, and another has turned back to port already, Allegresse, doing 7knts at 144.
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Post by fish on Apr 9, 2023 15:43:51 GMT 12
Strange that there are no Ross 930's in the fleet? GO30?
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Post by fish on Apr 9, 2023 16:29:02 GMT 12
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Post by sabre on Apr 10, 2023 11:49:34 GMT 12
Sounds like they had a bumpy night. Lucy is returning to port. No idea why yet
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Post by Fogg on Apr 10, 2023 12:41:32 GMT 12
The other day when I was out at Barrier I met an v interesting Scottish guy who was 7yrs into a 5yr circumnavigation in a Contessa 32. Solid little boats with very pretty lines. When I was a kid and the family boat was a 23 or 26 footer, I used to look longingly at the sleek lines of the Contessa 32s and hope one day I could own one. They even had their own class at Cowes Week (maybe they still do).
Of course going aboard one today they look incredibly small but somehow not too dated - seaworthy designs are timeless classics in my eyes.
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Post by fish on Apr 10, 2023 14:31:36 GMT 12
The other day when I was out at Barrier I met an v interesting Scottish guy who was 7yrs into a 5yr circumnavigation in a Contessa 32. Solid little boats with very pretty lines. When I was a kid and the family boat was a 23 or 26 footer, I used to look longingly at the sleek lines of the Contessa 32s and hope one day I could own one. They even had their own class at Cowes Week (maybe they still do). Of course going aboard one today they look incredibly small but somehow not too dated - seaworthy designs are timeless classics in my eyes. Contessa 32's have won the Fastnet Race more than once as well, overall.
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Post by fish on Apr 10, 2023 14:35:40 GMT 12
Wow, what an exciting and interesting start to the Ray White New Plymouth Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. Malcolm Dickson on Sarau tacked on the start line to be the first to cross. Mister Lucky laid the mark in a single tack, being the first to round. The fleet disappeared quickly over the horizon in 15kn from the NW. As darkness fell Sarau was heading NW with 5 of the fleet following a more westerly direction, converging close together. An IRC dual was occurring between Mister Lucky and Melting Pot. Allegresse returned to port late afternoon, from 12nm out to resolve an issue onboard. She and Mike Carter headed back out at first light and are making great pace and ground today in a very uncomfortable sea. Overnight conditions have been busy and challenging with 44kn and a very bumpy sea. Skippers reported all good onboard during this morning’s schedule, if a little wet. Lucy onboard Nerissa K developed some sail and electronic issues with her chartplotter and AIS late yesterday afternoon. Her sail issues saw her crabbing at 2-3 knots overnight. Lucy has been unsuccessful resolving the issues in the rough choppy sea and is heading back to port. Meanwhile back in Port Taranaki, Apriori remains on her mooring suffering autopilot issues during the prestart checks. Malcolm Dickson and Sarau currently lead the fleet 180nm from port, doing 6.5kn. Mister Lucky and Mark Hipgrave are leading the IRC division at 165nm with a VMG of 5.9kn
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Post by fish on Apr 11, 2023 12:52:00 GMT 12
Lucy has retired from the race.
Today's update: The latest news from the skippers...."all is well onboard" They have been sailing through challenging conditions for the last 48 hours with winds up to 45kn. Out in front, Sarau is reaching quieter conditions and reported this morning "it's nice to have some good sailing again" Meanwhile Hullabaloo is hove to in rough seas. Melting Pot has suffered autopilot problems and Frontier reported "the breeze is where I want to go". Mister Lucky is leading the IRC handicap at present. Tune in to Radio NZ at 13:20 today to listen to a Live chat with the Ray White New Plymouth Solo TTYC Race Secretary.
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Post by GO30 on Apr 11, 2023 14:32:50 GMT 12
Strange that there are no Ross 930's in the fleet? GO30 ? Because it is not a race, it is a rally.
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Post by fish on Apr 12, 2023 18:33:16 GMT 12
Why Lucy pulled the pin: Thank you to each and everyone who has sent me messages of support. It’s been a hugely disappointing time having to pull out of my race and return to port. We started at the beginning of a big weather system settling in to last about 3 days, 30-40 knots on the nose, but nothing I haven’t experienced before, alone in the Tasman in the last few weeks. However, a series of issues came up one after the other which put myself and my boat in a situation where it would have been dangerous to continue. With one boat pulling out the morning of the race, one turning back to port within a couple of hours of starting and since I returned, another friend has just pulled out also - I am in good company. This is an incredibly difficult race. Before we left, all of the skippers had a day with a guy who talked to us about making the right decision before a bad situation turns into a serious one. Often it’s a series of smaller problems that causes an emergency situation. Details of my problems are coming up. However in the last month, since I left Nelson, I have racked up approximately 900nm of offshore solo sailing in the Tasman Sea, including two big weather systems, 45+ knot winds and 5-6 meter swell. I have got so much more from this experience that I ever thought I would. I thought completing the race was the only goal, the only takeaway. That’s not been the case, it’s the people. The people, the friends I have made, the people around me who have helped me every step and taught me so much. Spending time in the company of these great skippers is a dream in itself, the new friends I have made in New Plymouth, no words really. Thank you so much to all my friends and family who have been supporting me, sending me love before, during and now. This is what’s important. I am quite devastated not to be able to continue this time, but I made the start line of this one and I’m ready for the next one with a heap of experience under my belt. So here are some details of the series of issues in a simple nutshell. I had some ongoing electrical issues which saw my autopilot compromised (the critical piece of equipment for offshore solo sailing) I really cannot sail without it. I did 4 days of hand steering in my qualifier and it’s incredibly difficult to continue that for any longer. I lost my No.4 when I was lashing it down on the bow after I hoisted my storm jib. As my bow went completely under water, a wave swept it overboard, my silly fault for not keeping it clipped on before lashing. (I spent a lot of time under water also at this time but clipped on inside of the lifelines) As I dropped my main from 2nd reef to 3rd, somehow the main halyard shackle banged against the mast in the most imperfect way, that it opened up and I lost main halyard as it flew to the top of the mast and wrapped itself around the furled genoa and spare halyard. I was left with only my storm jib (and spinnaker). Climbing the mast to retrieve in 35knots and 4meter seas was far too dangerous - I did attempt and quickly abandoned. The weather was due to deteriorate for a while yet and more settled weather was two days away. With only my storm jib, I could not keep my direction and I had very little sea room. I was about 6 hours away from being pushed onto the first offshore oil rig. So decision made. Thank you again to so many people and thanks for being patient for my replies. Special thank you to Al, taking satellite calls in the middle of the night and in the middle of class and providing emergency weather updates. I have so many other people to thank, who have been a part of this journey with me - people are amazing! He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata! A very good friend of mine reminded me to channel my inner Moitessier, it’s purely about the sailing!
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Post by fish on Apr 12, 2023 19:21:18 GMT 12
Fleet update: 72 hours into the Ray White New Plymouth Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge, it is living up to its name. The six remaining entrants have tracked north over the last 24 hours, most now sailing above the rhumb line trying to avoid the hole that is circling towards NZ. Conditions offshore have settled and after reporting a bit of everything yesterday… thunder and lightning, rain then sunshine, skippers enjoyed a lovely evening out there and this morning were feeling dry, fixed and looking forward to a fried breakfast! Mike Carter has sailed Allegresse back into the fleet, achieving a DMG today of 107nm, compared to those sitting in large swells and very light head winds limiting their DMG to 65nm. Allegresse is the only wooden boat in the race. She is a Bruce Clarke design based on Sir Francis Chichester's Gypsy Moth III. Her elegant lines are reported to promise both sea-kindliness and peace of mind in a design aimed at tackling whatever the sea can throw at her. Over the last few days the Tasman Sea has certainly tested that. We continue to track Melting Pot as Alan takes her home. We wish them both a safe passage as they head around the Cape and down the east coast.
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Post by GO30 on Apr 13, 2023 10:56:06 GMT 12
Any word on why Alan pulled the pin?
I do like his new ride.
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Post by fish on Apr 13, 2023 12:44:42 GMT 12
Any word on why Alan pulled the pin? I do like his new ride. I actually wonder if half the fleet just looked at the weather forecast and flagged it. As you have rightly pointed out, it is a rally and not a race. Upwind for 1,500 nm, with the option of glassing off to thundery doldrum type weather with calms and squalls. It isn't normal having a blocking high over Campbell Island, is it?
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