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The best kept secret of RNZYS: the PIC Cruising Series

 In Club Racing, Member Interest, News, Squadron Events

This article originally appeared in the December / January edition of the RNZYS’s Breeze Magazine. Read it online here.

Three PIC Insurance Brokers Cruising Rallies have been sailed this season so far, with completely contrasting weather – a reflection of Spring conditions on the Waitemata Harbour.

For the first cruise of the season October 29th: A 15-25knt dense northerly with showers and bad visibility made us question the relevance to “cruising” but was more than compensated by a fresh sail to blow the winter cobwebs away and by meeting up with new and old friends ashore enhancing our RNZYS community. This was clearly evident with big smiles emanating out of wet weather gear which won the fashion stakes of the day.

The harbour was busy with the Globe 40 race yachts heading out en route to Tahiti and our own Mastercard Youth Training Programme athletes “sending it” as they passed by the cruising fleet. After our start, a squall reduced visibility significantly as we approached Bean Rock. Rough water caused by wind against tide in Crusoe Passage was thankfully short lived and the yachts were soon sailing downwind through the Motuihe Channel to navigate tricky puffs entering Isi bay for the finish.

We met ashore under the ferry wharf shelter courtesy of Matt Cole who kindly ferried us in his RIB. A quick beach clean while the BBQ was set up resulted in enthusiastic participants receiving a prize from Squadron partner Ecostore.

Line: 1st catamaran Levity – Mike Mackey        1st mono Terminator – John Faire

H’Cap: 1st Zuben – Garry Locke     2nd Platine – Peter Lavelle    3rd Share Delight – Mike Lanigan

2nd Cruise November 12th:  The previous day’s wild storm cleared to picture post-card scenery for the second rally to Rocky Bay, Waiheke Is. Champagne sailing all the way on port tack in shorts and t-shirts was hard to beat.

Terminator led the way, and we were soon ashore. Pleased to report, next to no rubbish was found in our beach clean although Tyson (Pink Cadillac) managed to pull out some nylon fishing line encrusted in seaweed. A brief shower heralded a wind change so as the rising westerly buffeted the dinghies the fleet transferred to shelter in Huruhi Bay to listen to the Black Ferns winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Line: Terminator – John Faire

H’Cap: 1st Enjoy the Silence – Rick Menalda   2nd Pink Cadillac – Basil Orr    3rd  Alacalufe – Rodger Jack

A big thankyou to MV Affinity – Mike Malcom and team for two turns at Race Management and especially to Dave West from the Sailing Office for fabulous photos.

3rd cruise December 3rd: Forecasts for this race to Mullet Bay on the east side of Motutapu promised a lightwind broad reach, but the weather had its own mind, and the event took place in a building north-east breeze, requiring a beat from start to finish. The 16 yachts were accompanied by Past Commodore Steve Burret in his launch V.

Carl Whiting on Emotional Rescue quickly pulled ahead, and gradually extended all the way to the finish, completing the course in just under two hours. They were chased by ‘the judge’ in Terminator and the leading two-handed entry The Black Pearl, with a number of close battles throughout the fleet.

While the race committee calculated results aboard Mike Macolm’s launch Affinity, the participants headed ashore for a beach clean followed by BBQ and drinks.

H’Cap: 1st Enjoy the Silence; 2nd, Warringa, 3rd, The Black Pearl.

Have a fabulous time and look after our playground – the sea, by avoiding losing anything overboard that fish wouldn’t normally eat in their own environment.

Rally dates for 2023:  Feb 18th,   March 18th,   April 1st (no joke!)      Easter Rally 7-9th April

Sign up for a single cruising rally, or the whole series online here PIC Insurance Brokers Cruising Series

Cruising contacts: Mike Malcolm, Murray Deeble, Ross McKee, Sheryl Lanigan, Matt Cole.

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