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| Announcements |
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| Coming Events |
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September Major Events Committee Meeting
September 08 (18:00) Winter Match Racing Series Two
September 11 (08:00) College Sport Wellington Match Racing Championship
September 18 (08:00) 128th Season Opening Day
September 18 (All Day) New Zealand Youth Match Racing Nationals
September 25 (08:00) October New Zealand Business Games
October 11 (15:30) February Centreport International Youth Match Racing Championships
February 15 (08:00) VIEW CALENDAR |
| Business House Yacht Race, Friday 12 March 2010 |
 The Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club held its annual Sailing Academy fundraising Business House Yacht Race on Friday 12 March. 10 businesses entered teams and were spread across 13 boats in a pursuit race with first group away at 2.30pm. The day started well with perfect starts for all boats in great conditions. But that was soon to change!! The majority of the race was completed and the boats were on the home leg when a southerly buster hit. The wind was predicted to change to the south with 30-40 knot front ... nothing abnormal for Wellington. But when it arrived the wind was more like 60 to 70 knots. As the front approached the call was made from the race office that the race was abandoned and that all boats should lower their sails and head for home. Sailing Academy manager Matt Wood was out on Te Ruru, the club's rescue boat, and witnessed and recorded the front as it came through Evans Bay. "I've spent many hours out on the harbour and have never seen a southerly change come through with that much wind. We are used to 30 to 40 knot but twice that is a bit rare!" Matt captured a video of the front arriving in Evans Bay. Brandon Clarke, crewing on Flying Circus was pulling the head sail down but sllipped overboard as the squall struck. He kicked the sail free, and trod water for about five minutes. Thanks to good information regarding their location being given from Flying Circus he was located within a couple of minutes and brought safely on board Te Ruru.  No sooner had he been recovered than a Mayday was received from Andiamo. By this time visibility off Kau Bay had dropped to virtually zero and the search for Andiamo commenced. By the time Andiamo was located their crew had done a great job of securing the boat and passengers and despite having a sail wrapped around their propeller were making 3 or 4 knots across the wind with reasonable steerage. Te Ruru stayed in the vicinity of Andiamo until a Wellington Pilot vessel initiated a tow. Over the next hour Te Ruru transported 11 sailors from various boats to the shore while Nedax Racing and Baccante were also towed back to Lambton Harbour as they had engine issues. A number of the fleet took shelter from the storm in Kau Bay and made their way safely back to their marina berths after the front had passed. With every one safely ashore the stories started to flow in the wardroom in with an incredible buzz around the room. The 2010 Business House Race will certainly be one to remember. The largest gust recorded by the Pt Jerningham weather station during the Southerly Buster was 78 knots. Club chief executive Dean Stanley said the safe return of all the boats and guests was "a fantastic testament to the seamanship of the skippers and a credit to the judgement and communication demonstrated by Race Officer Paul Davies and his team of Elizabeth Sandford and Leslie Hamilton". Media Coverage: Youtube: Dominion Post: TV3 Photos by Chris Coad Photos by Chris Coad |
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A flourishing yacht club that enhances the vibrancy of Wellington by providing a key sporting, recreational, business and social focal point for Wellingtonians. |