It was indeed a lazy Sunday, after a cool start the sun came up and we were treated to a benign autumn day for the Classic Boats Rally on Lake Hood, near Ashburton. As usual there was a great mix of about 20 craft for the event, mostly sail and a good display of model boats, power and sail convened by Peter Vincent from Ashburton. The south end of the lake has trees and easy launching into the lake via temporary slip provided by the Ashburton Sailing Club.  The area was a great picnic venue for the many families, friends and supporters who made the trip to enjoy the setting and mild weather.  Our website pictures, kindly supplied by Barbara Purves and Dave Johnstone really tell the story of a memorable day.  
 
After the morning display craft there was the usual Parade/Race for the sailors starting at the bottom of the lake from the start boat Mapu skippered by Paul Pritchett, one of the larger trailer boats launched that day. The wind was a patchy northerly but enough to make sailing pleasant. The slim double ender of Sandy Powell made the most of it and slipped around the first mark with a Wagstaff/Pururi Moth in close attendance. It was a fairly short course so the RO sent everyone round again and after that many headed to the lake bankside for a spot of afternoon tea.
Participants had come from all over Canterbury but the most travelled were Ian and Alison Milne from Dunedin as well as Russell Cloake from Mossburn in Southland with his interesting small classic inboard motor boat.
 
Thanks to all the faithful and new for attending, it is so different sailing on a freshwater lake.  Also our thanks to the Ashburton Sailing Club for hosting our event, providing buoys and barbecue facilities for the day. 
 
Hugh Hobden

The annual Canterbury Classic Boat Regatta was held at Akaroa over the weekend 29 – 30 October.

The vagary of this year's spring weather made it a challenging event, however the stalwarts of the group were up for the challenge and arrived at a chilly Takamatua recreation ground on Saturday to rig up. The overnight rain had departed by morning but a strong Sou’Westerly brought white caps to the harbour and this held for most of the day precluding any organised sailing.

An early briefing was held and the general consensus was to wait until late Sunday morning to attempt to sail around the foreshore course. The “Show and Tell” walk was held and everyone had a chance to talk about their boat – there is always something new to be gained from this exercise and it is always remarkable how walk-up visitors join in and have something to contribute. Some are from other countries and often conversations start with “We've got something like that back home...” The most admired craft and eventual overall winner of the day was Oyster – a New Haven Sharpie built to exacting standards by Neil Watkinson.  The detailing and standard of workmanship has to be seen to be believed.​

​The boats, two Shellback dinghies, an Acorn dinghy and Cyrus, ‘cheating’ with a kayak set off, sails up and a slow beat up the first stretch – Cyrus vanished way ahead. It was down rigs for the first bridge at Avondale Rd and a long row for the next section with the wind on the nose. Warwick with the smallest boat battling, to keep up with the Shellbacks, something to do with longer waterlines and oars with more sweep. Two more bridges, a bit concerning with large cracks on some of the piers, hope the engineers got it right after their earthquake examinations. A fairly weed free river, probably for the rowing fraternity and lots of black swans. Quite spooky going through the Red Zone with street names and roads gradually being taken over by foliage.