It was a pleasure to leave Christchurch with a bitter, howling NE for the Mediterranean climate of Ashburton on Sunday 18 March. Quite remarkable in many ways. As usual the Ashburton Sailing Club made available there signage, buoys, pick up boat and barbeque – thanks guys.
It is great to meet those with a common interest in classic boats, old friends and always something new to admire. This year was marked by an even spread of rowing dinghies, power boats – mostly with old Seagull motors, small sail boats as well as larger ones.
Welsford designs were well represented with a Navigator, a Janet and a Houdini. Then there were one-offs like Nigel Cook's Radley II, a take on the river flattie and Ngaire, the Build a Boat in a Day from the Akaroa Regatta. The latter was themed as a duck shooters skiff complete with decoys, camouflage nets etc. A great job Matt!
Model boats were sailing and on display organised by Peter Vincent of Ashburton, as well as J class yachts, there were scale boats, a beautiful model of the MV Tuhoe caught the eye.
After admiring each others boats Peter Braithwaite briefed every one and after lunch and the course setting completed sailing began at 1330. The power boats set off first then sailing craft, larger to smaller in this case. With the very warm summer weed growth made sailing a little frustrating at times. I got hooked up and most boats were specks on the horizon by the time I got over the start line. However a long tack to the windward side of the course paid off and I was able to lift all the way up the lake passing the hapless ones stuck down to leeward. It was a case of checking for weed on the downwind legs to close in on race leader Sandy Powell from Timaru.
It was a very successful day, lovely setting and weather. The lakeside spectators enjoyed the spectacle and most retreated to the Lakeside House for refreshments and a natter over the days events.
Thanks again to our hosts the Ashburton Sailing Club.
Hugh Hobden
It is great to meet those with a common interest in classic boats, old friends and always something new to admire. This year was marked by an even spread of rowing dinghies, power boats – mostly with old Seagull motors, small sail boats as well as larger ones.
Welsford designs were well represented with a Navigator, a Janet and a Houdini. Then there were one-offs like Nigel Cook's Radley II, a take on the river flattie and Ngaire, the Build a Boat in a Day from the Akaroa Regatta. The latter was themed as a duck shooters skiff complete with decoys, camouflage nets etc. A great job Matt!
Model boats were sailing and on display organised by Peter Vincent of Ashburton, as well as J class yachts, there were scale boats, a beautiful model of the MV Tuhoe caught the eye.
After admiring each others boats Peter Braithwaite briefed every one and after lunch and the course setting completed sailing began at 1330. The power boats set off first then sailing craft, larger to smaller in this case. With the very warm summer weed growth made sailing a little frustrating at times. I got hooked up and most boats were specks on the horizon by the time I got over the start line. However a long tack to the windward side of the course paid off and I was able to lift all the way up the lake passing the hapless ones stuck down to leeward. It was a case of checking for weed on the downwind legs to close in on race leader Sandy Powell from Timaru.
It was a very successful day, lovely setting and weather. The lakeside spectators enjoyed the spectacle and most retreated to the Lakeside House for refreshments and a natter over the days events.
Thanks again to our hosts the Ashburton Sailing Club.
Hugh Hobden
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