Page 13 - CYAA Magazine Jan 2018 Issue 41

Issue 41 - March 2018 CYAA ©

made to feel very much at home in Auckland by For the rest of the Aussies, only Philip Brown
such wonderful hosts. had success, finishing second of four on Thelma.
Despite good sailing, those on Paramour and
Day 3 started with Stephen Byrne, then the front Frances were still rewarded with last in class
runner for the Trans Tasman Cup deciding not to placings. So it was that Philip came through at
sail to ensure he made his early evening flight the end to clinch his maiden Trans Tasman Cup
home. So the field was now wide open for the with a score of 2.0 over his regular crew
Cup. The day looked destined for lateness, with member, Stephen Byrne, on 2.2 despite missing
light winds forecast and the resailing of race 3 for Sunday’s racing. Martin was 3fļᵈ on 2.43, Doug
the A division scheduled to start at 11am. & Cathy on 2.77 and the rest 3.1.

Martin Ryan, Doug Shields and Cathy Moore Back in the Squadron, it was soon time for the
were on Waitangi for the rescheduled Race 3 while presentation dinner. Tony Stephenson’s
Richard missed race 3, being allocated to a B fleet repartee continued. Martin thanked the Kiwis
boat for Sunday. The rest had completed race 3 for their hospitality and friendship. It was a
the previous day and were again on B fleet boats, pleasure to see the crew of Innismara, victor in
floating around for some hours awaiting Race 4. the "A modern" class, on stage with her young
skipper Paige Cook and crew decked out in
At 11am, race 3 was underway in very light their coordinated sailing gear. They presented
winds. That didn’t help Thelma or Waitangi so, for an impressive outlook as to the involvement of

team Waitangi, it became a match race. Photos will the younger generation in classic yacht sailing
show Waitangi a boat length ahead at the Orakei and one that the CYAA would love to emulate.
mark before both yachts being advised that the
time limit had expired, as it also had for 4 of the Reflecting on the event, it continues the strong
9 starters in the A Bermudan class. So Waitangi bond between the CYANZ and the CYAA. The
and Thelma both had an abandoned race and a CYANZ founders fondly remember that it was
DNF in 2 attempts at race 3. Such are the strange the purchase of Waitangi and subsequently
twists of regatta yacht racing. Thelma that spurred the strong Kiwi interest in
classic yachts. They appreciate that it was the
Pleas from Thelma Skipper Tony Blake on VHF to foresight of Doug Shields, Col Anderson and
the Race Committee to delay the start of Race 4 the rest of the Waitangi syndicate to buy and
by 10 minutes to allow the DNF yachts to get back restore Waitangi in the first place that benefited
to the start were in due course accepted. With the New Zealand’s maritime history.
race 4 countdown sequence underway and the
winds still light, Waitangi was destined for an Looking to the future, great things are planned
exciting start. With new ex Aussie crew member for classic yacht events coinciding with New
Peter Fagan on the helm and with a port tack bias, Zealand’s Americas Cup defence in late 2021.
he jokingly declared that was his intention. As the They expect a likely seven J class yachts to
traffic formed, he couldn’t tack, so weaved his attend, the +100 tonne yachts that vied for the
way to a great start on port. Waitangi was almost Americas Cup between 1930 and 1937. If you
ahead of herself and certainly well ahead of ever envisaged being part of a tier one classic
Thelma, their arch rival. But the great start was to yacht event, then plan on having your yacht in
no avail - after gybing on the second mark, they Auckland in 2021. If that isn’t practical, join the
notified their retirement to deliver a team member Aussie crewing contingent. Start your plans
home in time to catch a flight. today!

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