Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2010: Action - On the water

7:42 AM Wed 20 Jan 2010 GMT

Over eight years the Bay Regatta has experienced all weather conditions; heavy winds - light winds, sunny skies - cloudy skies, flat seas - white caps.

2010 Day 1 has produced a warm breeze of 10-12 knots, light chop, cloudy skies with showers in the morning and again at the end of the day - but who cares about the rain, the Far North NEEDS rain so we're prepared to live with it on the first day.

Division A set a fast pace for the regatta, with Limit, our visiting Reichel Pugh 63 taking home the bacon. First on line and first with overall handicaps - what a day for the Aussies.

Sea Harmony, a Sunfast 52 lead over the start-line, but Limit quickly slipped past followed by the panting-pair, Georgia and Wired. This was the order soon after the beginning of the race and the order at the end. A memorable first day for Division 1.

At the top mark Jim Farmer's Georgia, helmed by Emirates Skipper Dean Barker, flew at the mark on starboard, while Rob Bassett's Wired attempted to round the buoy on port. But Barker took over and closed the door, leaving Wired with a 720 penalty turn - a distance she was unable to claw back.

In the multihull division G3, a 60 foot trimaran, was gone for dust (had she been on land)....then adding insult to injury she literally flew through the A Division boats, offering spectators quality viewing by running home under colourful spinnaker.

Simon Hull will be happy with a double win for both races on first day of racing here in the Bay. We'll talk with him tonight and report tomorrow - forwarded during the day as racing finishes at Roberton Island for the Beach Party. No chance of reporting from the beach

by Lesley Haslar

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Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2010: Action - On the water

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