Tuesday night racing
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Kupe will be running the Tuesday night race series from 10 January until the end of daylight savings. These races will be about 5-7km with the exact course determined by conditions and decided on the night. They will be held at Evan's Bay unless it is blowing southerly (in which case we move to Oriental Bay). If it’s really rough (wind speeds of 35knots plus) we'll cancel. The location will be confirmed on this webpage (www.kupe.org.nz/tuesday-night-racing, bookmark this webpage or subscribe to this page's RSS or email) by midday Tuesday. |
This week's race location Tuesday 21 Feb: Evans Bay |
In an effort to make racing less intimidating for newer paddlers (and to reduce congestion at the first turn) the races will be split into three grades;
A grade paddlers will paddle 5km in under 28 minutes,
B between 28 and 35 minutes, and C more than 35 minutes.
C grade will start at 6.30pm, B grade at 6.35pm, and A at 6.40pm. The aim of each race will be to win your grade, but your total paddling time will determine your overall placing.
On the final night of the series (Tuesday 27 March) a BBQ and prizegiving will be held at the Clubrooms in Evans Bay.
The four courses we’ll use are:
- Fountain – Tennis court wharf to Oriental Bay fountain and back
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Big Loops – 3 laps of
- Tennis court wharf to Soi Restaurant
- Turn clockwise at police launch and paddle south – keeping inshore of tall orange buoy – to last boat by slipway Te Kotuku.
- Turn clockwise and paddle north to Tennis Court wharf paddling inshore of Lionheart and Te Kotuku.
-
Small Loops – 5 laps of
- Tennis court wharf to Soi Restaurant
- Turn clockwise at police launch and paddle south – keeping inshore of tall orange buoy – to Lionheart
- Turn clockwise and paddle north to Tennis Court wharf paddling inshore of Te Kotuku.
- Oriental Loops – 3 laps of selected 5 knot markers and swimming platforms in Oriental Bay.
Race entry is free for Kupe members, $5 for non-members. Registration from 6pm for a race start at 6.30pm. PDFs must be worn by all entrants.
21 February Tuesday Night Race
Another good turn out tonight with a total of 24 paddlers entered. Conditions included a warm NW wind with some reasonable gusts but none of the forecast rain. The course was 4 big loops, with grades A and B only.
Rob Nichol was in excellent form and managed keep chasers at bay to take the overall win. Dave Rudge and Jerome weren't far behind in their double. Chester kept the men honest and finished a whisker ahead of Sandy Winterton who is paddling superbly well in his new Sharp.
Other race hilights included the altruism of a couple of racers. One undertook a survey on fish numbers, just in case NIWA doesn't have enough data. The other researched what doesn't work when rolling and reported lessons learned back to race officials.
A stopwatch malfunction right on finishing kept race organisers on their toes. Times below are include a bit of extrapolation. Some people may also be ordered incorrectly as the watch decided to ''have a break'" right when a big group came in together. The words of race officials (in the instance of this race) are by no means final. Correspondence will be considered and times adjusted accordingly (within reason).
A grade
Rob Nichol - 34.39
Dave Rudge and Jerome - 35.15
Chester Burt - 36.26
Sandy Winterton - 37.11
B grade
Mark Hearfield and Nick Lowe - 38.02
Heather Kirkham and Chris Sherwood - 38.52
Julian - 39.57
Iain Gilles - 40.18
Andrew Bluck - 40.20
Dan Pringle and Jo Holden - 40.40
Jeff - 40.44
Geoff Ludeman - 41.47
Kath Allan - 41.58
Stephen Parker - 42.00
Lou Hales - 42.14
Steve Toole - 42.05
Ron - 42.15 (inc 2 min assistance adjustment)
David - 46.02
Dave Dellebarca - 47.10
Nigel Parry - 52.35
14 February 2012 kayak race
A light northerly greeted a field of 16 paddlers this week for a race to the Oriental Bay fountain and back. But while numbers were down a little, we had three keen beans ready to do marshalling. As such, I took the opportunity and raced for the first time this summer. I now remember how much these things hurt!
The long range forecast is for a northerly next Tuesday. If it eventuates we'll be back at Evans Bay next week.
A grade
Rob Nichol 34.32
Jerry & Dave 35.44
Michael O'Connor 35.47
Sandy Winterton 38.03
Chester Burt 38.54
Dean Ford 40.51
B grade
Mark Wallace 40.27
Mark Hearfield 40.46
Dave Dellabarca 40.58
Ian Gillies 41.25
Heather Kirkham 43.50
Kath Allan DNF
C grade
Stephen Parker 43.38
Dan Pringle 43.43
Malcolm Robbins 44.56
7 February 2012 Tuesday night race
A rising 20 knot southerly greeted the 19 hardy paddlers in this weeks Tuesday night race. We raced two laps from Hataitai beach, down inshore of all the moored boats to the Marina breakwater, then along Cobham Drive. Some 'close' racing was seen in the 'fight' for B grade and Ian Gillies has convinced me once and for all that he's a B grader.
Best of luck to AJ, Matt, James, and any other Wellingtonians heading down to the Coast to Coast.
A grade
Rob Nichol 25.50
Matt Flannery 30.17
Sandy Winterton 31.50
Liam Drew 31:49
Chester Burt 32.04
James Flannery DNF
B grade
Mark Hearfield & Kerry Devine 33.15
Chris Sherwood & Kath Allan 33.16
Geoff Ludemann 33.38
Dave Dellabarca 33.43
David Fisher 35.20
Brian Grace 37.48
Paddy Urlick DNF
C grade
Ian Gillies 34.25
Mary McBride 37.48
Dianne Morgan 40.00