International Paints Auckland Tauranga Race 2010

by Jodie Bakewell-White

The 2010 International Paints Auckland to Tauranga Race will start off the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron at 1000 hours on April 1st (no foolin’!)

“Last year’s Auckland to Tauranga Race was full of extremes” said Mr Ross Sheerin, Chair of this year’s Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club Race Organising Committee.

The 2009 Race began with light-airs under spinnaker, followed by south-westerlies that were up and down in strength for the first couple of hours. The breeze eventually built into a full-blown hour long squall topping 50 knots when most of the fleet were just past or approaching Channel Island. After numerous blown spinnakers, a few headsails being cut away, a good sprinkling of crew dramas and a capsize by ‘Catabatic’ the finish in a dropping southerly was “a bit of an anti-climax and a test of concentration for tired crews” said Sheerin.

“While every race is different the one thing that does not change with this Race is the great organisation and the warm welcome after finishing from the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club” said Sheerin.

As in past years marina berthing will be available on arrival, plus hot food and showers at the Clubhouse, not to mention a ‘goodie pack’ on arrival. Through key race sponsors International Paints, Steve’s Marine Supplies, Bridge Marina Travelift, Safety at Sea, Pats Pantry Pies, Ponsonby Pies and Supa Fend Marine Products a great range of prizes will again be on offer at the Friday night prize-giving.

Entries will be taken in the following Divisions:

A Monohull PHRF minimum 0.800 TCF
B Monohull PHRF maximum 0.799 TCF
C IRC Monohull (may be split into two divisions)
D Multihull handicap minimum length 10.67 m
E Multihull handicap maximum length 10.66 m
F Short-handed Monohull PHRF (maximum two persons)
G Class Racing Monohull – minimum five entries

A preliminary NOR has been issued and it is expected that the formal NOR will be posted soon allowing entries to be received. Keep an eye out on the TYPBC website for details. Email office@yacht.org.nz in the first instance with any queries.

Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club
Yachting New Zealand