Wednesday 10 February 2010

Port Nicholson Regatta: Georgia on Andiamo's Mind, with Chris Dickson playing the tune


Jim Farmer's Georgia, seen here during the Bay of Islands regatta, is on her way to Wellington for this weekend's Port Nick regatta. Image copyright Cathy Vercoe - LuvMyBoat.

by Mandy Burt

This weekend’s Port Nicholson Regatta hosted by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club will include Jim Farmer’s TP52 Georgia with Kiwi yachting icon Chris Dickson on board. Georgia, a Botin & Carkeek design, is currently en route to Wellington and was last heard of in Gisborne.

Unfortunately local ‘big boy’ Andiamo, Davison 55, will not be able to give Georgia a run for her money in this regatta. Crippled Andiamo has problems with her mast and has been out of action since the Nelson race.

The crew of Andiamo said that they were disappointed not to be able to have the chance to show Georgia how it is done on local waters... that pleasure will have to wait for another time.

Race Organiser, Pedro Morgan said that he expected a record fleet - currently standing at 44 entries - 37 keelboats and 7 Ross 780s. One third of the fleet are out of town – with 4 from Auckland, 3 from New Plymouth, 2 from just across the Strait (Waikawa) and 4 from Naval Point. There are 17 boats in A Division, 20 entered in B Division and 7 in the Ross 780 Championships.

Mandy Burt, Rear Commodore, said that she was “looking forward to Chris Dickson visiting the Club again and to welcoming many old friends back to Wellington. The Social Committee has laid on a fun programme and we are looking forward to entertaining the competitors - on and off the water”.

Following on from the successful OK Dinghy 2010 World Championships currently in Wellington, the Port Nicholson Regatta will incorporate the IRC Nationals and the Ross 780 Nationals. Mandy Burt said that “February will be an extremely busy month for the staff, race management and volunteers at RPNYC. The OK Dinghy guys have been great fun and have enjoyed themselves. We hope that the Port Nicholson Regatta and the CentrePort Youth Regatta (which follows on 23rd February) will be as much fun for all. Everyone at RPNYC is enjoying hosting these races and having the Club centre-stage in NZ sailing”.

Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club

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