Sunburst North Island Champs
 
Lake Taupo
21/22 January 2006
 
 
The regatta sponsored by Leader was conducted under the auspices of Lake Taupo Yacht Club and sailed in conjunction with the Phase 2 class National Champs.  The overall control was excellently managed by Peter Roberts, Rear Commodore of LTYC.  Because the Phase 2 contest was a national event, it required an accredited National Race Officer and Alison Shearer of Tauranga officiated with both fleets, assisted by husband Rusty, Peter Nankivell and other able volunteers from LTYC.
The Sunbursts attracted 22 entries from clubs as diverse as Worser Bay, Kapiti, Lake Taupo, Mercury Bay, Wakatere and a very welcome participating crew from Rarotonga, who borrowed a boat kindly loaned by Nigel Price.  Participants began arriving on Friday afternoon.
There had been overnight rain, some reasonable heavy but Saturday dawned fine.
Race 1  start was delayed while the light wind settled and the RO became satisfied with the positioning of the marks.  During the race there were some substantial wind shifts and fairly constant shuffling of positions.  Rhythmandswing  (Brett and Alice Linton) emerged as the winner, followed by Embers (Greg and Finn Wright), Black Magic (Hartley and Bailey Atkinson), Rose Ann (Malcolm and Emily Tubby) and Cognos (James and Jordan Corbett) ..
Race 2 was started after the length of the course was considerably shortened.  The wind became very patchy and at times almost dropped completely.  The result was a runaway win for Embers, from Cognos, Rythmandswing and Rose Ann.  Because of the absence of wind at the finish, the fleet were returned to shore for lunch and a welcome break.
Race 3 was signalled when a light breeze had returned and resulted in a win for Rhythmandswing from Embers, Button Moon (Eric and Vince Osborne) and Black Magic.
Race 4 was sailed back to back in similar conditions and resulted in several OCS’s which could hardly be ascribed to excessive tidal flows!!! Embers again prevailed, from the improving Jiminy (Paul and Zac Stock), Black Magic and Rose Ann.
 
Dinner was available in the clubhouse from the resident caterer at LTYC with a subsidy for each boat by courtesy of the NZSA.  There was a large attendance to avail themselves of this facility.  A heavy shower of rain overnight gave way to a clear morning but alas, there were no encouraging signs of wind.
Race 5  The breeze had filled in sufficiently that the competitors departed the beach with a degree of optimism.  However,  this optimism was short lived as big holes in the wind developed, there were some massive shifts as the wind almost boxed the compass.  The decision was made by the RO to shorten the Sunburst course,  Embers was again the clear winner, second equal being awarded to Cognos and Rose Ann, with Black Magic fourth.
Race 6 followed back to back on R5 in very light conditions with the wind at the start from the very opposite direction from the start of R5.  Lunches had been ferried from the shore, as the start was delayed pending the finish of the Phase 2 fleet who were set to sail the full course.   In the final analysis, only five Phase 2 finished within  the allotted time limit.  While awaiting their start, many Sunbursts took the opportunity for a quick swim.  When the race finally got under way, most struggled in the very light conditions, and only six boats managed to finish within the time limit.  Embers was again dominant, from Cognos, Rythmandswing and Black Magic.
The prospects for wind for the remainder of the day were poor and the possibility of a start for Race 7 in accordance with the time prescribed in the Sailing Instructions was non-existent.  The RO therefore declared Race 7 abandoned and the fleet made its way back to the beach by varying means.
The results – Embers a clear champion.  In a comparatively close handicap result, Flying Meringue emerged the winner, followed by Cognos, Black Magic and Windrush (Kevin and Lizzie Whitehead).  
The prizegiving was held soon after the results were finally and formally declared and following an enjoyable and much appreciated complimentary barbeque by courtesy of the Sunburst Assoc.
Many thanks are due to LTYC for their thorough preparation and organisation and for the hospitality which was shown.  At the prizegiving Peter Roberts extended his invitation to conduct the regatta again next year and has already pencilled in the equivalent weekend.
All competitors, families and friends appeared to have had an enjoyable regatta.  Because of the comparatively early finish to proceedings, most boats were packed and were on their way homeward by late Sunday afternoon.