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Wrap up of Chains Ropes and Anchor 250
24 Apr 2016
The first of the long haul boats to finish
their 250 nm race was Miss Scarlet (RP52), while the only multi-hull in the
race Voom (Open 8.5) was the first to finish the short haul course.
Despite the light conditions there were
some close racing in the long haul division, especially between Berenice
(Mitchinson 39) The Guarantee (Ross 1066) and Spearhead (Elliot 1050) and then
ahead of them between Sun Fast Racing (Sun Fast 3600), Gale Force and
Provincial Cowboy (Ross 40). But the closest finish was between Awen (Open 60)
and Provincial Cowboy, with Provincial Cowboy squeaking 6 seconds ahead.
While the finishing team were on station at
Great Barrier Island, the second start of the Chains Ropes and Anchors Anzac
250 got underway. Five boats started the small boat division while 12 boats
made up the cruising division (nine of them Farr designs). The race management
team filled in time with some fishing (15 snapper and 4 kahawai) until the
first boats arrived after dark.
Conditions throughout the race led to a
number of park ups for the boats, and some of the long haul boats withdrew
after completing sufficient hours to qualify for the 2017 Round North Island
Race. It was a race where the rich got richer and the poor got poorer, as the
boats in front managed to keep the wind with them, more so than the boats
behind.
Absolut Leisure (Leisure 42) was the first
boat to cross the finish line, having completed the 60nm course in the cruising
division, followed by Protocol (Farr 11.6) and Rawhide (Farr 1020).
In the small boat division Cool Change
(Ross 830) held off Predator (Beale 9) for line honours finishing in 13 hours.
The battle of the Farr 1020s in the cruising division was won by Rawhide (1st
Farr 1020 on line and handicap). The father and son team on Pepe (Ross 930)
took out line and handicap honours in the short haul division, finishing in
just over 36 hours.
Prize givings were held ashore at Smoke
House Bay, while some of the long haul and small boats were still finishing.
The BBQ, SSANZ hospitality and the prizes from Chains Ropes and Anchors much
appreciated by some very tired competitors.