Lumpy and Bumpy but Lots of Fun
Breakfast at Hot Spot Café in Nelson’s Dockyard is becoming a habit — and with a view like this, it’s hardly a hardship. From here, the classic fleet slips gracefully out of the harbour for Day 3, masts sparkling against the sky in a setting that feels purpose-built for beauty.
After three days of racing, the fleet is still raring to go. Today’s “Butterfly” course — like its sibling “Caterpillar” — kept everyone entertained, while the weather gods added a lively edge. “Bumpy and lumpy but great fun,” as Matthew Barker of The Blue Peter put it. Back at the dock, Juno’s crew were all high-fives. “Great wind, but punishing seas,” said Scott DiBasio — just how they like it.
Billy Gernett of New Moon always has a great day, He said “of course we had a fantastic sail, but when we got back, we had 200 litres of water in the bilge.” The crew agrees that New Moon is always a rather wet boat!
Leading the fleet in the Vintage Class, Charm III just keeps going. “We’ve been doing [Classics] for 20 years,” said Maryse West. “We live in Anguilla and we love to come and enjoy this regatta every year. We’ll be coming for the next 20 years too.”
Charm III holds firm in the Vintage Class series standings as does Juno in the Classic Class. Petrana remains comfortably ahead in the Legacy Class and in the Traditional Class, Navasana is still nursing a broken mast, leaving Genesis alone at the top. Chronos leads Vela by one point in the Tall Ships Class.
In Modern Classics A, Ilios, Athena and Freya are locked in a cheerful but determined tussle. Today Ilios again took top billing, but Freya is a head of them series by 1 point. Athena lost a halyard today, slowing her charge — tomorrow may tell a different story, she needs 1 point for the podium! Elsewhere, Bunglebird continues to lead Class B with Katina close behind, while Absolute Properties Blue Peter holds steady at the top of Class C.
This overall standings are looking close. Charm III leads the charge, with Juno only 3:49 behind and Seefalke close behind her. The tension mounts, after a lively Day 3 — and with conditions like these, tomorrow may well shake everything up.
