Last weekend I got up at 4am and was on the road at 5.30am for the 3 hour drive to French Bay on the Manukau Harbour on Aucklands west coast. When the racing started at around 10am there were 13 keen Zephyr sailors ready to enjoy the breeze in a series of 4 back to back races.
The first race was a drifting lottery of a race as we waited for the easterly sea breeze to fill in from across the Auckland isthmus. A couple of us (Moi in the yellow Zephyr 195) are taking the opportunity to stretch our legs.
When the breeze came it was fresh and steady making the remaining three races very enjoyable. My placings were at the tail end of the fleet but I was pleased not to be last in any of the races and in one race was in the middle of the fleet placings. Many of the Zephyr skippers are the creme de la creme of New Zealand sailors with former national champion and Olympic representatives among the ranks; so I have my work cut out for me - which is just the way I like it - plenty to learn and plenty of time racing on the water to improve my skills - can't think of a better way to spend large chunks of my retirement time. Amene-le je dis (Bring it on I say).
