Worlds 2006

Congratulations to Rick West, winner of the 2006 Morgan – Black EC12 Champions Trophy. Rick's name will be the first name on the trophy. What appropriate recognition to a job well done, both on the course and also for the class. Thanks, Rick.

This event is the collimation of efforts over four years and hosted by the Radio Yacht Squadron Nelson. The regatta is sailed in combination of the New Zealand EC12 Owners Associations National Championship with scoring specific to NZL and the Worlds. New Zealand (24), Australia (3), the United Kingdom (1) and the United States (3) were represented.

The freshwater venue is located in a small community south of Motueka (Moe-two-aa-ka) on route 60, which runs northward from Nelson along the Tasman Bay shore toward the Abel Tasman National Parks and Preserves. The lake is in full view of the surrounding mountains with only the Bay open to a horizon.

The lake was entrusted to the Yacht Squadron with the condition they clean up the shores to make the location appealing and usable to the public. (This is not a legalistic society) In a project that began a year in advance of the event has been done with grading and seeding for grass. There are other permanent building plans but the photos will show a very beautiful and pleasant location. (Photos will be posted the first of December.)

The Worlds venue is blessed with sea breezes and the changing of weather found here in their New Zealand’s Spring. Those at the lake on the 15^th found light horizontal spitting rain and wind from 20 to 40 knots. The very large tent needed shoring up for shelter. A metal shipping container provided storage for the boats and gear and all the equipment needed by the Race Committee.

Wednesday, the 16^th was clear of clouds with breezes 3-12 clocking from the northwest to northeast and pleasant temperatures in the low 70’s (low 20’s-C). The International group spent much of the day rebuilding their rigs from the packing crates and the late after noon moved into tuning during practice racing much like we do in the US. A and B rigs worked very well as each nation sized up the other.

The Kiwis are wonderful hosts and a pleasant attitude found all around the country. The afternoon in the sun and being on the water was welcome with as much conversation as sailing. There was an evening gathering of all at the lake with fireworks, the raising of flags with national anthems and a welcome presentation by Commodore Philip Whitley. International competitors were presented with rain windbreakers, finely tailored polo type shirts and a cap. All were in dark blue embroidered for the event in red topped by the New Zealand fern logo. It was a fine affair and very nicely done setting the standard for an event that will be called every three years.

Thursday, November 16 dawned clear with light breezes. Today New Zealand will conduct it Nationals Match Racing. Those not in the event sailed with the International competitors in an invitational fleet racing event with 14 races. By noon it was spitting rain. An hour later it was raining with moderate wind. An hour later the rain stopped and was very light and fluky. An hour later it was spitting rain again with 3 to 8 knots and so ended the day.

The base of operations is the Motueka Top Ten Holiday Park, which has motel units, bunk houses, RV parking and ground camping. There are many facilities from swimming, BBQ and dining areas to an Internet lounge. However, in NZL you cannot send messages to foreign ISP service like EarthLink and AOL, none. This is blocked by Vodaphone and Telcom, as proprietors in the country.

Match racing: Chris Harmer is the popular “Yachtie” on 12 Discussions. Two seconds were awarded, as ties, because weather prevented all sailing all in the round robins. They score One for winning a match and Three for losing. All sail all three times.

Fleet racing begins Friday for three days and the weather is supposed to be awful tomorrow…Rick West.

Entry	Match	Invite	Pos		Fleet		Total	Pos
	16th	16th		17th	18th	19th
NZL:
Davie Norris
Philip Whitely
Rod Liddy
Ian-Hull-Brown
Brian Hogg	3		3
Andy Luxford	2		2
Steve Edwards	2		2
Neville Taylor
Chris Harmer	1		1
Ian Scott
Brendon Norris
Roger Law
Bruce Edgar
Alan Braid
Peter Inwood
Barry Jackson		24	3
Tony Walker		47	5
Gerald Allsopp		44	4

International
AUS:
Ian Gilmour			DNF
Graeme Turk			DNS
Yeoman Sands		11	2

USA:
Rick West		6	1
Jim Linville			Mech
Jack Wubbe			Mech

GBR:
Woody Cook		50	6

Friday dawned with overcast and very light air. The first three races were in near drifting conditions to 1.5 knots. By 11am we had 5 knots and at noon began the B rigs with 9 to 15 knots. The last race at 4:15pm was through white caps on the lake. Through all this there was rain to varying degree. It was not cold with a steady 62 degrees.

Only 7 races were completed, mainly because of the scoring and coordination between the scorers and the RD. They are learning the EORS we use and it will come in time, as the paperwork evolves. There is a good staff and they are working hard at their positions. Craig Jones is the imported and professional RD and learning the system, as well.

It was interesting conditions and these sailors do not back down to the weather and I found this refreshing. The event is treated as a championship and in consideration that many traveled from afar and at great expense. We raced from nine thirty to four thirty.

Everyone is exhausted returning to the Top Ten Holiday and blessed with no scheduled activities tonight.

It rained all night Friday and morning was horizontal rain and white froth on the lake. Notification went out for all to meet at the park kitchen at 9:30am, as the forecast called for passage of the weather by 10am.

We began sailing with 15 knots on the water, sunshine and no rain. From the outset of Saturday the USA and GBR was out classed in that we had only our B rig against the very short C rigs here. Nonetheless, we stayed on the water, broke our boats, repaired them and went back on the water.

The wind built to 20 knots causing difficulty in setting the jib off the windward rounding and causing some RMG winch stalls. This required shoreline resets. By 3:30pm, when the day was called due to winds, GBR was out of the water and the USA had taken a major hit in the scoring, as the Kiwis climbed up the position board.

It was an interesting and learning experience and mentally exhausting. We have never sailed in such condition. Lines in general held but the gear was under severe stress. Things like spreaders collapsing under pressure and amazingly a Pekebe bow block shackle shattering with no damage to the winch line. The fastest repair to miss only one heat was to go in through the bow deck. Water intrusion through our fragile hatch covers required bailing after each heat of a about two cups of water. It was a very interesting day.

This evening was a semi formal gathering of the entire group for dinner and cheer and the official invitation for the international community to the same event in 2009 hosted by the USA.

YRN	Entry	Match	Invite	Pos	Fleet Total Score					Pos
		16th	16th		17th	18th	19th	Gross	Net
132 NZL	B. Edgar				39	23		62	43	1
94 USA	Rick West		6	1	29	64		93	49	2
63 NZL	Ian Hull-Brown				65	19		84	51	3
1864 USA	Jack Wubbe				26	73		99	57	4
126 NZL	Andy Luxford	2		2	54	25		79	59	5
64 NZL	Steve Edwards	2		2	69	35		104	60	6
122 NZL	Philip Whitley				43	38		81	61	7
61 AUS	Yeoman Sands		11	2	52	61		113	78	8
98 NZL	Brian Hogg	3		3	74	76		150	105	9
86 NZL	Alan Braid				87	72		159	107	10
110 NZL	Chris Harmer	1		1	82	85		167	111	11
33 NZL	Ian Scott				80	79		159	112	12
51 NZL	Roger Law				74	83		157	116	13
46 AUS	Graeme Turk				108	66		174	119	14
119 NZL	C. Norman				84	88		172	123	15
108 NZL	Neville Taylor				80	92		172	126	16
115 NZL	Rod Liddy				78	96		174	127	17
96 NZL	Peter Inwood				150	68		218	162	18
70 USA	Jim Linville				125	98		223	167	19
107 NZL	Barry Jackson		24	3	118	128		246	190	20
95 NZL	C. Gutry				136	115		251	200	21
117 NZL	Tony Walker		47	5	149	115		264	210	22
19 GBR	Woody Cook		50	6	120	159		279	223	23
93 NZL	Bob Wing				131	156		287	231	24
92 NZL	Brendon Norris				169	132		301	245	25
106 NZL	Gerald Allsopp		44	4	163	139		302	246	26
156 AUS	Ian Gilmour				164	132		296	247	27
105 NZL	Dave Norris				196	168		364	308	28

Sunday dawn brought with clear skies and starting with light winds then varying by direction and speed but generally 1 to 5 knots. 1.5 laps were run today instead of 2.5 for increasing the number of races to reach a three race throw out. 18 were completed for the event.

It was a Bluebird day and EC12 sailing like you dream about. Steady air in speed and direction over a long course at maximum boat speed with a comfortable heel. It was beautiful to watch and be a part of.

The score for the day Sunday was not given to me, as their computer spit out only the gross for the event and the net. You will note that some gross/net differences were great. This tended to be reasoned for the higher scores during repair on shore or at the water’s edge. The line scores are requested and will be available with a final report the first part of December along with photos.

This entire event hinged on starting positions and the top four scorers were usually side beside at the start with clear air at the first tack to port. There was mix of downwind and weather finishes subject to the wind but there were never less than two beats and the start and the finish lines were at the extreme ends of the course. The course set was in the 400 to 450 foot range with all having a distant wind mark.

It was a fitting end to what was thought to be a very difficult regatta with conditions outside the norm for this area and time of year. Oh well, where have we heard that before.

The Worlds – Morgan Black EC12 International Trophy
Motueka, New Zealand – November 16-19, 2006

Page 5a (one of three), the final notes in detail:
The Country:
New Zealand is a country the size of California with one-tenth the number of people. From the seascapes of the Bay Of Islands at the northern tip of the North Island to views of Stewart Island one hour off the coast of Invercargill near the southern most tip of the South Island, this is a country of incredible and diverse beauty with lovely warm and engaging people. As, the casual Kiwi will remind you, “We are ordinary people.”

The North Island is far different from the other. Auckland is the most populated a world class city and a center of international sailing (The City of Sails). Sailing is the national sport of New Zealand and the Trophy Case on the second floor open balcony to the meeting hall of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will take well over an hour to read the history through cups, photos and plaques. It is quite impressive but the America’s Cup was not there at this time, as it was during the first visit 6 years ago. The natural and national museums at Auckland and Wellington are world class and the best I have seen of a country’s presentation of its history and people.

The South Island is beyond description in this missive. From the ferry port at Picton across Cook Strait from Wellington to the International Airport at Christchurch is but a small sample of the continuous changes of micro-ecologies and climates that cover the entire island.

The Southern Alps divides some of the most climate changes seen anywhere in a small geological area. The West Coast from the tropical Tasman Bay at Nelson to the Haast River navigates a narrow band between the steep slopes of the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea through rich rain forests, lush pasture lands, seascapes, headland passages and access to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. The river canyon leads you up over the Alps around the northern boundary of Fiordland National Park into high mountain grazing land, massive effervescent glacier lakes and semi arid lands to stunning Queenstown. Below Lake Wakatipu are huge valleys and the heart of grazing for deer, cattle and sheep, as the road continues to Invercargill on the southern tip. National route 1 literally dead ends just feet from the southern shore in Bluff across the street from a fabulous B&B. From those windows, across the Southern Sea over Stewart Island on the horizon lie in knowledge the Roaring 40’s and New Zealand’s sub Antarctic islands. To the west are the Sounds in Fiordland that covers the entire southwestern part of the island with the only interior motor vehicle access being the road to Milford Sound. There are motor and jet boat trips to hundreds of tracks (hiking trails) in over three million acres that is now registered as a World Heritage Area. Route 6 out of Picton to Invercargill then Route 1 to the southern tip is an absolute must drive.

Along the eastern shoreline drives are views of a different colored sea than in the west with whales, orcas, dolphins, albatross and penguins. At each junction there are collections of buildings remote from another junction and if you remember the paintings of Norman Rockwell, it is my best correlation to the scenes and character. The wonder continues at each bend of the road and there are many bends.

The long history of settlement is along the coast from Christchurch to Dunedin with hardships amplified by the remoteness of this land that extends into its sub Antarctic islands. There is a continuous string of weather fronts spinning clockwise off the South Pole, across the Tasman Sea into the West Coast just like that along our West Coast but counterclockwise from the Aleutians. During the drive from Invercargill to Dunedin along a stunning coast of rock promontory cliffs, golden beaches, light houses and monuments to shipwrecks, we passed through a half dozens cold squalls with 20 knots of wind, moderate rain and nugget size hail followed by brilliant sun and azure seas.

And at all times you are up close with mountain views, saddle passes, gorges, rapids, waterfalls and varied flora from ferns to desert scrub. This is the second of three trips planned and we have finished each day of visiting and sightseeing with superlatives over a fine New Zealand Pinot Noir. .

Page 5b, The Sailing:
We have gathered with EC12 sailing brethren each trip and this time for the first Worlds competition for the Morgan-Black EC12 Trophy with four countries attending. It all began with a BBQ at Brian Hogg’s home in Paraparaumu in the north suburbs of Wellington in November 2000. Chris Harmer (Yachtie on the forum), Ian Hull-Brown and a host of members in the local club envisioned the gathering in Motueka outside Nelson this year.

The Nelson group secured a very nice lake in Mariri on the southern shore of Tasman Bay. Route 60 was the only land between salt and fresh. Use of the lake was provided by the community with the condition they would landscape the shore providing a suitable place for the public to enjoy the setting. They moved dirt and planted grass a year before the event and this is likely an understatement for their processes. For the event they provided a huge tent enclosure, which became a refuse from the wind and weather, a metal shipping container for boat storage, a bridge across a stream and multiple flagpole inserts about the property. It was a lot of work and very nicely done. As model sailing venues go, it was the best I have seen anywhere. It was a lovely setting clear of tall trees and obstructions that disturb the wind patterns and providing two long excellent racecourses independent of each other.

And boy there was wind. There was a large group on the lake Wednesday rigging and tuning with mock racing in the afternoon to the clock. Thursday was the NZL match-racing championship while the international competitors and those NZL not entered in the match racing raced an invitational event at the same time apart from the other group.

Fleet racing was Friday through Sunday. Except for two races in very light air Friday morning, wind was above 5 knots with the majority above twelve. Most of Saturday was above 15 and racing was called early at 3:30pm when it reached 25 knots from the north across Tasman Bay. Planned racing was till 6 pm. It was also a day of horizontal rain with unavoidable water on eye glasses and trickling down the spine. It was the most brutal sailing conditions I have ever seen and even the Kiwis complained but we all sailed on with many stories to tell that day of breaking boats, patching them up and shoving them in the water again. Sunday the wind abated from the north at 5 to 8 knots and there was wonderful close racing by all in steady conditions.

94 won the invitational event 6 to 11 points over Yeoman Sands of Australia. Chris Harmer (110) won the NZL Match Racing crown.

Note the Fleet Line Score Sheet for reference and the number of 28’s listed. These were where a boat failed to complete a two-heat race in EORS.
Races:
Friday – 1-7
Saturday – 8-13
Sunday – 14-18

Friday morning Jack Wubbe (1864) and I had our lightest rigs up and outran the heavier competitors with AUS Sands close behind as the wind freshened. In the top five were the steady and relentless Bruce Edgar and Ian Hull-Brown Kiwis always in the mix. 94 went to the B rig for race 3 and the wind dropped (of course) then picked up to 8 knots and climbing to 15 after a late lunch. Jack had a Carr PX75 B rig and mine was a Carr TS50 and finished the day one and two. Jim Linville was using a chartered Kiwi boat and having problems with the radio and equipment. It was hard for him, as he knew little about the boat.

It was raining Saturday morning and the wind was at 8 knots when Jack and I arrived at 0800. We brought our boats into the big tent for a good check of all the gear and lines. When we finished an hour later with the wind at over 10 knots and white foam streaming across the water from the north toward the tent. We moved out of the tent toward our camp when we decided to move into the orchard east of the shoreline for protection. While passing between two cars 94 did a hard gybe resulting in a big bang in the hull and the jib flying past the run position. She was moved back to the big tent and an interior inspection found the tension line to the bow block had separated when the shackle had shattered. No lines were broken. Jack assisted to rethread another line and block to the bow eye but could not complete the loop. A mirror inspection noted a ball of line all around the bow eye blocking the looped emergency line. This needed to be removed to install a new sheet line system.

The decision was made to cut into the deck to hurry the process and be able to start race 9. Otherwise, 94 would be out for several races and out of a competitive position. Woody Cook assisted while Jack was racing and the tangles were removed and new lines threaded with a new block in place. The winch line on the drum was reset, sail positions checked quickly and 94 went into the water during the clock for race 9 and won it.

The wind kept climbing to 20 knots. The rain would sting and you could not keep a hat on. Port/starboard situations were frightening where sea conditions demanded timing for a tack. Jack lost a rig in a collision that needed a whole race to repair and dial in. 94’s starboard upper shroud spreader was broken and needed tape and a splint. Water intrusion was huge through light hatches and major bailing was needed after each heat. Hatches were taped and handling one broke the cover on 94 and Woody Cook provided another. 94’s gear was Aeroplated but failure was anticipated when in race 12 the first of a new problem, winch stall.

The load on the American B rig was horrendous. AUS and NZL had gone to their storm rigs, which I think are about 30 inches tall. Well, they look like it anyway. The batteries on 94 are checked after each heat and are changed at 6.5v. The RMG will lock out at 6.1v according to testing. When the winch locked up in race 12 it was sailed to shore and restarted thinking that water was the problem. When it occurred again in race 13 the battery was changed to complete the race. Reviewing the incidents after racing was called when the wind rose to 25 knots, it was likely that under this heavy load the winch was holding the sails (both times on broad reach to wing mark) the voltage was dipping with the higher amperage flow into the motor and hit its voltage limits. Rob Guyatt might comment on this but this is my understanding of amp/voltage relations under load. Hence, another lesson learned for high wind sailing.

Sunday dawned clear and sunny with 3 to 8 knots all day. It was sane sailing and a relief to everyone. The USA sailed their PX75 A rigs in a beautiful setting with very nice people.

One comment on the sailing competition: When the USA boats went on the water Wednesday there was a lot of mention of our speed and point in the breezes. From the first heats in the regatta it was clear the USA was going to be at the top of the leader board with clear air sailing and maneuvering room. Jack Wubbe and I clearly noticed that, as the heat and days progressed, the competition grew closer and closer with more and more need to be tactical in crowded water.

Page 5c, Boat Condition:
While the USA team suffered in many ways, it appears that 94 not only won the event but also may have posted the highest amount of damage. Here is a boat and B rig report. The other two rigs survived.
• The bow block was replaced.
• There is a hole in the fore deck covered with clear cellophane packing tape.
• The hatch cover was replaced.
• Mast crane was twisted 30 degrees and bent downward at 45.
• Starboard spreader was broken and detached. It was splinted with the broken piece by tape and a notch filed to hold the upper shroud.
• Weather vane was destroyed and no replacement installed.
• Tape on two sail hanks near the top seam of the jib separated. Packing tape was used with some hanging out in the slip stream along the mast.
• The grommet at the jib tack held but the sail is so blown out around the reinforcement and out shape along the foot. The jib is not recognizable as a tuned sail.
• The rig would only have been used on Sunday in an emergency.
The good points:
• The in-track mounts for the gooseneck and vang mounts had been drilled and tapped for 2-56 machine screws to prevent any possibility of vertical movement under pressure. This also provided and solid platform with no lateral movement of the boom and vang settings at the mounts. This pre-departure modification worked well.
• The new Futaba 9350 digital rudder servo was wonderful. Control was positive, smooth and dependable except when the rudder raised out of the water.
• The mast splice for shipping Jack Wubbe developed did not twist under pressure and presented no distortions to the main.

Page 5d, The Boats:
It would almost be an understatement to say that USA and GBR boats differ from those in NZL and AUS. They are hugely different and in areas of rule and specifications are not issues. Building engineering shows evolution for the conditions they face and the thought processes in development. And there are areas followed that are interesting only after you have been there and experienced what have been prepared for. The Stubby Mast Mount and spring-loaded spindle for the sheet lines are examples. The latter is a shock absorber for hard gybes or collisions that would cause the sheets to move beyond their set position, thereby mediating stress to lines and hardware. The elaborate threading of lines on the deck would certainly have prevented a hole in 94’s deck and can be understood. You all have seen the hatch covers before and could expect a very dry bilge.

Also a mainsheet line post has been designed that has a very low profile for drag. You can see that it is unsupported above deck and has about one inch separation from the boom.

It is interesting while reviewing the photos taken of 94 on land what drew attention to our boats. Comments in conversation marveled at the simplicity of the USA rigs, sheet line system and the manual sail controls. It was interesting because what they saw was the history of the Class Building site. They were even more credulous of our flat sail tuning, twisted mains and jib trim. It was difficult to respond with other than the reasoning for the preference while the performance on the water was obvious. It was polite to say, and it was true, flat sail tuning began by watching Black Magic’s mainsail tuning on television 8 years ago in the Hauraki Gulf.

The AUS and NZL boats are likely to be heavier than our boats because of complicated systems and heavy designs. This would suggest less ballast to meet the waterline restrictions. While tenderness was not especially noticed to weather more leeway was and we had more point and drive into the seas. Having said this, one more afternoon of racing against those tiny storm rigs would have done us in. They were able to point over our larger B rigs in the high winds and we needed to fall off to gain power into the seas to tack. A failed tack in close contact was fatal.

NZL is just now beginning to deliver hulls from a daughter mold off the US master. AUS has requested information for a new set. The next international meeting will produce changes all around and interesting to note. However, we will have to sail in the Texas Panhandle to have any chance of winds like those on the lee of Tasman Bay in November of 2006.

The Final:
The appreciation for the hospitality, warmth and considerations provided by the Kiwis feels understated in any attempt to write. The New Zealand EC12 Owners Association membership is far less that even our Class travelers to our National Schedule yet provided, managed and conducted a world event that has set some high standards for the next. You can complain about the weather but you can’t bitch, as when the end of the day came we were all sighing and smiling. Some had been rewarded with success and some with foul fate but as a group proud we had sailed and endured with humility and gratitude to all participating and involved in support of the competitors. Salute to the NZEC12OA, who upheld their country in honor and sportsmanship…our thanks from the USA team, Rick West, Jack Wubbe, Jim Linville and our adopted friend Woody Cook.