DF65 Practice Day Tauranga Lakes Jetty – 18 April 2025


 I couldn’t sleep all night, listening to the constant rain and wondering if the Jetty would be above or below the high-water mark.

At first light, I headed out and set up parking to protect our local park, which gets really boggy in winter.
I parked up near the toilets, then had a sheepish look over the hill to check on the Jetty.
 Good news—not underwater… yet!

Back home, I waterproofed the starter and finished off the Bridge to Bus Stop Trophy.

After a quick breakfast, I was back at the lake by 10 a.m. to meet John B and help set up the camper. But John was early—and had already done everything! Thanks, John.

We launched the boats, and I took out the larger IOM marks before racing up to the Bus Stop to “borrow” marks 1 to 6. Back at the Jetty, we extended all the ropes.
By now, skippers were arriving, keen to have their yachts scrutineered.

Boat checks didn’t go entirely smoothly, with a mix of minor and major last-minute fixes happening on the spot.

A few boats hit the water early—

We called Pat H and his fishing rod, but finding that boat was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Sadly, the Titanic remains lost. With algae bloom in full swing, any diving mission might not end well for the diver…

The crowd poured in, and all but two yachts were scrutineered and signed off for racing tomorrow.

The Grand Finale:
 The Bridge to Bus Stop double-lapper proved thrilling!

A+ rigs screamed upwind to the Bus Stop mark, only to nose-dive as they rounded it heading for the bridge
Allowing the smaller rigs to glide by on the 1st downwind.

 The second beat still favoured the smaller sails.
 But the final downwind to the bridge was light, and the big A+ sails started reeling them back in.

In the end, maybe it was line bias—but
Nigel A, sailing 168, won the premier race,
claiming the Bridge to Bus Stop Trophy and the afternoon spoils.
 Well done, Nigel! 🏆

We packed up quickly as the rain returned and everyone headed off into the night.

DF65 Nationals start tomorrow
Saturday—then continues Sunday
 to crown the 2025 DF65 National Champion.
 Can’t wait!
https://sites.google.com/site/tgarsc/250418_trsc_df65_nationals