The 2016 Dunstan Special Laser Regatta was held on December 3rd & 4th.

Marakura Laser sailors Ross Shipman, Eric Nicholson, Daryl Parkes and Sue McKenzie participated in this regatta hosted at the Lake Dunstan Boat Club. Always good to catch up with the laser sailors from Central, and with Tim Smith from Bluff attending, along with Dragos Blaga and Neil Morris from Dunedin, this was a good fleet with 15 boats on the start-line.

Day One saw one “practice” race and 4 “official” races completed in 15-22 knots of northerly breeze, getting off the water nicely buggered at 5.30pm after three and half hours of racing. Great hospitality with a hot meal and BYO drinks saw the conversation wind up about midnight, after tasting Dunstan laser sailor Roger Gibson’s nationally acclaimed Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir.

No wind was forecast for Sunday, but it actually turned into a pretty good day, albeit patchy increasing wind strength during the day, and swinging from SE to SW all day, so keeping in the breeze lines was crucial. Another 5 races were completed, with some good competitive battles throughout the fleet.

Many thanks to James and his team at Dunstan for hosting the regatta and to the excellent race management who took care to set good courses. Fantastic secure facilities with excellent launching harbour inlet. Many thanks to James also for selling peonies at the club. I’m now in credit with my better half for a few more regattas! 

Looking forward to resuming the battle at the Wanaka Regatta on Jan 7-8 and at the Te Anau Plumbing Open Dinghy Regatta on Jan 28-29.    

Daryl Parkes - 184217