We’re one month away from the start of the 2022 Fully Crewed and Two Handed Central Triangle and 9 boats are working on their boat job lists to make the start.
Despite the emergence of Omicron moving us to Red in the COVID-19 Protection Framework, the organising committee is confident that both the race and stopovers can be managed safely, at this stage. The small fleet size (and the majority being two-handed entries) means that the total number of sailors, local volunteers, shore crew and the race management team should keep any gatherings under the 100 limit. But as we know in these COVID times that could change at any moment so as organisers we’re planning for lots of different contingencies.
On a more positive note we have our first international entry Poulpito, a Sydney 38 based in New Caledonia and skippered by David Treguier. The boat is due to leave shortly to make it to the start line in time, including any self-isolation time required on arrival to Opua.
We have two fully crewed boats entered – Satellite Spy (Ross 40) returns for another triangle and the green machine Wasabi (Sayer 12) is joining us from Auckland for the event. The two handed division also sees the return of some RNI boats – Arbitare (Farr 38 skippered by Murray Hartley), Am Meer (Katie Mathieson and Geoff Thorn’s Bavaria 38), High Voltage (Victoria Murdoch’s Elliott 1050), Distraction (Guy Mannering and Matt Perry) will all join RPNYC’s own The Guarantee (Geoff Herd and Phil Gurnsey.) Rounding out the two-handed fleet is Kokomea (Beneteau First 40.7) skippered by Geoff Faulkner and Stu Morgan.
This small but competitive fleet should see some close racing between the two fully crewed 40 footers, and it’s great to see the highly experienced two handed crews coming back for more racing. And if you have FOMO (that’s a Fear Of Missing Out for you boomers out there) it’s not too late to enter! Or you can follow along with the YB trackers or even participate in the virtual race – more details coming soon.