The format of the contest also gave the effect of handicapping as every boat had to perform the various skills of Man Overboard, Reefing and sailing backwards as well as sailing off and onto their anchors. Most of the skills had to be completed within certain areas defined by navigational bearings and transits.
Skippers and crew had to leave their outboards behind as they rowed off the beach and out to their boats. Some crews obviously need more practice in some of the skills and others need to simply sail their boats more! The firm 20-25 knot breeze challenged the sailors more yet though the beautiful sunshine gave the day a bright summery feel.
The organisors, Terry Dunn and Jay Lawry, have received many calls from those who took part in the contest saying how much they enjoyed themselves and promising that they will be back next year with more of their friends. Now that the format is shown to work there will be more skills brought in to the contest.
The aim after all is not to have an out and out speed race but rather a challenge to crew work, boat handling and maritime knowledge. Results were given at the Mako Bar in Paihia and the organisors wish to thank Billy and Mielke for their donation of rum for the 5 minute preparatory drink and providing happy hour bar prices all day for spectators.
The steam launch Eliza Hobson from Kerikeri and the 117 year old launch Hinemoa provided on water platforms for the adjudicators of the skills, Robin Bailey of Water Safe Auckland, Mike Hunter of NZ Boating and Carol Forsyth of Coastguard Boating Education.
The Second Marlinespike Seamanship trophy will be contested on the 04th November 2006 and the organisors expect a fleet more than double the size.
Enquiries please to Jay Lawry at the NZMRS (09) 402 7746.
1. Myar, Aorere and Moonlight Sonata
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2. Aorere Logan cutter 1862
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3. Avoid V Class 1936
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4. Cora Mullety
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5. Cora, Bonnie and Lucy at the second mark
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6. Oraganisors Jay Lawry and Terry Dunn discuss the results over a beerx
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7. Bonnie and Myar after the off-the-beach start
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8. Pre race breifing
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9. Inaugural Crew and Skipper photo
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10. The Trophy and one of the NZMRS shirts
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11. Winner of the 2005 Trophy the leeboard ketch Tern
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12. Moonlight Sonata, Myar, Tern, (a hanger-on plastic catamaran) and Avoid run for the first mark
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13. Bonnie
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14. The lovely Aitken designed cutter Myar
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15. Myar with a reef and Avoid with a scandalised main
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16. The 117 year old launch Hinemoa and the Steam launch Eliza Hobson
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1. Name four of the ten ropes found on a sailing vessel.
Most named halyards and sheets but of course we werent talking about that! They were the bell rope, bolt rope, foot rope, tiller rope, man rope, bull rope, back rope, guest rope, keel rope, and buoy rope.
2. What is the origin of the expression between the devil and the deep blue sea?
Some suggested that it had something to do with walking the plank and fate of the ordinary seaman and keel hauling. In fact it refers to the outermost caulking seam on the deck as was difficult to caulk without falling over the side.
3. Who was the master of the ship Resolution in its voyage of discovery between 1775 and 1779?
Not really a trick question. Most thought it was Captain Cook who was actually the Captain and William Bligh was the Master.
4. What day signal must be displayed by a fishing vessel engaged in fishing activities?
Most got some sort of answer for this and two gave the old signal a basket hung in the rigging as opposed to the modern two black triangles points together.
5. Give four different methods of signaling distress.
Morse(SOS), Voice,(Mayday), Flags N over C,V Sheet, Pyrotechnic, Slow raising and lowering of arms, fire in a barrel, National flag upside down, EPIRB. Most got this one.
6. Give another name for Bermudan.
Some said sloop but most got it right with Marconi. The old term leg of mutton got a mention too
7. What is a parbuckle?
Only one got the correct answer of method of raising a cylindrical object, but there were some interesting ones too.
8. Who are the partners?
Besides being the timbers supporting the mast at deck level some said they held up the spreaders; held up the topmast and some simply didnt know
9. On a gaff rigged vessel, from where should the national flag be flown?
Most got this with somewhere up the leach of the main or off the peak of the gaff, although correctly it is one third the distance of the leach from the clew.
10. What time is seven bells?
Most notable answer was RUM TIME!
ITS ACTUALLY 'TOT TIME' you Phillistines.....Jasper
Must be an alcoholic boat that one- 0330, 0730, 1130, 1530, 1930, 2330.
Only a landlubber or a person who has spent their career on the sea with the comfort of air conditioning, hot showers, regular meals and no night watches could talk about RUM TIME. The correct term is TOT TIME a Tot being the measure, eighth of a gill, which was dispensed at midday with an equal measure of water to junior rates. The water was to ensure the rum was not bottled. Senior ratings got their rum neat. If you were on watch at Tot Time you got STOPPAGES. That meant your rum was held in the Regulating Watch to be consumed when Stoppages was piped. Normally in the First Dog.
11. What is the overtaken vessel obliged to do? Seemed to be much confusion over this- hope there isnt on the water. Answer- maintain course and speed, not give room to overtake.
12. Where would you find the tumblehome?
Most knew that it was where the deck was narrower than the hull usually somewhere aft.
13. What sound signals does a vessel over 30 metres make when in fog?
Again a lot of confusion about this one.
14. What was the name of the first Pakeha built vessel in New Zealand?
It is considered to have been the Herald built by the missionary Henry Williams in the 1830s. She was about 70 tons and built on the beach near where the Trophy was contested. Captain Cook is thought to have had a boat built in the Marlborough Sounds in the 1700s.
15. How many stopwaters has your vessel?
Usually one per keel scarf. So long as an answer was given that indicated they knew what a stopwater was they were given the point.
