Tāmaki Estuary Cascade and Motu Challenges – 1 and 2, 2024
| Regatta 1 | Regatta 2 | |
| Days | October 12 & 13 | November 23 & 24 |
| Registration | 11:30 | 10:30 |
| Briefing | 12:30 | 11:30 |
| Earliest Start | 13:00 | 12:00 |
| High Tide | 15:14, 16:17 | 14:06, 15:00 |
- Registration will take place just north of the boat ramp at The Parade, Bucklands Beach on Day 1 of each weekend regatta.
- The type of event for the day will be decided based on the weather conditions and announced at the briefing and verbal sailing instructions given. The event could be an equipment tuning and coaching session, course racing, slalom races, team sailing, or the ‘Cascade’ or “Motu Challenge”.
General Sailing Instructions
- Registration, rigging and start will be north of the Boat Ramp, the Parade Bucklands Beach.
- Verbal sailing instructions will be given at the briefing 30 minutes prior to the start.
- Outside assistance may be given to carry equipment to the water and to hold it in position prior to starting.
- Sailors and those giving assistance for starting may not interfere with other sailors and shall sign a waiver prior to racing to recognise the potential risks of injury and will not hold the event organisation or sailors involved to account in case of injury or damage.
- The start line area will be described at the briefing.
- Life jackets must be worn at all times while afloat.
Open Beach Start Sequence.
- All sailors will be required to start on the same tack which, will be identified at the briefing.
- 3 Minute flag and sound signal. Carry boards down to water line and then carry rigs down and connect – [if they haven’t already.]
- 2 Minute flag and sound signal. Sailors get the board and rig into the water in a beach start position.
- 1 Minute Flag and sound signal. Sailors must have one foot or two feet on the beach prior to and at the start signal.
- The start signal is random and can be any time from 30 seconds after the 1-minute signal.
- An early starter may be called by an umpire to do 360 degree turns until the umpire is satisfied that sailor is in last position in the race. Handicap
Beach Start Sequence.
- The fleet will have a handicap starting order from a previous race/s.
- The starting direction/tack will be designated at the briefing.
- The first starter starts to leeward of the second starter and so on.
- Starters will start in 5 second intervals signalled by a sound signal and flag drop.
- An early starter may be called to do 360 degree turns until the on the water umpire is satisfied the offender is in last position overall.
Standard On the Water Start Line Start Sequence
6 minute Warning Signal
5 minute Class Flag
1 minute Prep Signal
0 Start.
Tamaki Estuary Cascade
Cascade Course Marks
- Start at Big Bucklands Beach north of the Boat Ramp.
- Sail south up the Tamaki Estuary, round the principal rounding point to port – Western 3 Concrete & steel markers close to state highway 1.
- The finish line is between a buoy or boat on the water and a flag where the start was on Bucklands Beach. The finish line will be identified at the briefing.
A map of the course is attached to identify hazards and the sailing area.
Cascade Instructions
- If a sailor sees a sailor in the fleet sailing towards the entry of the Tamaki Estuary, sailors may then head to the finish.
There is a prize for the sailor that is first to round the principal rounding point. [3 x western concrete & steel structures]
Motu Challenge
“Motu” is a Māori & Polynesian word for “Island” The 3 islands in the Hauraki gulf that are suitable for weekend events are Motukorea [Browns Island], Motuihe and Motutapu.
Concept & format.
At these events, sailors race to a location, finish the first leg on or next to the island, then rest, recover and then can explore the island.
The next start is a handicap start, in the reverse order of the previous race finishing results. This should mean for the second race, the fleet will finish closer together. Overall results will be from cumulative points.
Racing Rules alteration
Sailors shall observe the Windsurfer Class rules regarding kinetics, however, if the wind drops below 4 knots of wind for that sailor, sailors may pump the sail or paddle the board until the wind exceeds 4 knots again. Sailors may walk with or carry their equipment along a shoreline or over land during a race.
Standard on the Water Start / Finish line
The starting line, starting sequence and finish line will be described at the briefing and generally follow standard Windsurfer Class procedures.
A handicap on the water start will start sailors in 5 second intervals with the sailor who finished last in the previous race will start first.
The starting order will be given verbally before leaving the shore.
Motu Challenge Course
This will be described at the briefing.