Seawind Racing at Onepoto Basin

NZRYS Match Racing Report – Quarry Lake
2 August 2026

On a sunny but crisp winter's day, with a light SSW breeze, nine skippers made their way to Quarry Lake for another enjoyable morning of match racing.

In true match racing style, the course was laid straight up and down the lake with starboard mark roundings at both the windward and leeward marks. Racing got underway at 10:05am with an opening contest between Chris (Boat 113) and Dave (Boat 3).

Dave gained the advantage on the first beat after a clean start and held his lead throughout the two-lap race to record the first win of the day. Chris felt Boat 113 wasn't quite "dialled in" and was lacking its usual upwind pace. A few adjustments were made after the race, and they certainly paid off. In his next match against Mike R in Boat 85, Chris returned to winning form, proving the tuning changes had done the trick.

The event ran nicely with 3 match ups racing on the lake at any one time.

As the morning progressed, the conditions became increasingly difficult to read. The breeze fluctuated in both strength and direction, making tactical decisions a real challenge. While the western end of the lake generally held a SSW breeze, the north-eastern end often produced a south-easterly. Boats could remain on the same heading yet go from close-hauled to fully sheeted out within moments. Competitors sailing on opposite sides of the course frequently encountered completely different wind strengths and directions, creating plenty of "luck of the wind gods moments" Sometimes the shifts worked in your favour, and other times they certainly didn't.

A couple of races also suffered from very light air at the start, resulting in boats being unable to enter the start box on time and receiving penalties. Aside from those infringements, it was an exceptionally clean day of racing with no notable port-and-starboard incidents….apart from a couple of ‘too close’ mark roundings that awarded boats the 360 dance.

We were also pleased to welcome Dave's friend Keith, who was having his very first sail of an RC yacht. Taking the helm of Dave's spare Boat 13, Keith showed impressive natural ability. His performance certainly didn't go unnoticed, with plenty of positive comments around the pits suggesting he's one to watch. If his first outing is anything to go by, it may not be long before he's challenging for podium places.

A special congratulations goes to Andrew with boat 9, who scored two wins in his very first match racing event while sailing his newly acquired boat. It looked fantastic on the water and has certainly made an impressive debut.

At the conclusion of racing, Laurie and Dave each finished with four wins to share first equal honours. Chris, Dan, Mike G and Andrew each recorded two wins to finish equal third.

We will update the match racing series standings once Brian our score keeper has returned from his holiday at the end of the month.

Next Sunday we return to Onepoto Lagoon for Winter Series #6 fleet racing. We hope to see everyone there for another great afternoon on the water at the home of NZRYS, the mighty Onepoto Lagoon!

Onepoto Lagoon Algae Report – 25 July 2026
I inspected Onepoto Lagoon today and found that the Pithophora algae at the northern end of the north pond has increased since our inspections last week. Although the algae is also present elsewhere in the north pond, it is currently at lower levels through the central section and down towards the southern end by the bridge, so we should be ok to sail our event there tomorrow.
As Pithophora thrives in fresh water, the recent rainfall may encourage further growth over the coming weeks. We will continue to monitor the situation closely with regular rake scrapes to assess the extent of the algae and any changes in its distribution.
This species of algae typically begins to appear around August each year, so it is somewhat earlier than usual this season. We will keep members updated as conditions develop.

Winter Series #4 – Onepoto Lagoon
19 July 2026
Winter sailing at Onepoto never disappoints, and Round 4 served up another classic afternoon where reading the breeze was more of an educated guess than an exact science.

Arriving just after midday, the carpark was already bursting at the seams. Fortunately, the Electrons were just wrapping up their morning's sailing, and as they packed away, enough spaces magically appeared for the Seawind fleet to roll in. A brief rain shower swept across the lagoon just before racing, sending everyone scrambling into wet-weather gear, but thankfully it was only a passing visitor.

Ten skippers were on the start line for Race 1, with Laurie arriving just in time to join the action from Race 2 onwards, bringing the fleet to an excellent 11 boats.

It was also fantastic to have Lance Allen and Andrew Hunter attend their second event. While both are still finding their feet in the world of RC sailing, they threw themselves straight into the fleet racing experience. Onepoto probably isn't the easiest classroom, with its famous swirling winds and endless shifts, but there's no substitute for time on the water. Every race brings another lesson in boat setup, sail trim, racing strategy, and just how quickly a comfortable lead over another boat can disappear after one unfortunate wind shift. They're both making great progress and it's only a matter of time before they're posting some solid scores.

The excitement arrived early in Race 2 when Peter Newfield became involved in a collision that left his rig folded into the water. In true club spirit, Chris Yates and Mike Renner immediately abandoned their own races to come to Peter's rescue. Within minutes Peter's boat was safely recovered, the rig reassembled, and he was back on the water ready for Race 3 as though nothing had happened. Their selfless efforts certainly didn't go unnoticed, so Chris and Mike have each been awarded average points from their 5 races for Race 2 in recognition of their rescue mission.

As for the racing... well, Onepoto was doing exactly what Onepoto does best.
The breeze wandered around the compass, puffing, fading, shifting left, shifting right, then occasionally gusting or disappearing just to keep everyone honest. Picking the correct tack was tricky as often there was a fine line between being on port or starboard, and more than one skipper watched a healthy lead evaporate in the space of a few boat lengths while someone else tacked or sometimes stumbled into the next pressure line.

Despite the tricky conditions, at times the racing remained incredibly close throughout the afternoon. The fleet often stayed tightly compressed over the 2 lap races, producing several thrilling finishes with packs of boats charging towards the line separated by only a few metres. There were plenty of position changes right to the final leg, ensuring nobody could relax until crossing the line.
Once all the scores (and throw-outs) had finally been untangled, it was Rick, sailing Seawind 234, who emerged on top with an impressive 8 points. Bruce had Seawind 33 absolutely humming all afternoon and deservedly claimed second overall on 11 points, while Dave sailed consistently in the challenging conditions to round out the podium with 18 points.

A big thank you to everyone who came along, especially those lending a hand both on and off the water. It was another afternoon of competitive racing, plenty of laughs, a rescue mission thrown in for good measure, and the usual reminder that at Onepoto, the wind always has the final say.
See you all at the next round, Winter #5, Sunday July 26, Onepoto, 1-3pm.

Fun sailing tomorrow at Onepoto. Looks like sunny skies and light winds. 1pm start.

NZRYS Winter Series 2026 – Scoreboard Update

After Race Day 3 – 5 July 2026

Three race days into the NZRYS Winter Series, the championship is beginning to take shape, with consistency proving to be the key factor in the overall standings.

Bruce Watson has moved into the series lead with a lowest four-score total of 137 points. Strong performances in the last two race days, including a 12 and 15, have seen him open a handy nine-point advantage.

Rick Royden sits in second on 146 points, narrowly ahead of Mike Gardiner (147), Chris Yates (149), and Daniel Leech (150). With just four points separating second through fifth, the battle for the podium remains extremely close.

Dave Larsen is only one point further back on 151, keeping himself well within striking distance of the leading group. Mike Renner occupies seventh on 166, while Tom Clark (183) and Brian Christensen (189) round out the top nine.

With only three race days completed, all competitors still carry several default scores of 55 points that will progressively be replaced as more race days are sailed. This means the leaderboard is expected to change significantly over the coming rounds, and those who continue to post low scores will steadily reduce their championship totals.

The Winter Series resumes on 19 July, with further opportunities for skippers to improve their standings and tighten what is shaping up to be a very competitive championship.

Winter Series #3 – Onepoto LagoonFickle winds, 11 skippers, and another classic day of Seawind fleet racing on the mighty Onepoto Lagoon.
The forecast 8-knot northerly was nowhere to be seen upon our arrival, leaving the fleet to contend with light and highly variable breezes for the first four races. Patience and a healthy dose of luck were the order of the day, with wind shifts constantly reshuffling the fleet and rewarding those who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Thankfully, races five and six saw the forecast breeze finally arrive from the northwest, providing the stronger, more consistent conditions everyone had been hoping for.

We started the afternoon with nine skippers on the water before Peter Newfield arrived in time to join Race 3. Peter, who is relatively new to Seawind sailing, guided his No. 29 boat confidently around the challenging zig-zag course and continues to make steady progress. It's great to see his confidence growing as he learns the ropes.

We were also pleased to welcome Andrew, who took the helm of our club boat, sail No. 4, for his very first Seawind sail. Judging by the smile on his face, it didn't take long for the Seawind bug to bite. Andrew is now keen to own a boat of his own, and we look forward to seeing him become a regular member of the fleet.

The racing itself was a real mixed bag. Everyone enjoyed moments of brilliance, followed by moments they'd probably rather forget. With the challenging conditions, fortunes could change in an instant, and every skipper found themselves on both the winning and losing side of the day's wind lottery at some stage.

Brian had an interesting moment when he declared that his rudder had stopped working as his boat headed helplessly towards the far bank. Fortunately, the mystery was solved after retrieval when a large clump of the dreaded Pithophora algae was found wrapped around the rudder. Unfortunately, it appears the unwanted w**d is making its seasonal return.

At the sharp end of the fleet, Commodore Bruce sailed a superb series of races to take top honours for the day. Dan was hot on his heels, finishing just a single point behind in a well-earned second place, while Tom handled the difficult conditions with great consistency to round out the podium in third.
Next weekend is the Matariki holiday, so instead of championship racing we'll be holding a relaxed afternoon of fun sailing. No doubt a number of members will make their way to Onepoto for some enjoyable social racing and plenty of good company. Who knows... perhaps a chilly bin full of cold refreshments might even make an appearance! 😉

NZRYS Match Racing Scoreboard 2026 – After Round 5 (28 June 2026)
Round 5 has kept the championship tightly contested, with Chris Yates extending his lead to the top of the leaderboard on 31 points after scoring 6 points in the latest round. He now holds a narrow one-point advantage over Bruce Watson, who sits second on 30 points.
The battle for third place is extremely close, with Dave Larsen and Brian Christensen tied on 29 points. Both remain well within striking distance of the leaders.
Laurie Glover is fifth on 27 points, followed by Mike Renner on 26 points, while George Stead (23), Daniel Leech(21), Mike Gardner (20), and Peter Newfield (4) complete the standings.
At this stage, five of the nine scheduled rounds have been completed. Since competitors' best six scores will count towards the championship, there are still four rounds remaining and plenty of opportunity for positions to change. Several sailors have already recorded a zero score, meaning future good results could significantly improve their championship standing once discard scores come into play.

Match Racing #5 – Quarry Lake

Quarry Lake was near-perfect mirror-like conditions when I arrived at 9:15am. By 9:30, a faint southerly ripple began to stir the water, offering hope that more breeze was on the way. Thankfully it did arrive, although it remained light and patchy for most of the morning.

Seven skippers turned up to contest Match Racing #5, with the race matrix completed and racing getting underway right on schedule.

The light, shifting breeze made for some challenging racing. The first windward leg was often a tacking duel, and on a few occasions, the trailing boat would benefit from a timely puff of wind to overtake their opponent and round the windward mark first. The downwind legs were no less demanding, with skippers constantly searching for every breath of breeze, making small gybes to stay connected with the patches of pressure drifting down the course.

With such light winds, getting into the start box on time proved difficult, resulting in several late-entry penalties. Fortunately, once the racing was underway, the standard of sailing was excellent. To my knowledge, there were no on-water infringements during the races—no port/starboard incidents or other rule breaches.

About halfway through the event, the already fickle wind faded even further, so the decision was made to shorten the course to keep the racing on schedule. Fortunately, the breeze returned just enough to keep the boats moving, allowing us to complete the full programme on time.

Many of the races were closely fought, with victory often coming down to who could best read the subtle pressure shifts on the final approach to the finish line.

Congratulations to Bruce for a fine display of match racing, scoring a perfect four wins from four races. Second place was shared by Chris, Brian and Dave with two wins each. Mike R, Dan and Laurie—still sailing with his arm in a sling—shared fifth place on what proved to be a very tricky day on the lake.

Next week we're back at Onepoto Lagoon for fleet racing in our Winter Series. Don't forget to check our website each week for the latest event location and start times!

Onepoto Lagoon Update

We have noticed that the dreaded Pithophora algae has started to carpet the lagoon floor, at least at the northern end of the north pond. It normally begins to appear around August, so it seems to be arriving much earlier this year.

Also, we have noticed a rust-coloured sediment being deposited on the lower section of the path that becomes submerged during high tides. We do not know exactly what this material is; however, it is the same colour as in the murky water, so we suspect it is settling out of the water column. It would be useful to identify this material so we can better understand the contaminants present in the lagoon and their potential sources.

We appreciate that Onepoto Lagoon is a stormwater management facility designed to collect runoff from the surrounding Onepoto Basin before discharging it to the harbour. Naturally, the stormwater will contain a variety of contaminants from the surrounding catchment, including the park and car park. However, this year we have observed that the water has remained consistently murky, even during extended dry periods when very little stormwater runoff has entered the lagoon.

One possible explanation for the persistent murkiness is the breakdown of last year's extensive algal bloom, much of which eventually settled onto the lagoon floor. There was a considerable amount of dead algae remaining after the bloom subsided, and this material may still be contributing to the poor water clarity.

Runoff from the adjacent playing fields is clearly evident in the attached photographs. Our assumption is that it may contain fertiliser or other nutrients, which could contribute to algal growth within the lagoon.

The algaecide application carried out by Council late last year was extremely effective and kept the lagoon largely free of algae until now. We are hopeful that another application can be undertaken before a significant bloom develops. We believe that prevention and early suppression are far preferable to waiting until another major bloom becomes established. Large algal blooms not only degrade water quality and inhibit our ability to sail on the lagoon, but also contribute to the accumulation of organic sediment on the lagoon floor, potentially leading to costly dredging works in the future.

The turbidity boom we installed under the bridge last year is still doing its job. We continue to raise and lower it depending on wind direction, and as you can see, it is very effective in stopping debris from transiting from the south pond to the north pond.

We will continue to monitor the Pithophora growth and hope it does not develop into another uncontrolled bloom like those experienced over the past two years. Early intervention now could avoid a repeat of the significant environmental and recreational impacts experienced in previous seasons.

Winter Series #1 – Onepoto

Seven hardy skippers arrived at Onepoto to be greeted by drizzle and a promising breeze, but things soon changed as the rain became more persistent and the wind faded somewhat. Thankfully, by the scheduled start time, the rain had eased to little more than a light sprinkle and had stopped after the second race.

The breeze, true to Onepoto form, proved to be its usual shifty and unpredictable self, up, down and sometimes from everywhere at once. With the changing conditions and the varying time races were taking to complete, the race committee alternated the races between one and two laps as conditions dictated. The one-lap races tended to favour those starting earlier in the handicap sequence, giving those further back less racetrack and time to make up ground, but over the two hours of racing everything seemed to work out ok.

Mike G unveiled a new mascot aboard Seawind 185, prompting plenty of discussion regarding the possible “windage effect”, with both the pros and cons being debated. There were no incidents to speak of apart from Dan being unable to take the start in Race 6 after discovering a shortage of electrons in his transmitter battery. No doubt he’ll be fully recharged and ready to go next time!

The racing at the top of the fleet was incredibly close. With just a single point separating first and second, and third place only two points further back, it was a tight contest throughout. In the end, Rick sailed consistently to claim top honours by the narrowest of margins over Bruce, while Mike G and his trusty new mascot secured third place.

Another enjoyable afternoon of winter sailing, proving once again that even fickle Onepoto conditions can deliver some close and entertaining racing.