It may be coincidental but a pod of pilot whales deemed it
safer to beach themselves rather than take their chances in the Tasman Sea
where Gill was sailing the 2014 New Zealand Laser Class National championships.
Gill’s departure from the Nelson Bay Yacht Club was reminiscent of Mike’s golf whose first tee shot invariably bounces off the club house windows. The whales scuttled off to Golden Bay on seeing a Laser heading upside down out of the Nelson harbour borne along in the teeth of a 30 knot gale.
Wisely the race committee decided to delay the start until the wind had died down and most of their competitors were facing the right side up. After 7 hours on the water a race was eventually completed on the first day.
The gale continued the next day and the city of Nelson was explored while the race committee dithered as to their responsibilities for the whales’ safety. Common sense eventually prevailed and racing for that day was cancelled. However by then the tide had turned for the whales and they were left stranded.
The following two days were not much better for either the whales or their tormentor. Nine were so far gone that they were euthanized, an option that was not extended to the sailors although some opted out and surrendered to the U flag on the 3rd day.
Granny persevered with the 20 knot winds, 3-4 metre tides and consequent currents and finished 18/23, a result consistent with her previous NZ National Championship attendances, i.e. the only woman among the Grand Master competitors and placed:
2009 New Plymouth: 17th
of 23Gill’s departure from the Nelson Bay Yacht Club was reminiscent of Mike’s golf whose first tee shot invariably bounces off the club house windows. The whales scuttled off to Golden Bay on seeing a Laser heading upside down out of the Nelson harbour borne along in the teeth of a 30 knot gale.
Wisely the race committee decided to delay the start until the wind had died down and most of their competitors were facing the right side up. After 7 hours on the water a race was eventually completed on the first day.
The gale continued the next day and the city of Nelson was explored while the race committee dithered as to their responsibilities for the whales’ safety. Common sense eventually prevailed and racing for that day was cancelled. However by then the tide had turned for the whales and they were left stranded.
The following two days were not much better for either the whales or their tormentor. Nine were so far gone that they were euthanized, an option that was not extended to the sailors although some opted out and surrendered to the U flag on the 3rd day.
Granny persevered with the 20 knot winds, 3-4 metre tides and consequent currents and finished 18/23, a result consistent with her previous NZ National Championship attendances, i.e. the only woman among the Grand Master competitors and placed:
2011 Torbay, Auckland: 18th of 28
2013 Napier: 18th of 24
