All they wanted was some consistent winds but instead the 175 optimist sailors got torrential rain about 3.30pm and news of an earthquake about 5.33pm in Napier yesterday.
The three races scheduled for day four of the five-day Toyota-sponsored national regatta along the Ahuriri waterfront were scuttled yesterday because of "oscillating" or shifty breezes at the Napier Sailing Club-hosted event.
Regatta administrator Adrian Mannering said the wind had to be above 4 to 5 knots, which it was, but major sou'westerley shifts made it difficult to set a proper course for the sea-savvy elite class who will today be divided into gold (top 55), silver and bronze fleets in the hope of squeezing in four races, weather permitting, for a 10am start.
Top national seed Seb Menzies, of Murrays Bay Sailing Club, looks unbeatable after seven rounds.
"It was all over the compass," said Mannering as the open fleet optimists sat on the water from 10am for an 11am start. Race officer Gerald Martin eventually sent them back to shore before calling it a day at 2.45pm.
