Fine conditions overshadow a slow start

AT PACE: Steinlager II uses its double spinnakers to chase down Kaloha during the Millennium Cup.PHOTO/ PETER DE GRAAF

Stunning conditions and close racing have greeted competitors for this week's Bay of Islands Sailing Week.

However, light winds hampered the efforts of many yesterday, with many recalls and races being held-off until the wind got up.

On Day Two, Thursday, sunshine and a light but steady breeze greeted around 1,000 sailors.

The conditions only improved throughout the day - the breeze filling to a reasonably consistent 10-12 knot westerly throughout the extensive race area.

Racing was incredibly close in A division, but it was the new Beau Geste which continued to prove her dominance among the TP52s.

Combined with her results from yesterday, Beau Geste sits in a comfortable lead in the series results for A division.

After her disappointing third on line in race 1 yesterday, helmsman Gavin Brady will doubtless be pleased with his crew's rapid improvement.

Local TP52 Kia Kaha and her amateur crew put in another day of solid performances, but it wasn't quite enough to hold onto second place in the series, Viento just nudging ahead of them by one point on IRC, and V5 taking a two-point lead over them on PHRF.

In B division, the owner of Lawless was shore-bound for the day, leaving his crew of young hot shots from the RNZYS Youth Development Squad to sail the boat without its captain.

An early protest from Anarchy left race officials wondering if the youngsters were taking liberties, but whatever their tactics, they appear to be working, with Lawless currently sitting top of the board on IRC.

E division was just about anyone's game, but was definitely Martin Clark's day on Day Two - his green machine Vertigo taking out two of the three races today. Current series results put Tony Poolman's Elevation in pole position though, with a 6-point lead over Vertigo, and Cees Romeyn's Nexus in third.

The GC32s didn't disappoint again on Day Two either, putting on a spectacular show.

Full results for day 1, day 2 and day 3 can be found here: http://www.topyacht.net.au/results/2016/boisw/index.htm.