Feb 12, 2008 - Russell Tall Ships Race
by Michel & Jane DeRidder

"One might have wondered if there is anywhere else in the world where a race fleet includes the humble mullet boat, the family cruising yacht, the super-modern, super-sized super-yacht, the refined and graceful classic yacht and that pinnacle of ocean sailing - the square rigged ship..."

...So wrote Christine Hall, one of the many Russell Boating Club organizers of the Annual Russell Tall Ships Race, and the moving force behind it all. (See Russell Lights, Volume 11, Issue 1, 10th January 2008) This annual January tall ships spectacle is more of a visual feast than a race, which is not to say the participants do not take it seriously. There are line and handicap winners in both the Tall Ships and the Classic Invitation categories as well as special trophies awarded to the first gaff-rigged vessel and the first overseas yacht.

Young ones learning the ropes.

Soren Larson simple rig.

We were anchored nearby in Pomare Bay, just as we had in previous years, lying in wait for the signal that indicates things are getting underway - the pall of smoke over Matauwhi Bay as the Hangi fire is lit. We powered through the growing fleet snapping photos as crews learned the ropes before raising sail, though many of the old-timers enter each year manned by the same crew.

Who will go aloft?

Short and tall.

We then anchored around the point from Russell for a race-side seat to watch and snap the seventy varied vessels as they sailed off toward the Nine Pin. Such a treat for all of us nautical 'sticky beakers'. Clouds of sail. Tall ships and small ships. The long and short of it. Yard arms and baggy wrinkle. Lofty rigs. Miniature replicas. A kaleidoscope of yacht designs from well over a century ago to the odd one fresh out of a yard. We seldom miss the Russell Tall Ships Race!

Mixed fleet.

Canvas spread.

We hear that Russell Boating Club volunteers served nearly 900 people from the Hangi underground oven, even though the usual shellfish was missing due to a paralytic shellfish poisoning advisory. As Christine Hall wrote, "Ceremony and feasting completed, everybody relaxed with music and dancing, the "Windjammers' lighting up the Clubhouse dance floor for those who still like to dance holding on to each other, while the rock 'n roll band in the marquee kept the young and restless on their toes until after midnight." (We dragons slept through it all, tucked up in our bunk in Magic Dragon)

Long and short.

Colorful ones.

It is a good thing that the race was held when it was, January 5th, because soon afterwards we suffered a misty moisty week of La Nina-inspired rain and drizzle, fog and mist, and visibility that would have spoiled race-viewing as a nor'easterly wind persisted. We awoke once or twice to temperatures of nearly 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which is to say 27 degrees Centigrade. Once I wore a sou'wester for my pre-breakfast swim as welcome rain filled our water tanks.

Fast ones.

Need crew up there!