Planing...

Collector Inspector · Post by **Collector Inspector** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:41 am

KnOath, my 14 year old daughter in a K'noo with her Anzani Pilot full wombats makes very nice progress ON the water. I get in and...............say no more.

Regards

C.I.

Post by **Charles uk** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:07 am

The Waikato Seagull race is 87 miles over 2 days.

The Andy Pandy suit is just common sense, have a look on Google Earth at the Waikato, it flows north from Lake Taupo through Hamilton almost to Auckland.

The race starts in the outlet from a hydro electric power station at Karapiro, nobody swimming there, then into the rapids, boats have been lost there never to be seen again, through a gorge for several miles I think you'd choose to stay in the water than try to climb out, & there's 80 more miles of beautiful scenery.

Whatever style of boat, you need to be able to work on the engine, could one of the Kiwi's post a pic of "Quo Farata Ferunt" a Carbon fibre looks like a rowing 8 built by team New Zealand of the America's cup fame.

Seek via google & ye might find.

I've asked John Crighton for a bit of input, no one has won it more times than him, he should know.

I don't know how many races there are in NZ each year, but it must be 10 +.

John Crighton · Post by **John Crighton** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:10 pm

In New Zealand a dedicated bunch of "speed freaks" headed up by Team New Zealand [of yachting fame] shore crew set the planing benchmark in 1996, with a 28ft pencil hull with outriggers, powered by a 5R achieved 21.4mph over the full race distance of 88miles, the hull is a round chine semi displacement hull.. this record was further raised 2 years later by yours truly in the same hull, but powered by a highly modified reed valve equipped 102, mated to a Yamaha leg , by about 1mph, at this point there was a definite switch to short hulls of between 10 12 ft to take advantage of the extra power available from those crappy Sport motors, they have to be virtually rebuilt after every outing, breaking crankshafts, stripping gearboxes, breaking drveshafts , when the Eytelyans do it they do it well.. currently we have separated the Sport motors away from the other seagulls and run them in their own class out of fear that their bad habits will somehow transfer too the old girls ... your man Charles UK came South last Easter and humbled us with his 170, setting a new record for old motors at 25+ mph, and you doubt that these hulls plane?

Post by **Charles uk** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:08 pm

Nice to see your input JC, can you see if you can encourage any of your country men that are more computer literate than you or I, to post a few pictures here, that they think will demonstrate their achievments.

rosbullterier · Post by **rosbullterier** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:52 pm

You will find, my dear Antipodian counterpart, that as you travel in the passage of time that all before you is not necessarily as straightforward as appears.

A race, although stated in your local dictionary as 'a contest of speed', is also expanded in other erudite tomes of literature as 'any competion or rivalry'.

What this is, or against whom, I am afraid is not worth explaining to your mechanically minded self. Because I don't think you would understand.

However, see you on the 20th and all will be clear. And I'll buy you a pint of the real foaming mind bender.

Horsley-Anarak · Post by **Horsley-Anarak** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:36 pm

Will you buy me one as well? (and one for the one on crutches)

I fully, as a newbie understand what it is all about.

It is just for fun.

Why else would any one mess about with foul, noisy, dirty, non cost effective, smelly, dangerous old outboards.

We could use nice quiet, green, CE marked, non polluting engines but then we would be the same as everyone else.

6 days and counting, hope we get a better day than yesterday.

H-A

rosbullterier · Post by **rosbullterier** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:20 pm

It is restfull to the soul to realise there are Englishmen left.

Last Saturday at Lerryn the Doom was a bit, well, not tip top - but the Tribute was excellent.

We have have already discussed the quaffing of the apre race fluid.

If your good lady requires support, mine is very supportive . . .

pistnbroke · Post by **pistnbroke** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:35 pm

so what we are saying is its 88 miles up a particular river .....so we carnt duplicate this all over the world or even in england....

Is there not a class for a 1km or 1 mile two way dash ....dont remember Donald Cambell doing 88 miles in Bluebird !!

and it seems 25 mph is top wack .....

Horsley-Anarak · Post by **Horsley-Anarak** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:02 pm

My top wack with the wind behind me will be about 6 miles per hour, my main aim for the race is to make it to the finish.

From what I can see seagull racing is the same as many other events,
bit of exertion followed up by a couple of beers with like minded friendly folk.

Better still there is no spherical or not quite spherical air filled leather bag involved, and no sound of leather hitting willow. What more could you want from old engine boating activity. (Bit of sun would be good, if I had the money I would do the one in Bermuda).

H-A

Post by **Charles uk** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 12:18 am

As you will know from looking at the pictures, the little yellow boat I borrowed in NZ had a fully imersed prop whereas the grey one was surface piercing, a gentleman with your knowledge will be able to estimate the performance improvement if there was any.

Both of the big races, can on a medium to bad days, can be a very bruising pastime.

In Bermuda your out in the open sea, when off the South shore, often at the bottom of a swell, where unless your standing, you can't see the green bit which you have to keep on your left.

While in NZ it's just rapids, rocks, submerged trees, sand bars, very shallow water and sometimes a very vicious wind over tide chop.

And the "couple" adjective in the "couple of beers " expression, is not in common usage in either of those 2 locations.

John Crighton · Post by **John Crighton** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:20 am

Believe you me after 88 miles or 45miles as in Bermuda.... after the plotting and scheming required to get a good boat/motor combination too the start line, the race is an anticlimax... the winner is the last man or woman standing after the prizegiving.. for those "doubting thomases" re a102 capable of maitaining 22+mph for 88 miles, that motor is carefully stacked away waiting its next outing,it is available for your inspection, during the first week in April 2009 ....all it will cost you is a return air fare .. while you are here lets hook you up with a boat and you can do the "great Race" .. We'll even pick you up from Auckland Airport and deliver you back to the airport after the race, cant have enjoying our country too much.... besides we have a full quota of refugee Poms now.