A number of our members will have seen the Brooklands yacht sitting on her trailer at the Club. She is an Alan Roper designed and built 9 meter race boat. Some background on her is at https://boatingnz.co.nz/boat-reviews/roper-9000/
After securing sponsorship support from Mark and Todd, Barry (also the owner of Joanne on P92) bought the boat back in Oct 22. The negotiations were concluded on the basis of removal from the mooring the following weekend. So on a blustery afternoon (NE 25 -30) Barry hauled sails, rudder and outboard out to the boat and sailed her down from her mooring at Mahurangi to the Club for the start of a big clean and refit for single handed sailing. After 2 years sitting unattended on a mooring the sail was more consistent with leaning into a guano blizzard but even with a dingy strapped on the bow and a beard growing below the waterline the boat showed off her down wind credentials.
The single handed series Barry competes in is run by the Richmond Yacht Club and the 2 Handed series is run by SSANZ. If you want to have a squiz at the first 2 handed race on the boat (pretty lively) then follow this link https://www.ssanz.co.nz/ssanz-videos/ and click on Race 1.
The boat was initially campaigned by the designer fully crewed and has proven to be a bit tender without some "rail meat" so over the next 6 or so weeks Barry will be forging and fitting a new bulb to help her get upwind a bit better. Down wind she is already quick with an 18.4knt SOG recorded during a homeward surf in the Waiheke Channel (back paddock) recently.
If you see Barry on the boat then stop in to share some stories and keep your eyes peeled for regular updates here on our Club site as the 2024/25 campaign progresses.
