Tactics produced a win for Savvy Sailors carrying Tohu

Over one hundred hardy sailors braved the elements in the Cook Strait yesterday to deliver and release the new vintage 2012 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to the capital.

The Westerly wind was gusting up to 29 knots on the start line which was situated outside the Tory Channel entrance. The air was intense and the yachts were eager to start. With many over the line too early, they returned and all crossed the start line without disqualification. The wind decreased to a near stationary 2 knots half way across the strait. It built up again allowing the winning yacht ‘Nefertiti’, skippered by Mike Vining, carrying Tohu Sauvignon Blanc 2012 to take out the Line Honours and Handicap of this year’s race in 5 hours 34 minutes. 2nd on Handicap was Slingshot, skippered by Clive Ballett, carrying Lake Chalice. ‘Real Deal’ was 3rd on handicap carrying Nautilus.

Committee chairperson Juliet Abbott, reported that the fleet divided into two as tacticians decided to direct their yachts to sail either a northerly or southerly passage across the Strait. “The breeze died down and waters were glassy, wind indicators were reading zero off Island Bay! Research of the tides paid off for some however the race finish cut off time was 1630. Unfortunately 5 yachts were unable to reach the finish line in time, scoring a ‘Did not finish’.”

Each of the seventeen yachts carried on board a bottle of 2012 Sauvignon Blanc in a padlocked wooden wine box. The nineteen wineries participating this year were: Lawson’s Dry Hills, Cloudy Bay, Spy Valley, Saint Clair, Mud House, Waipara Hills, Fairhall Downs, Villa Maria, Yealands, Stanley Estates, Lake Chalice, Nautilus Estate, Alan Scott, Whitehaven, Ara, Giesen, Two Rivers, Staete Landt and Tohu.

Representatives for Wine Marlborough and Destination Marlborough co-ordinated a tasting of the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc for media, event managers and wine aficionados onboard the luxurious super yacht, Pacific Eagle at Queens Wharf. Kate Cameron, from Wine Marlborough, said “This event has huge potential and there are many opportunities for its development with restaurant, trade and media in Wellington. With all the focus on yachting next year with the America’s Cup, this is a great opportunity to take the event to the next level”.

The race, named WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race, began in 2001. It marks the official launch and release of the Marlborough regions new vintage Sauvignon Blanc wines. Sponsors include WineWorks Marlborough, Indevin, Label Professionals, Harcourts Rural, Amcor Glass, Oddies Marine, Vintech Pacific and Mediasuite. Sponsors, media and committee sailed to Wellington on the luxurious super yacht ‘Pacific Eagle’ while sampling some of the best wine and food Marlborough has to offer.

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