Zephyr sailors pack up fast when there's curry on the line

Zephyr sailors, or Zed'ers as I sometimes call them, can't get enough of these 11 foot little boats. As well as the standard club racing on a Sunday, they also love a good Tuesday session at Manly Sailing Club and a Wednesday sesh at Murrays Bay Sailing Club. They gather from around 4–4:30pm, lay their own marks and head out for some short course training.

I couldn't make the on-water part this Wednesday (28 October), but I rocked up to the post-race dinner and debrief anyway. After popping by, I've come to learn that sailing is the excuse, and the curry at the Cinnamon Club Indian restaurant, just across the road from Murrays Bay Sailing Club, is the reason!

I've never seen these guys pack their boats up faster! They were off the water and, boom, straight in for a curry. Kingfisher beer was handed out all round, and the most tasty of curries were ordered. There were 13 sailors at the table, all of them talking absolute rubbish about how their afternoon went. Actually, I think they were talking about other things, but that doesn't really matter. The whole point is to get together, have some camaraderie and go for a sail. Zephyr is the excuse and the curry is the reason.

One of the giggly parts of the evening was watching them all try and remember where they placed in each race so they could get some kind of results lists. But eventually a few of them gave up on remembering, and just placed themselves where they think they (should have) finished!

I'm aiming to do some of these Wednesdays, so I thought it was important to check out the post-race, post-training obsession they have with curry. I've got to say, this is how sailing should be! An hour and a half on the water, then back in for some decent food and some solid banter.

I certainly looked like I didn't belong. I was the only one at the table with a 4 at the start of my number, and the only female, so it did look rather odd. But my soul is about the average age of these guys, so I didn't feel out of place, and that's the important part.

There was a lot of chat going on, and even some actual pen and napkin art. One can't simply have a curry, one must also draw foils and discuss the best shape and length of a Zephyr centreboard!

Next up: Taupo

The fleet is gearing up for the North Island Championships at Taupo on the weekend of 7–8 November. That's the next time my little red Zephyr, Julie, and I will be on the water.

These guys get a few more chances before then. They can sail at either Manly Sailing Club or Point Chevalier Sailing Club on Sunday 1 November, and there's another cheeky Tuesday or Wednesday sesh before they hook up their trailers and head for some fresh water sailing on Lake Taupo. I'll meet them there!