Smooth Sailing
Sailing
News By A Sailor For Sailors!
In association with Royal Natal Yacht Club, Henley Midmar Yacht Club
, South African
Hunter Class Association and Sailing
KZN.
www.smoothsailing.co.za
505 Worlds
Saturday
afternoon’s Dinghy Racing in Durban was a fairly exciting affair in a
freshening north easterly breeze that progressively chased the fleet away as it
grew. Three races were sailed on a fairly short harbour mark course that the
fleet seemed to be able to get around in no time. The Flying Fifteens provided
the most action of the afternoon with the near sinking of one boat after a
fairly large collision at the start of the afternoon’s second race. A trip to
the Smooth Sailing
web site will reward you not only with a fantastic picture of one
Flying Fifteen planning down the Maydon Channel in fine style but also some
pics of the damaged boat after it had been saved from a watery grave and was
back safely on dry land. For the rest there were some exciting downwind legs
and some screaming reaches but also some backbreaking beats, especially for the
Laser sailors. The results of the afternoons sailing are not yet available but
will be posted on the Smooth Sailing web site just as soon as they are.
Sunday’s There and
Back Race took place offshore in some very rugged conditions. A fresh north
easter made even bigger the big sea that Saturday’s north easter had developed
so those who ventured out and headed upwind towards Umghlanga certainly deserve
a prize just for their commitment if nothing else. Two racing keelers, two cats
and four cruising class keelers ventured out onto the ocean for the race with
all but one of the cruisers making it to the finish. Quickest around the course
was Gavin Davies Tornado, 3M Innovation. He was followed over the line by Bill
Ellens’ Magic Dragon. Handicapping a fleet like this is next to impossible so
the results were scored in three categories with the winners of each as
follows:
Racing Keelers: Dockleveller
Supplies L26 Nigel Milln
Cruising Keelers: Chatur Theta Greg Challis
Cats: 3M innovation Tornado Gavin Davies
The RC Laser Christmas
Regatta took place down at the pond on Sunday and by all accounts it was a
grand affair. Judging by the reports it is hard to tell which was better, the
sailing or the lunch! Probably both actually! A visit to the RC Laser web site,
in fact directly to http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/rclaser_world/fxregatta.html, will reveal
some interesting pics not only of good sailing but also of a bunch of sailors
strolling up and down the side of the pond wearing Father Xmas hats! As if RC
Laser sailing wasn’t a strange enough sport already. The northeasterly breeze
made for perfect sailing conditions and 8 races were sailed before it was time
to go to lunch. You can find the full results by clicking on the above link but
in the meantime the top three positions were as follows:
1st Peter Simons 9 Points
2nd Norrie Taylor 20
3rd Terry Flynn 27
Saturday saw the Maritzburg Radio
Yacht Club sailing their monthly league event at Midmar Dam instead of at
their regular venue just above the Dusi Wier. The following report on what
sounds like a very enjoyable days sailing came from Des Fairbank:
“The Maritzburg Radio Yacht Club
decided to move its normal Saturday League event from the Duzi to Midmar
sailing from in front of the Morgenzon Camp site. Robin McIntosh had taken his caravan up for the week so I decided
to take mine up on Saturday morning and spend the night there as well.
We attracted 11 36" Shipmates
and when we arrived the wind was blowing around 10knots from over the wall.
Being at the opposite end of the dam the chop was fairly high. Much debate took
place re the sail to use and when the first race started the majority of boats
were on "A" rig. They handled the conditions extremely well although
care had to be taken when tacking otherwise you ended up stalling.
By the time we had completed seven
races many of the skippers were calling for time to change to "B"
Rig. The last three races were sailed on "B" Rig and many skippers
were heard saying that the boat was more
manageable now.
The chop certainly introduced
another dimension for the majority of MRYC Skippers who only sail on the Duzi.
The results of the top seven after
ten races and two discards was:
1st Des Fairbank 8 Points
2nd Robert Stenner 20
3rd Antony Metcalf 23
4th Keith Gerson 27
5th Caroline Stephens 45
6th Martin Stephens 46
7th Robin McIntosh 52
Also on the water although not
racing was a converted Vane "A" Class yacht. This boat was sailed in
the distant past by Keith Gerson at Fleetwood in the UK when he finished second
with it in an International against the best Vane Sailors in the sport. The
boat weighs around 70Lbs and had no difficulty ploughing through the chop. A
great site.
After the sailing we all enjoyed a
Braai around the two caravans. A different event that was enjoyed by all who
sailed. There were even calls for the club to do this once a month.
Des Fairbank
Commodore MRYC”
As so often
happens in the sport of yacht racing the record breaking conditions being
enjoyed by the Monarch Assurance Governors Cup Race fleet evaporated
overnight. Suddenly what looked like a sure record turned into an average race
time for the line honours leader, Monarch Assurance Beluga. Her revised ETA
should see her arriving in St Helena sometime this morning. What the dying breeze
does mean is that the handicap positions of the bigger boats should improve as
time goes by if the wind stays light. Pintado, the SA Navy’s Muira, is still
holding onto her handicap lead but she has 460 odd miles still to sail so a
further drop in wind conditions could effect her badly. Currently in second
place on the water and one handicap the Simonis 35 Our Diane Monarch Insurace,
which has some 260 odd miles left to sail would seem to be the best placed
boat. She should be able to finish quickly enough to protect her handicap
position and will benefit from any further drop in the wind strength while her
competitors are still at sea. Visit the event web site at www.thegovernorscup.com. In the meantime
the top three places in the IRC Handicap division are as follows:
1st Pintado Muira
30 Richard Moseley 486 miles to go
2nd Our Diane – Monarch
Assurance Simonis 35 Rian Leisegang 276 miles to go
3rd SA Eagle Paragon Ocean 31 Peter Martin 434 miles to go
The semi-final round of the Louis Vuitton Cup was scheduled to start today but as has happened with every round
of this regatta so far the days racing was called off due to too much wind
blowing again! So instead of going sailing the focus remains clearly on the
legal issues with the Arbitration Panel issuing it’s ruling on the One World
case yesterday. It is all very complicated but the long and the short of it is
that one of the One World designers admitted that at one stage he had in his possession
a computer disk containing Team New Zealand design information. This
information was the property of Team New Zealand and this information had not
previously been declared by One World in the earlier Arbitration hearing. So,
the panel found against One World and ordered not only that they pay the costs
of the hearing, $65 000-00, but also that they be docked a further point in
each of the rounds in which they sail in both the Louis Vuitton Cup and the
Americas Cup Regattas. One World feel that they have been hard done by
especially since they admitted to the panel that they had the information and
that the panel rejected all evidence submitted by Team Dennis Conner and Prada,
which had led to the hearing. Team Dennis Conner on the other hand feel that
One World have got off lightly and although they accept the panels decision
have made clear their disappointment at it. All very complicated and quite
frankly focusing attention in the wrong direction when it would be so much
better to see everyone concentrating on the racing. Hopefully by tomorrow that
will be the case again. For more information visit the regatta web site at http://www.louisvuittoncup.yahoo.com/.
The 505 Worlds started yesterday in Freemantle, Western
Australia. The regatta web site does not seem to be updated with results and
informationa s it should be which is a pity for such an elaborate and clearly
carefully constructed site. If you are interested pop by and take a look at www.505.com.au but if you want something just a little
more exciting take a look at www.aussiesinaction.com.au where you will find masses of pictures of last
weeks pre-worlds regatta, the Aussie Nationals. The regatta, which was won by
former world champion Howie Hamlin of the USA, was sailed in outstanding
conditions and some of the pictures are just fantastic. Take a look, it is well
worth your while.
The Royal Natal Yacht Club are looking at organising a
Race Officers Course during the early part of 2003. Those interested in doing this course should
contact either John Lupton-Smith on 0833014775 or Nikki on 031-3015425. A
course of this nature is a good way not only to improve your own skills and
knowledge but also add to the pool of experienced and suitable trained people
to run racing.
Our Notices of Race page on the Smooth Sailing has all the NOR’s available to us. If you
have a regatta coming up and would like to make the NOR available online then
e-mail it to hethcot@iafrica.com and it will be posted and
listed in this newsletter. To get your copy simply click on the name of the
regatta you are interested in below:
Regatta Venue Dates
Western Cape Points Series Various WC Dinghy Clubs September 2002 to
March 2003
KZN Optimist Grand Prix Series Various KZN Venues November to
January
Sailing KZN Blue
Water Challenge Various KZN
Clubs December
2002 to July 2003
Sangoma Race Durban
to Richard’s Bay 6 December
Hunter KZN
Championships Royal
Natal Yacht Club 14 to 16
December
Table Bay International
Race Week Royal Cape Yacht Club 14 to 20 December
Junior Nationals Aeolians Club, Vaal Dam 14 to 21 December
Sprog Nationals Henley
Midmar Yacht Club 27 to 30 December
Stadt 23 Western
Province Champs Theewaters
Sports Club 28 & 29
December & 4 & 5 January
AFYC Fun Regatta 2002/2003 Albert
Falls Yacht Club 31
December & a January
2003 Cape to Rio Race Royal Cape Yacht Club 11 January 2003
NNYU Interclub Challenger –
Leg 4 Glendee Yacht Club 15 & 16
March 2003
IRC KZN Champs (Announcement) Zululand Yacht Club 21 to 23 March 2003
Western Province Dinghy
Champs Saldahana Bay 18 to 21
April 2003
The Classifieds has been updated on the Smooth Sailing web site. Take a surf past to see what is for sale or sought after in the wanted column. To place an ad, e-mail the details to hethcot@iafrica.com.
Lying on Vaaldam
Full racing inventory
Full saftey gear
Winner Keelboat week
1998
Class Winner of NCS
2000
3rd Keelboat week 2002
5hp Longshaft Yamaha
Tender
R 25,000
Contact: Wendy
Cell: 082 490 8060
Mistral (22')
Mooring (Midmar Dam).
2 tenders, main sail, genoa, # 1 jib,
storm jib & spinnaker.
2 h.p out-board motor,safety equip
& extras.
Contact: Eddie
Cell: 082-5523-224
E-mail: bemulti@telkomsa.net
Excellent condition R5000.00
Contact: Eddie
Cell: 082-5523-224
E-mail: bemulti@telkomsa.net
In good
condition
Comes with
trailer and life jackets
R3000
Contact:
Kevin Stoffberg
E-mail: kevin@sai.co.za
Sailing
dinghy
Preferably
good condition,
Under R2000 or
swop with
a very good
condition FINN
Contact: Kyle
Cell: 082
9404458
IN REASONABLE CONDITION
CONTACT: ALAN
on 072 119 8040
OR
HUGH on
033-344 2537
For sailing at
Midmar
Preferably with trailer
Contact:
Kevin Stoffberg
E-mail: kevin@sai.co.za
Andrew Heathcote
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 783 8805
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