Smooth Sailing
Sailing
News By A Sailor For Sailors!
In
Association with:
The Official Web Site of the 2003 Lipton Cup
Manex
Marine Lipton Cup Competitions
Henley
Midmar Yacht Club AGM & Prizegiving
The IRC KZN Champs, which took place at the Zululand Yacht Club in Richard’s Bay this
weekend, attracted a diverse fleet of 11 yachts. This regatta marked the first time that the IRC Class has sailed
a provincial or national championship in South Africa and it surely won’t be
the last. It took a while for the wind to fill in properly on Saturday morning.
When it did the fleet got away cleanly for one windward leeward race in an
easterly breeze that didn’t get much above ten knots. Betelgeuse, the Gauteng
based Mount Gay 30, cleaned up both on the water and on corrected time with the
light winds and flat seas clearly to her linking. An early finish allowed the
fleet to get back to the pub in time to watch the second half of the rugby and
that is where many stayed until the early hours of the following morning.
Sunday dawned cold, wet and windy and with the first race scheduled to start at
09:00 it was an early start for everyone. Those who had kept the bar open until
all hours certainly paid the price with lumpy seas not helping the situation.
Several crewmembers were seen with their heads over the rail feeding the fish
throughout the day. With rain squalls coming through at regular intervals there
were some serious variations in wind strength and direction. Keeping on top of
the variations required both skill and luck. Two races were sailed before the
race officer thankfully decided to send the fleet back to the harbour. What’s
not certain though is whether he sent them back because he felt sorry for them
or because he was feeling the effects of bouncing around on the ocean himself.
Either way, it was a very welcome decision. The Durban based L34 Close Again
won the first race of the day with Betelgeuse second. The positions were
reversed for the second race of the day. Harry Ellen’s Simonis 35, Ciao Bella,
finished third in both races and after recording a second in the first race of
the regatta was also in a very strong overall position at this stage. On Sunday
evening the pub was strangely quiet. I have no idea why? Monday provided the
best sailing of the regatta. After another early start a north easterly breeze
filled in quickly peaking at around 16 knots. Close Again won the first race of
the day, race four of the regatta, with Betelgeuse again in second and Ciao
Bella third. The fifth and final race was won by Ciao Bella from Close Again
and Chris Frost’s Fast 42 Prodigy with Betelgeuse being disqualified after a
protest. This left Close Again as the overall winner on a tiebreak with
Betelgeuse second and Ciao Bella third. All in all it was a great regatta with
some good racing and a great atmosphere on and off the water. The Zululand
Yacht Club really went out of their way to make sure that the event went off
smoothly, which it did, and with a windsurfing regatta and an Optimist training
camp on the go at the same time the club really was a hive of activity. The IRC
Rating system provided some good close results and once again proved to be a fair
and equitable system. It can surely be the only rating system with any
credibility in being used in the country at the moment, which is probably why
SAS have sanctioned provincial and national championships under it. The full
results, including the individual race results have been published on the
Smooth Sailing web site. They make for interesting reading and show just how
well the system works. The top five places in the regatta were as follows:
|
POSITION |
YACHT |
TYPE |
SKIPPER |
POINTS |
|
1st |
Close
Again |
L34 |
Andrew Heathcote |
6 |
|
2nd
|
Betelgeuse |
Mount
Gay 30 |
Mark
Sadler |
6 |
|
3rd |
Ciao
Bella |
Simonis
35 |
Harry
Ellens |
9 |
|
4th |
Skitzo |
Fast
42 |
Leo
Kroone |
15 |
|
5th |
Prodigy |
Fast
42 |
Chris
Frost |
16 |
The second big regatta of the weekend was the L26 KZN Champs, which took place from the Point Yacht
Club in Durban. A strong fleet of fifteen boats including three Cape and five
Gauteng entries took part in the regatta. Chris Rudham submitted the following
regatta report:
“The
KZN L26 Class Provincials 2003 were sailed offshore Durban on 14-16 June long
weekend. The weathermen had the 3 day forecast spot on and the weather dished
up a feast of sailing conditions with the low pressure system that promised for
the Saturday actually happening. This provided a range of conditions that could
not in any way be described as idyllic but rather as testing, but then that,
after all, is what a Provincials at this level of sailing should be all about!
The
fleet comprised 15 boats including most of the best in the country, not
surprising given NCS Regatta (L26 Nationals) and The Lipton Cup Challenge 2003
being just around the corner at this same venue. The feast of sailing in Durban in June and July has just
begun. Oh, and the big guns were there
to serve notice with MSC Donna Mia (Ian Ainslie - ZVYC), Greenlight (Dave
Hudson - RCYC) and Orion Challenger
(George Amoils – RNYC) all taking part.
The
Gauteng contingent were represented by 5 boats: Paul Thompson (Alfa Romeo), Rob
Willcox (La Digue), Jessica Lenz (Electon Bladerunner), Jenny Smith (Hang Ten)
and Geoff Larmont (Tyco International).
Saturday
(14th) dawned fine bit cool and Race 1 (windward/lleeward with
offset 3 rounds finish on the run) started in NE 10 knots and finished in 15
knots. In Race 2 (same course) the wind was 12-15 knots and the sea lumpy with
typical NE chop with the boats needing to power up to get through the seas.
Offshore generally paid but a few boats managed well up the beach.
Overall
after Day 1 it was Ainslie (2), Hudson (3), Amoils(6), Millar/Lanham-Love (8)
and McLoughlin (10).
Sunday
dawned miserable and cold with the low pressing through. 20% rain was forecast (80% would have been
more accuarate!). Race 3 (same course)
commenced in 15-18 kots SW and 1-1½m swells and it was (for Durban – surf temp 20°)
very cold. But… what racing ensued with the top mark often not visible through
the rain squalls and winds gusting and switching. Perhaps it was unsurprising
that the inshore leg remained good but the middle was better and saw big gains
and much position changing in the middle of the flleet.
Overall
at the end of Day 2 it was Ainslie (4), Hudson (11), Amoils (12),
Millar/Lanham-Love (17) and McLoughlin (17).
Monday dawned
fine and cool with the early promise of good breeze. Race 5 (NE 15-18 choppy as hell!) found 13 starters (mostly with
No. 3’s up) being lead around the course by Ainslie, followed by Hudson then
Amoils or Millar-Lanham Love once again and that is how it finished Great
surfing conditions lead to some exhilarating sailing.
Race
6 (18 knots) and biggish seas found only 9 starters with most of the Gauteng
boats sensibly deciding to commence an early drive home due to Comrades Marthon
madness having decended on KZN
Back
on terra firma Amoils protested Hudson for and incident in Race 2 and ended up
with a DSQ for his trouble as the case was unproven and the boats has
touched. In the event the overall
results after 1 discard were unchanged with the Gold going to defending Lipton
Cup Champions Ian Ainslie (5 pts) with crew Golden Mgedeza, Marc Lagesse,
Charles Nankin and Mike Giles on MSC Donna Mia (ZVYC). The Silver went to the
evergreen Dave Hudson (9 pts) sailing
for RCYC on Greenlight and the Bronze to George Amoils (14 pts) on Orion
Challenger sailing for RNYC, 4th were Craig Millar/Alec Lanham-Love
(19 pts) and 5th Jerome McLoughlin (20 pts).
Lipton
hopefuls take note: the MSC Donna Mia team are going to be difficult to beat
and this is home waters for Ian Ainslie.
In
closing I must to mention the commitment and gutsy determination of the PYC
Juniors sailing Container World Challenger in their 1st
regatta. Congratulations to Thomas
Thornton (17) (helm), Teegan Smith (16), Steve Taylor (18), Michael Bisset (15)
and Denmar Nel (18) and coach (Trevor Gibb) and manager (Brian Thornton) on
starting and finishing every race and a commendable 12th
overall. Remember that Ian Ainslie is
also a product of the PYC junior programme.
We wish you well in your campaign for Nationals and Lipton Cup. I trust
that the boat will continue to race in these and all club events.”
The top five places in the
regatta were as follows:
|
Position |
Yacht |
Skipper |
Club |
Points |
|
1st |
MSC
Donna Mia |
Ian
Ainslie |
ZVYC |
5 |
|
2nd |
Greenlight |
Dave
Hudson |
RCYC |
9 |
|
3rd |
Orion
Challenger |
George
Amoils/Martin Lamprecht |
RNYC |
14 |
|
4th |
Lipton
Zephyr |
Craig
Millar |
BYC |
19 |
|
5th |
Foreshore |
Jerome
McLoughlin |
PYC |
20 |
Don’t forget to enter the Manex Marine competitions, which are now up and running on the Lipton Cup web site. For the competitors there is a fantastic Suunto M9 watch up
for grabs. This really is a special prize and anyone taking part in the Lipton
Cup will be doing themselves a disservice by not entering this competition.
Entries for this competition need to be in by 12:00 on Saturday the 5th
of July. For non-competitors the prize is a very special clock and barometer
set, manufactured by Stockburger Instruments in Germany to be won. Non-competitors have the advantage of
an extra week to enter this competition, with the closing date on Friday the 11th
of July. To complete the entry forms for both these competitions you will need
to spend a bit of time on the Manex Marine web
site gathering the information needed to answer the questions so don’t leave it
to the last minute to enter.
The Springboks defeated Scotland for the second week
running with a vastly improved performance at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon.
While the improvement was big it will require a few more steps of the same size
before the Boks are performing as well as the English, who sadly seem to be the
pick of the international sides at the moment. They put on past the All Blacks
on Saturday morning sending out yet another warning that they will be a force
to be reckoned with at the fast approaching World Cup. Back to the Boks though
and there were a lot of positives to come out of this game with a lot of
players coming through with shining colours. There were still too many silly
mistakes though and these will need to be worked out in the coming weeks as the
team continues training. All round though it was a convincing enough performance
after last weeks embarrassment and it certainly did enough to rouse the
enthusiasm of those watching in the Zululand Yacht Club bar. The next test
match takes place in two weeks time when the Boks take on Argentina in Port
Elizabeth.
Don’t forget that the NSRI Barrel takes place this coming Sunday, the 22nd
of June. On the water there will be a sail past at 10:00, a fin race at 10:30
and the traditional prize draw on the lawns at RNYC from 14:00 onwards. For
more details contact Pat at PYC on 031-301 4787 or Nicola at RNYC on 031-301
5425.
The Henley
Midmar Yacht Club will be
holding their AGM this coming Sunday at 11:00 at the club.
The AGM will be followed by the annual Prizegiving, which will incorporate a
luncheon. This is a fairly unique idea and certainly a very good one; after
all, Sunday lunches are a very popular thing. It is also a good way to make
sure that as many of your active members as possible attend the club AGM. While
it is not mandatory for those attending one to attend both, it is obviously
recommended. If you are going to be attending the lunch, which will cost R45-00
per head, you need to confirm your attendance with Alix, who you can contact on
082 441 9031 or 033-234 4117.
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 |
|
Various KZN Clubs |
December 2002 to July 2003 |
|
|
Point Yacht Club |
28 June to 4 July |
|
|
Durban Offshore Challenge Incorporation the Mirror
& Laser Youth KZN Champs |
Point Yacht Club |
28 June to 4 July |
|
Point Yacht Club |
4 to 11 July |
|
|
Point Yacht Club |
25 to 27 July |
|
|
UCT Yacht Club, Zeekoeivlei |
2 & 3 August |
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.
B & B Accomodation for NCS Regatta
Room for 6 people still available
Contact: Dawn Boy
Phone: 031-201 7957 or 031-201 0177
E-Mail: boyz@intekom.co.za
FOR SALE
# 133721
Standard Rig.
Dolly, cover, all
fittings.
Situated Gauteng.
Fast, well maintained.
R8 500-00
Contact: Colin Nish
Cell: 083 325 8395
E-Mail: colinn@axiz.co.za
29er
Sail
No.: 025
Excellent
racing condition
Australian
hull
2 mains, 2
jibs and spinnaker
Boat cover,
aluminium dolly
Contact: Rob
Tarboton
Cell: 083
628 1451
E-mail: rbt@sai.co.za
Racing Theta
26 (quickest about)
Sail no. 53
Moored Midmar
Brand new
furl genoa(Quantum)+2 spares & spare main.
Mercury o/b
9.9hp c/w remote elec. start.
Chemical
toilet,dingy & 2 hp o/b.
R55 000-00
Contact:
Bernard Duggan-Jones
Phone:
031-708 5020
Cell: 082 550
5401
E-mail: bdj@eastcoast.co.za
One very good
set of racing sails
2 complete sets
of cruising sails
Many spares
All safety
equipment.
5hp Mariner
outboard in very good condition
Fast boat ready
to race
Road trailer
recently upgraded with suspension and brakes
R75 000-00
Contact: Henry
Paine
Cell: 082 336
5999
E-Mail: hjcpaine@iafrica.com
Handmade to
order from lightwood using Ivory epoxy glue,
No fibreglass
to crack.
Comes
complete with Tiller
Total weight
+_ 3kg
Price R2
200-00
Contact:
Robin McIntosh
Cell: 0836269282
E-Mail: robin.mcintosh@liblink.co.za
WANTED
In good condition
With trailer
Contact: Louisa
Cell: 083 321 8306
Andrew Heathcote
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 783 8805
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