Smooth Sailing
Sailing
News By A Sailor For Sailors!
In
Association with:
Springboks
vs All Blacks & Sharks vs Pumas
505
World
Championships - A Sailors View
Family
Sunday At The Roya lNatal Yacht Club
Orion Vasco Da
Gama Race TV Times
They
lost again but at least this time the Springboks didn’t make
quite the shambles of it that they had done in previous weeks. Still a loss is
a loss and there is clearly a lot of work to be done before the world cup
starts later this year. One thing that the captain, coach and players need to
get clear in their minds though is that a win is all that counts. I think that
all too often our professional sports men seem to think that playing well is ok
even if they don’t win when that’s not the case at all. They shouldn’t be happy
unless they win! On a wining note though the Sharks continued
their good run of form in this year’s Currie Cup, beating the Pumas at the Absa
Stadium on Saturday afternoon. So far the Sharks have an unbeaten record in
this competition although it is fair to say that they haven’t really had to
face the toughest opposition so far. That will all change this coming weekend
when they take on the most serious enemy of all, Western Province! Being played
in Cape Town this is a must win game for the Sharks, losing to Province is just
not an option!
The UCT
Frostbite Regatta has been postponed to the 16th & 17th August,
due to a lack of water in Zeekoevlei. The regatta is open to all dinghy classes,
and large fleets of Extras, Lasers and Dabchicks are expected. Food and drinks
will be on sale throughout the weekend and a big party is planned for the
Saturday night. Join us for the first (and coldest) regatta of the season. For
more information on this event please contact Dave Waiting at Dave Waiting at wtndav001@mail.uct.ac.za.
Tony Murray submitted the following
report on the 2003 505 World Championships, which
were recently sailed in Malmo, Sweden:
“Firstly I would like to
thank our sponsors P&O Nedlloyd for their generous support, for their
container and shipping of the SA team’s boats to the 505 worlds in Sweden. The
regatta took place from the 25th of July until the 1st of
August. Safcor Panelpina also helped us
out with freight forwarding,without them the event would not have been
possible.
We initially set ourselves a
goal of getting one boat into the top seven and two boats into the top fifteen.
We found that although we do compete well in a breeze we failed to do so well
in the light airs that were experienced during the regatta. The Europeans where
well prepared as were the Americans who had spent the last two months preparing
in the conditions they were to experience in Sweden. We also noted that many of
those competing had sailed regularly at the venue in the past and knew all
about the appropriate wind and current strategy required to get the best
results.
On the other hand and the
Aussies where literally all at sea and were often caught by the unfavorable
bias of each leg and the erratic current, which in fact was the main undoing of
any attempt we might have had at glory.
Fourteen nations and
eighty-eight competitors, all with their spirits high went out in the
pre-worlds to enable themselves to checkout all the equipment and boat speed.
These races were sailed on much shorter courses than that we where going to
sail in the world champs and also away from the main sailing area. I think it
was only then that I realized the level of competition was much harder than
expected and although we did have a couple of reasonable results from one or
two of our teams they were more of a fluke than anything else as they weren't
sustainable and we drifted back to our normal results lower in the fleet. We
still had a lot of boats behind us including some Aussies, Finss, Danes,
Germans, French & Italians. I'm sure they felt worse than me and I must say
I felt pretty bad not just for myself but for the rest of the guys too. Some of
them had quite a torrid time sorting their boats out.
Well with the warm up out of
the way we had some time off the next day to do some sightseeing. Kobus and I
went into the town of Malmo for a day out. We Went by bike, everyone ride bikes
there and we were each given one for the duration of the event. It’s so flat
there and easy to get around. I think it was the highlight of the trip being
able to get around with so much freedom and at that time of year the weather is
great.
On Saturday the 26th
we were to start the event for real after the opening ceremony the night
before. I will try to give you as best an idea of what took place during the
event from my own point of view as I am able to recollect the detail from my
own racing.
The first race started in
light air 4-6 knots very much as had happened in the pre worlds and we finished
61st. Kobus and I rethought our race and went into the second race
tense knowing we could have done better. We got into much dirty air in the 1st
race and were unsure of what the best position to be in off the start line
would be. We went left again but not as much in the middle as the first race I
realized that the only way to get completely clear wind was to get out in
front! Don't we all! Any way we did better in that race getting a 55th.
The wind also was a little stronger but not much, 5-7knots.
Clearly these championships
were going to be sailed in conditions we weren't prepared for. Most if not all our training had been in
very heavy conditions we, much heavier conditions than those experienced so
far.
Sunday arrived and so had the
wind, at least some of it! 10 to 12, gusting 18 knots. We did the same things
as before and went a whole lot better. At one stage hitting the mid 30's only
to lose out in the middle leg of the race when one of the ropes was trapped
under the boat, which took some time to free. We finished 48th and
felt we would now start doing a whole lot better providing the wind prevailed.
It didn't and Monday the wind
dropped down to 2 to 5 knots and changed direction to the north. So did the
current. We didn't do so well in the first race finishing back in the 60's
again. With the current increasing all the time against us we decided to
pullout of the second race that day. I didn't feel at all comfortable in a 4 to
5 knot current against me in such little wind and I'm surprised the race
officer didn't abandon the race, as it had become a problem to many. There was
some discussion by the international jury on that subject and the race officer
was called to account for his actions. He explained that it had been a freak
occurrence seldom experienced.
Tuesday was a rest day to
fiddle with the boat our go shopping for gifts; we did both.
Wednesday came but little
wind showed up untill late in the afternoon we went out for a race, if that’s
what it could be called! At least the current had subsided and we were able to
drift around the course again finishing in the 60's.
Well Thursday and Friday
weren’t much better than Wednesday and the last 3 races turned into more of an
ordeal than the rest.
At the end of the regatta we
finished in the 60's with more than 20 boats behind us and it was the same for
most of the SA team.
Looking at the event itself I
we would have preferred stronger conditions and that although we thought we
were prepared for the event we clearly weren’t. The Europeans were sailing with
very light crew weights, some barely weighing in at 120kgs against 175kgs for
Kobus and myself. They obviously knew how light the conditions were going to
be. These teams found themselves completely over powered when the wind did
freshen a bit for the one race. It’s not only the weight as there were some
other teams of a similar weight to us doing well, but then these guys are pro's
and able to practice any where at any time in any condition.
What now? Well, we need to
compete internationally if we are to be part of the international community.
Should we only go to those events that suite us well? I suppose not so we do
have to become well-rounded competitors, good in all conditions. I also think
that we as South Africans do a very good P.R. job for our country. It was very
important to our Swedish host that we were made to feel welcome it was also
very important to them that they were hosting such a large event for the small
town of Malmo.
The 2004 505 Worlds will be
in California in the USA next August 2004, then on to Germany in 2005 and
England in 2006. Hopefully better winds
for all these regattas than we had this year. Our attendance at there regattas
will of course depend on sponsors backing us. We did get some TV coverage of
the event on Swedish television also some magazine articles still to be
published apart from the visual effect of the decal on our boats for the
spectators at the regatta. I do realise if my name was Ernie Els, Bafana
Bafana, Amabokke the problem wouldn’t be so great and is yacht racing so
important with all the other issues in today’s world? Well no, but sport
generally seems to be able to transcend boundaries where all other efforts may fail,
for example in Finland today there is a South African t-shirt with, “Welcome to
South Africa” and the web page address emblazoned on it. And they wanted to
beat our team! You cant build good will at Ministerial level, that can only be
done by people interacting with each other. We had a friendly international
table tennis triangular series between Finland, UK, and ourselves. The jury is
still out on that one we think the Finns were using unfair tactics and so do
the Brits!”
This coming Sunday, the 17th of August, is
Family Day at the Royal
Natal Yacht Club. As well as the
regular braai on the lawns, live music and general sociable atmosphere there
will also be a jumping castle and entertainment for the kids. The entertainment
will be in the form of a magic show, something that always has the kids well
entertained. It will all be happening on the lawns from around 11:00 onwards. A
day such as this offers a great chance for the whole family to get down to the
club and enjoy the ebst that this great facility has to offer. For more
information on this or any other RNYC event contact Nicola on 031-301 5425.
The 2003 Orion Vasco Da Gama Race has been broadcast on Supersport three times already but there are
still three screenings left for those of you who haven’t seen it. The 30-minute
program is well produced and has some interesting footage both from on and off
the boats. In particular there are some outstanding aerial shots of some of the
yachts sailing into Durban. It is well
worth watching and for those of you who haven’t already seen it you can still
catch it at the following times:
|
Date |
Time |
Channel |
|
12 August |
11:30 – 12:00 |
SS2 |
|
13 August |
07:30 – 08:00 |
MNET/SS1 |
|
17 August |
18:39 – 19:00 |
SS1 |
The
Fasntet Race, one of the world’s classic ocean races, is being
sailed at the moment. The race started on Saturday with a huge and varied fleet
on the start line. Actually they weren’t all on the start line at the same
time. This race has separate starts for the different classes taking part. The
worlds biggest and fastest maxi’s are taking part in this race with Neville
Crichton’s super maxi Alfa Romeo leading the way around the Fastnet Rock last
night. Despite light conditions Alfa Romeo is still in with a chance of
breaking the race record. To do this she needs to finish just after 15:00 today
if she is to break the race record. Behind her at the rock was the 86 foot
Zephyrus V. The best class racing, amongst the high profile boats anyway, is in
the Open 60 class where the boats are sailing neck and neck all the way. For
more information on this race visit the event web site at www.rorc.org.
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 |
|
Denysville Aquatic Club |
8, 9 & 10 August |
|
|
Albert Falls Yacht Club |
9 & 10 August |
|
|
Pretoria Sailing Club |
9 & 10 August |
|
|
Transvaal Catamaran Club |
23 & 24 August |
|
|
UNYC Winter Series |
Durban Bay |
6, 13 & 20 September |
|
Hout Bay Yacht Club |
11 to 14 September |
|
|
RCYC & HBYC |
11 September |
|
|
HBYC & FBYC |
12 September |
|
|
2003 Nationals for 36" Shipmate, IOM and RM
Class Radio Yachts |
Henley Midmar Yacht Club |
20 to 27 September |
|
L34 Nationals |
False Bay Yacht Club |
20 to 24 September |
|
RNYC Windhoek Regatta |
Royal Natal Yacht Club |
24 to 28 Septembet |
|
Saldanha Bay |
24 to 28 September |
|
|
Henley Midmar Yacht Club |
3 to 5 October |
|
|
Chelmsford Boating Club |
4 & 5 October |
|
|
Various Clubs |
10 to 12 October |
|
|
Nautical Nomads Society |
25 & 26 October |
|
|
Albert Falls Yacht Club |
25 & 26 October |
|
|
Seal Point Yacht Club/Manten
Marina |
25 & 26 October |
|
|
Hout Bay Yacht Club |
15 & 16 November |
|
|
FBYC & HBYC |
22 November |
|
|
False Bay to St Helena Island |
29 November 2003 |
|
|
Spionkop Boating Club |
6 & 7 December |
|
|
Table Bay International Sailing
Week |
Royal Cape Yacht Club |
12 to 17 December |
|
Glendee Yacht Club |
1 & 2 February 2004 |
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.
FOR SALE
In reasonable
condition.
Wooden hull, two sets
of sails (main, genoa, spinnaker)
Dolly and road
trailer.
Situated in Cape Town.
Urgent sale
R5 500-00 O.N.C.O.
E-Mail: charlewd@mweb.co.za
Fully
equiped, ready to sail.
55hp Perkins
diesel
R500 000-00
to R600 000-00
Or swap for
property
Contact: Sam
Cell: 083 467 8283
PSI Hull
Sail # 80700
In good condition
With dolly and boat cover
Cell: 082 459
5497
E-Mail: iti05603@mweb.co.za
Fireball
R6 000-00
In good condition
Roadworthy trailer
Contact: Jaco Kornelius
E-mail: jaco@softsim.co.za
Flash Optimist
-- No Limits
! --
Sail No RSA
1144
White with
dark blue trim.
Immaculate
condition, complete and ready to sail .
Includes
galvanised dolly, spare sails, spare bouyancy bags,
McSon
original foils,spare rudder blade and top cover.
R 6 000-00
Contact:
Victor Hassan
Cell: 082 654
6919
E-mail: woodwork@absamail.co.za
WANTED
In good
condition
Contact:
Stewart Hewitt at Hewitt Yamaha, Durban,
Phone:
031-3373759
E-mail: hyamaha@iafrica.com
Optimist or
09er
2nd
hand in good condition for beginner
Contact:
Tracey O’Sullivan
Cell: 084 514 2274
Andrew Heathcote
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 783 8805
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