Smooth Sailing
Sailing
News By A Sailor For Sailors!
In
Association with:
It’s the 1st of September and also the first day of spring
today. The last few weeks have been pretty quiet sailing wise around the
country but with winter officially over it seems that things are starting to
happen again. September is going to be a busy month with several regattas on around
the country. Most of them seem to take place between the 20th and
the 28th so I cant see much being done over that period.
When I look at the volume of sailing that is going to be happening in
the middle of September I am amazed. Between the 20th and the 28th
of September no less than 7 regattas are taking place around the country. Five
of these are national championships. Outwardly our sport might appear to be in
dire straights but clearly it is not. I hear constant worry in sailing circles
around the country that the sport at a club level is dying. Perhaps its not
that it’s dying but that there has been a shift from club racing to regatta
racing. Could it be that with the changing of times and lifestyles etc a three
or four day event once every couple of months is more attractive or convenient
than a weekly club race on a Saturday afternoon? Whether this is a good thing
or not is probably open to some debate but on the bright side of the debate; at
least there are a whole lot of people out there sailing. Perhaps this shift in
emphasis is something that clubs, classes and yachting administrators need to
consider when pondering, and hopefully planning how to grow our sport.
On a less thought-provoking note, I have changed my e-mail address.
From now on you can e-mail me at andrew@smoothsailing.co.za.
Continuing with the changes in Smooth Sailing, we are going to start
publishing letters to the editor in the body of the Smooth Sailing newsletter.
We are however going to limit these to 300 words per letter. In the event that
you have a lot to say, we will publish an abridged version in the body of the
newsletter with the full letter posted on the Smooth
Sailing Letters to the Editor web page.
36”
Shipmate
Provincial Champs
Heather Back, who until fairly recently was the secretary for Sailing KZN,
passed away yesterday afternoon. The Funeral Arrangements have not yet been
announced.
Dinghy Racing gets underway
in Durban this weekend with the first round of the UNYC Winter Series taking place. Word about town is going to be a
bigger turnout of dinghies for this event than we have seen in years with the
Sprog, Laser and Flying Fifteen classes all set and raring to go racing. Racing
is set to start at 14:00 each day with two races scheduled for each afternoon.
The bright yellow L26, Galactica, will be the committee boat so you cant miss
her out on the water. Racing will take place on the deepwater course and will
start dead on time so don’t be late! That means you need to leave the slipway
by 13:30 at the absolute latest! Don’t forget that you have to enter this
series. The entry fee is R40 for all three weeks or R15 a week for those of you
who inexplicably think that you wont be sailing every week! You need to get
your entries in well before you leave the slipway on Saturday so add a little
more time on when planning to get down there. You can enter from 11:30 until
13:30. All the racing will be recorded on video and replayed at the UNYC
Caprice on Saturday evening. During this time the bar will be open with the
cheapest beer in Durban on sale. Braai fires will be lit for those who want to
have a snack with their cheap beer!
It’s been a while since we had any good dinghy racing in Durban so I
look forward to seeing a good turnout of boats on the water!
Des Fairbank sent us the following
report on the 36”
Shipmate Provincial Championship, which took place last Saturday afternoon at the Maritzburg
Radio Yacht Club:
“The Maritzburg
Radio Yacht Club was host for the 36” Shipmate Provincial Championship on
Saturday afternoon. All 13 boats entered for the event were from MRYC and there
was not a single entry from the Durban Radio Boat Club, which was extremely disappointing.
There
was considerable activity in and around Maritzburg during the past week to get
all the new not so new and upgraded boats measured for the event. Thanks from
all go to Robert Stenner who as a newly appointed 36” Shipmate measurer ran around
ensuring all the boats were measured. Having been involved in many of the
upgrades I could not measure any of them. Keith Gerson just managed to have his
new boat ready for the day but there were a few gremlins that he needs to sort
out before the Nationals in September.
We
were fortunate to hear in time that the Natal Canoe Club were also hosting
their Provincial on the Duzi and were able to contact their organisers and make
arrangements to ensure we did not end up fighting for the same stretch of river.
The
first race started at 14h00 in what can only be described as variably moderate
winds. On one particular occasion during the afternoon the wind disappeared
completely resulting in the leading boats being caught by the rest of the fleet
as the current became more influential and all 13 boats were stranded at the
wing mark. When the wind came it came in force and turned the situation into
chaos. In general the racing was close and interesting.
The results after eight races and scoring one discard were:
|
1st |
Des Fairbank |
8 Points |
|
2nd |
Anthony Metcalf |
24 |
|
3rd |
Robin McIntosh |
27 |
The
Muira Nationals started last weekend with the second half of the
regatta set to take place in mid September in conjunction with the False Bay
Yacht Club’s Spring Regatta. Full results of the regatta so far can be found at
www.capewindjammers.com.
The Durban Sailing
Calendar, not just for the coming season but for
the whole of 2004 has been released and is now posted on the Smooth Sailing web
site. You have the choice of being able to download the whole thing or just the
current month. While there are no major changes from the previous years it is
still well worth downloading this vital piece of information so that you can plan
your sailing for the year. There is of course the possibility that the odd
event will change but should this happen we will let you know when it does and
change the calendar posted on the web site accordingly. You can find the full
calendar at www.smoothsailing.co.za/.2003-04calendar.htm.
In
the mean time, the sailing program for this month, September, is as follows:
|
September 2003 |
|||||
|
6 |
Saturday |
Bay |
UNYC Winter Series |
Dinghy |
|
|
13 |
Saturday |
Bay |
UNYC Winter Series |
Dinghy |
|
|
Bay |
Grand Prix I |
Optimist |
|
||
|
14 |
Sunday |
Bay |
Grand Prix I |
Optimist |
|
|
20 |
Saturday |
Bay |
UNYC Winter Series |
Dinghy |
|
|
21 |
Sunday |
Bay |
Opening Cruise |
Keelers |
|
|
23 |
Tuesday |
|
Windhoek Regatta |
Keelers |
|
|
24 |
Wednesday |
|
|||
|
O/Shore |
Windhoek Regatta |
Keelers |
|
||
|
25 |
Thursday |
Sterkfontein Dam |
Hobie / Cat Nationals |
Hobie 14 |
|
|
Hobie 16 Ladies |
|
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|
Hobie Tiger |
|
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|
Tornado |
|
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|
26 |
Friday |
Bay |
Windhoek Regatta |
Keelers |
|
|
RNYC Brittanna |
RNYC Club Draw |
|
|
||
|
|
|||||
|
Sterkfontein Dam |
Hobie / Cat Nationals |
Hobie 14 |
|
||
|
Hobie 16 Ladies |
|
||||
|
Hobie Tiger |
|
||||
|
Tornado |
|
||||
|
27 |
Saturday |
O/Shore |
Windhoek Regatta |
Keelers |
|
|
Sterkfontein Dam |
Hobie / Cat Nationals |
Hobie 14 |
|
||
|
Hobie 16 Ladies |
|
||||
|
Hobie Tiger |
|
||||
|
Tornado |
|
||||
|
|
Juniors |
|
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|
28 |
Sunday |
Sterkfontein Dam |
Hobie / Cat Nationals |
Hobie 14 |
|
|
Hobie 16 Ladies |
|
||||
|
Hobie Tiger |
|
||||
|
Tornado |
|
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|
Bay |
Windhoek Regatta |
Keelers |
|
||
|
|
Juniors |
|
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The Merchant Shipping
(Small Vessels Safety) Regulations, 2001 will shortly apply to all "pleasure
vessels" 3 metres or more in overall length that are used solely for sport
or recreation. The Regulations require all such vessels to be properly
registered. In addition, the Port Authorities in Durban require all craft
(power, sail, oars and paddles) used for pleasure purposes within the Bay of
Natal to be registered with their Craft Registration Office at 111 Point Road,
Durban. To inform boat owners on how to go about registering their craft, the
Durban Offshore Committee have published a pamphlet "Requirements when you
first buy a new or second hand boat". Copies are available from the clubs
and from Durban Marina. For more information contact the Durban Marina at ybdma@mweb.co.za.
Letters are limited to 300 words each,
except in exceptional circumstances! Where edited down the full letter will be
posted on the Smooth Sailing Letters to the Editor web page. Send your letters
to andrew@smoothsailing.co.za.
From: Doug Harrowsmith, SAS
Marketing & Communications Committee
Re: Post Optimist Classes
Your lead article logs a low note
in SAS administration. The entry was bungled.
Without seeming to split hairs,
your article does not put the blame squarely where it belongs. The secretariat
cannot be expected to carry the blame here. The first entry form was received
in March and duly sent on to the appropriate standing committee. The high
performance committee were responsible for ensuring its completion and
submission. This did not happen. The office did not follow up.
In June a reminder was received.
The reminder was not sent out due to the SAS office move.
All agree unequivocally that we
need an administrative body. We cannot function without one. The incident
throws up a classic weakness in the way in which sailing folk try to administer
their sport in this day and age. No one wants to create an expense that can be
avoided, but we all know there is no such thing as a free lunch. Someone
somewhere at any time of the day, is giving his or her time freely; and sailing
relies on this constant act of collective goodwill to run a fairly complex
organisation.
SAS is peopled by competent and
knowledgeable men and women with considerable combined sailing and
administrative skills. The big BUT is that they are, to a person, doing the
work on a voluntary basis. If they mess up through the need to apply their
minds to a more pressing (for them) matter, like earning enough to pay the rent,
then we cannot expect that they will not move their priorities away from
elsewhere. We are probably the only country that still expects our national
sport administration to be run solely by voluntary input.
In essence we have tremendous
directive capacity with no accountable executive power at all.
Predictably, there have been
changes in the high performance portfolio as a result of the recent sanfu, and
Danny Blanckenberg has stepped into the breech. But that won't, regrettably,
get the horse back into the stable.
This, and other incidents of a similar nature, seem to indicate that SAS has to become more professional.
From: Brennan Robinson
Re: Post Optimist Classes (Edited,
for the full letter go to www.smoothsailing.co.za/brennan420.html)
I think we are overlooking the
value of the Mirror as a junior boat in conjunction with the Optimist.
Look at who’s sailed them
locally; Nigel Trevarthen, current FD champion, Georgie Amoils, and Sieraj
Jacobs. Internationally; Mark Rushall, British Firefly, Lark & Laser 5000
National champion and Ian Walker (Olympic 470 & Star medallist &
Americas Cup Skipper).
Mirrors can be sailed
competitively by juniors internationally. Internationally Mirros seem to be the
accepted stepping-stone into the 420, teaching sailors many of the skills they
will need for the bigger boat.
A seven year old could follow
either of the following paths:
09er – Optimist – Laser Radial
Mirror Crew – Mirror Helm –
Mirror Helm or Crew
Either route should produce a
good sailor with an international future.
The Laser 2 is not an option!
It’s not in the same league. Having sailed both boats recently, we are prepared
to state emphatically that as a stepping-stone to the Olympics (In a 470) to
sail a Laser 2 offer little benefit.
The 29er seems to have been
rejected in the UK, as the next step in youth sailing, and in fact, ISAF has
changed from the 29er back to the 420. There were a whole lot more 420 teams at
the latest youth worlds than at the previous youth worlds in Canada, where the
29er was the boat of choice.
In the mean time, we plan to sail
our Dabchicks, Sprog, the family Fireball, our Mirror and anything else we can
lay our hands on, as often as we can, because we think that the specific class
you sail is not as important as the amount of time you spend on the water, and
how much you enjoy sailing.
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 |
|
GBYC & FBYC |
23 & 24 August & 20, 21,
24, 27 & 28 September |
|
|
UNYC Winter Series |
Durban Bay |
6, 13 & 20 September |
|
RCYC & HBYC |
11 September |
|
|
HBYC & FBYC |
12 September |
|
|
Aeolians Club |
20 to 22 September |
|
|
False Bay Yacht Club |
20 to 28 September |
|
|
False Bay Yacht Club |
20, 21, 24, 27 & 28 September |
|
|
2003 Nationals for 36" Shipmate, IOM and RM
Class Radio Yachts |
Henley Midmar Yacht Club |
20 to 27 September |
|
Sterkfontein Dam |
24 to 28 September |
|
|
Royal Natal Yacht Club |
24 to 28 Septembet |
|
|
Saldanha Bay |
24 to 28 September |
|
|
Henley Midmar Yacht Club |
3 to 5 October |
|
|
Hout Bay Yacht Club |
4 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 |
|
|
Sterkfontein Dam |
25 & 26 October |
|
|
Hout Bay Yacht Club |
15 & 16 November |
|
|
FBYC & HBYC |
22 November |
|
|
Hout 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 andrew@smoothsailing.co.za.
FOR SALE
@ Manten's
Marina, Vaal Dam.
Good
Condition, gas braai, 2 burner stove, Heads,
CD sound
system, solar battery charger, 9hp Mariner,
Portable VHF
Radio, Roller Furl Jib,
Rented Walk
On Mooring.
Great Party
boat - Beers don't topple over in 25 Knots!
Price: R130000-00
Contact: Steve
Home Phone:
011-468 1653
RCOD
R40 000-00
Contact: Michael Pammenter
Cell: 082 414 8209
Fits Venter
6' trailer or similar
Lid opens
with boats loaded
With 110
diameter UPVC sail/spars tube for two rigs.
What offers?
Contact:
Chris Rudham
Cell: 082
5723 201
Phone:
031-266 9729(ah)
Moored Manten Marina
Brand new roller furling and main sails
Inboard 9hp
Great nick - great family cruising
keelboat
R65 000-00
Contact: Russell
Cell: 0836754454
Winner Optimists (2)
‘Opalon’ & ‘Banana Split’
With road trailer
Contact: Richard Cluver
E-mail: Richard@rcis.co.za
Andrew Heathcote
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 783 8805
This newsletter is
distributed free of charge to anyone who chooses to subscribe to it. The
subject matter contained herein is entirely of a yachting orientated nature or
that which may be of interest to yachtsmen.
Please note that the views
contained in this newsletter are those of the authors concerned and in no way
reflect the view or policies of any of Smooth Sailings associate clubs,
sponsors or advertisers.
To be added to the mailing
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All submissions are welcome. News of any club or yachting related
event should be sent to andrew@smoothsailing.co.za
for publication.
Smooth Sailing is kindly distributed courtesy of FFS Refiners (Pty) Ltd