Smooth Sailing

Sailing News By A Sailor For Sailors!

 

In Association with:

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Henley Midmar Yacht Club

Hunter Class

Hood Sails

Orion Vasco Da Gama Race

Sailing KZN

 

UNYC Winter Series

Sharks vs Cheetahs

America’s Cup Host City

Star European Championships

RNYC Windhoek Regatta 145th Anniversary Race

DOC And Coastal Skippers Courses

Notices of Race

Classifieds

 

Dinghy sailing in Durban got off to a quiet start with the first round of the UNYC Winter Series taking place on Saturday afternoon. With the tail end of a cold front passing over the conditions weren’t ideal with the wind trying to swing into the northeast all afternoon and dying in the process. Two races were sailed in the light conditions although the second of these was shortened before the wind went away completely. A small fleet of 7 Flying Fifteens, 9 Lasers and 11 Sprogs were out on the water but its going to be a big dinghy season so there are sure to be more next weekend! Despite the promise of things getting underway dead on time, they didn’t but the students assure me that they will definitely start on time next week! For the first weekend of dinghy racing in some time it was probably a good thing that the conditions were light. It gave all the sailors and their boats a chance to ease back into things slowly. The racing was very good though with plenty of shifts placing a heavy emphasis on tactics and strategy. There were plenty of shifts to be missed and holes to get stuck in. All in all it was a fairly pleasant afternoon’s sailing. The full results as well as pictures of the afternoons sailing can be found on the Smooth Sailing web site at www.smoothsailing.co.za/unycwinter03wk1gal.html. The top three places in each class after two races are as follows:

 

Flying Fifteen

1st

Mike Wright

4 Points

2nd

Patrick Harris

5

3rd

Peter Morgenrood

5

 

Laser

1st

Travis Robson

2 Points

2nd

Paul Changuion

4

3rd

Colin Becker

6

 

Sprog

1st

Greg Hurter

4 Points

2nd

Jof Heathcote

5

3rd

Jerome McLoughlin

6

 

The Sharks beat the Cheetahs in what was by all accounts a thrilling encounter on Saturday afternoon. For the first time in the competition though that did not manage to score a bonus point the four points for the win will do just fine. Saturday’s game marked the halfway point in the Currie Cup so the opposition in the coming games is all known and all beatable! Against the only team that they lost to, the Lions, the Sharks will have home ground advantage next time round so things have to be looking good for them to finish top of the table and secure a home final. Next Saturday the Sharks are playing away, against the Eagles in George, a game that has to be an easy win for the log leaders!

 

The list of candidate cities to host the next America’s Cup was whittled down to four on Friday with Lisbon (Portugal), Valencia (Spain), Marseilles (France) & Naples (Italy) still in the running. The event organisers removed Palma (Spain) from the list. They had decided to go with one city per country and in evaluating the merits of Palma and Valencia decided that Valencia offered the better prospects. This decision has surprised many people in the sailing world as Palma was considered to be one of the favorites to host the cup. No reason was given for excluding this island venue from the list but speculation is that it had to do with harbour depth issues and island accessibility. The host city is to be announced on the 15th of December. 

 

Four races have now been sailed in the Star European Championships in Cascais, Portugal. Yesterday, Sunday, was a lay day so race five, and possibly six, will be sailed today with the final day of racing on Tuesday. South African Charles Nankin has had mixed fortunes in the regatta recording a 41st, DNF, 39th and a 24th in the 62 boat fleet. While this might not sound that flash to some, when you consider just how difficult these boats are to sail, the quality of the fleet and that this is Charles’ first Star regatta I think that he is doing exceptionally well. His 24th in the fourth race especially is a good result  and when you consider that the likes of Roy Heiner and Jez Fanstone we behind him, well, beating them on any occasion is a good performance! The regatta ends on Tuesday. You can find the full results, interviews with some of the sailors taking part, and for those of you who don’t know what these boats look like, pictures of the fleet, at www.stareuro2003.com.

 

Have you got your entry in for the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Windhoek Regatta yet? If not now is the time to do it. The Windhoek Regatta is one of the most social and entertaining sailing events you will ever do. It includes a mixture of offshore racing, both round the cans and a pursuit race, bay racing and some unique shore based events, most importantly the famous poitjie competition. There will be a schnapps promotion on the registration evening while Windhoek Lager will be on special for the duration of the regatta! As well as being part of the Windhoek Regatta the pursuit race is also the RNYC’s 145th Anniversary Race and you can enter this one without taking part in the entire regatta. Now that’s something that is definitely worth doing as there is R10 000-00 worth of prizes up for grabs in the 145th Anniversary Race alone! For more information get your copy of the NOR at www.smoothsailing.co.za/wind03nor.pdf.

 

The Point Yacht Club Keelboat Committee, in conjunction with Professional Yachtmaster Training, have arranged further sessions of their popular Durban Operators Certificate Course and Coastal Skippers' Course to be held in October. Registration for the courses takes place in the Anchorage, PYC Clubhouse, on Tuesday, 14th October, at 18h00. Full details are on the notices boards of all clubs and can be also be obtained by contacting Rory Simpson (031 767 4803/082 808 8019) or Errol Rutherford (031 563 0900/083 566 8857).

 

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

Muira Nationals

GBYC & FBYC

23 & 24 August & 20, 21, 24, 27 & 28 September

UNYC Winter Series

Durban Bay

6, 13 & 20 September

Table Bay to Hout Bay Race

RCYC & HBYC

11 September

Hout Bay to False Bay Race

HBYC & FBYC

12 September

Finn Nationals

Aeolians Club

20 to 22 September

L 34 Nationals

False Bay Yacht Club

20 to 28 September

FBYC Spring Regatta

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

Hobie 14, Hobie 16 Ladies, Hobie Tiger & Tornado Nationals

Sterkfontein Dam

24 to 28 September

RNYC Windhoek Regatta

Royal Natal Yacht Club

24 to 28 Septembet

Mosquito Nationals

Saldanha Bay

24 to 28 September

KZN Youth Champs

Henley Midmar Yacht Club

3 to 5 October

Mini MACS Race

Hout Bay Yacht Club

4 October

Chelmsford Longhaul

Chelmsford Boating Club

4 & 5 October

MACS Double Cape Race

Various Clubs

10 to 12 October

Nautical Nomads Regatta

Nautical Nomads Society

25 & 26 October

NNYU 3-Star Challenge

Albert Falls Yacht Club

Changed to 15 & 16 November

Pick ‘n Pay Big Boat Regatta

Seal Point Yacht Club/Manten Marina

25 & 26 October

Nautical Nomads Regatta

Sterkfontein Dam

25 & 26 October

Radio Controlled Laser Nationals

Durban Radio Boat Club

8 & 9 November

Development & Open Dinghy Regatta 

Hout Bay Yacht Club

15 & 16 November

Bay to Bay Race

FBYC & HBYC

22 November

South Star One/Two Short Handed Race

Hout Bay to St Helena Island

29 November 2003

NNYU Interclub Challenge Leg 3

Spionkop Boating Club

6 & 7 December

Table Bay International Sailing Week

Royal Cape Yacht Club

12 to 17 December

NNYU Interclub Challenge Leg 4

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

 

33' Lavranos cruiser/racer (Charger 33)
 Good condition, B&G electronics, 17hp Volvo Penta
Autopilot, GPS, VHF
Comprehensive sail wardrobe
Lying Cape Town
R240000-00
Contact: Johan Beyers
Cell: 0827711223
E-mail: beyers@law.co.za
 
Elf 26' Cat 

@ 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

Cell: 083 232 2001

 

RCOD

Foxy Lady

R40 000-00

Contact: Michael Pammenter

Cell: 082 414 8209

 

Galvanised Two Boat Oppie and/or Dabbie Rack

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)

 
Theta 27

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

andrew@smooothsailing.co.za

www.smoothsailing.co.za

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 list send a blank e-mail to sailing.join@ffs.co.za.

 

To be removed from the list please send a blank e-mail to sailing.remove@ffs.co.za.

 

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