3 May 2005

There was a happy turnout of 16 Youth Lasers, 11 Optimists and 2 Dabchicks at the recent HMYC Annual Youth Regatta last weekend. The 2005 event was the 4th since it's inception at the insistence of HMYC Commodore Reg Beavitt. Reg constantly reminds us that the future in sailing lies in promoting the youth sailors and remembers events in the past like the 1974 KZN Interschools where 70 double-handed Dabchicks participated. He was race officer at the time.

Conditions were mild and somewhat chilly with a light, variable 4 to 6 knot North Westerly breeze. The fleet set off on Saturday morning for an Olympic Triangular Course and separate starts for the Lasers, Dabchicks and Optimist Classes. It was immediately apparent that in the light conditions the Laser full rigs were going to dominate and this Sam Hancock did from the start winning both morning races in great style. Bryan Martin and James Hogg shared the follow up podium positions. Jessica Hogg dominated her lone opponent Dabchick, Dylan Evans and the 'no contest' was the way it was going to stay. In the Optimist Fleet it looked like Byron Gray was going to have a field day. He certainly had superior boat speed. Surprise of the day was superfast James Leigh, recently ex novices. He loaded a creditable string of thirds onto the board. Visitor Stewart Walker from Botswana had a ding dong battle to hold off Luke Vogelsang.

The afternoons racing was a bit more lively with the breeze getting up to 8 to 10 knots. Sam Hancock was still in top form and displayed some exciting tactics and speed but James Hogg managed put his first win on the board in the Lasers. Sadly local HMYC boy Luke Wagner had a bad race and this enabled Laser Radial sailor Stuart Purchase to go into an overnight lead in the smaller Radial rigs. Byron Gray in the Optimist fleet produced his second win easily putting him in overall lead.

Sunday dawned even colder! The fleet hung around 'till late morning when a steady 6 knot South East breeze filled in. James Hogg won all three races in the morning snatching victory from an unfortunate Sam Hancock on the count break to break the tie on points. Third overall was Bryan Martin followed by a persistent David Leigh. Young Paulo Marques opted to swap his Oppie for a Laser full rig and showed what the depth of training and experience he had gained in Optimists by getting a personal best of a 5th in his first race on a full rig Laser. Dylan Evans nearly caused Jessica to regret swapping for her boat but she managed to beat him by a small margin retaining her unbroken string of firsts in the Dabbies. Late comer to the event was Oppie sailor Claire Walker who discarded her DNS and put two wins on the board. Byron had an unhappy dunking when he missed his foot straps costing him the regatta by one point. Third overall was Emma Walker whose one bad race pushed her down to Byron also by a mere point in the tense, tight racing.

It was a real pleasure to see the spirit on the water and the fun these guys were having made me yearn to join them. It was especially great to se the effort that Westville Boys High sailor Jean-Marc George had gone to, to introduce new sailors to the sport. These newbies were set afloat for the first time in Club 09ers and Mpumelelo Sithole persevered despite untold swims! Young Taylor Schwab proved beyond doubt that he could sail and was 1st 09er home overall.

Many thanks to Rescue crew Andy Gray & Mike Leigh also to Mark Layers Dave Wagner & Graham Keir. Andrew Walker and Judy Gray assisted on the Bridge.

The day ended with the Commodore Reg Beavitt and Vice Commodore: Youth Rob Walker taking the closing cruise salute. This is traditionally a wet affair and indeed the youngsters gave their flag officers a thorough dousing amid cries of three cheers. Rob took no prisoners and gave as could as he took. Reg Beavitt did the honours at a very congenial prize giving.