18 January 2005

Zululand Yacht Club (ZYC) hosted the 3rd annual IRC class Provincial Championships from the 14th to the 16th of January 2005. The event was sailed both off and inshore with the Richards Bay coast-line and harbour being the backdrop to the event.

10 up to date IRC certified yachts entered the regatta and six races were sailed in varying wind and sea conditions over the three days on the Olympic type windward leeward course.

Two races were sailed on the first day in 20 plus knots of North Eastly wind in very trying sea conditions.

The local Richards Bay boat Zeus a Fast 42 skippered by Don Voysey and his very slick crew were first over the finish line in both races but was beaten out of first place on IRC handicap on corrected time by the second finishing boat Enzer Betelgeuse a Mountgay 30 skippered by Alex (boat from up country.) Third place on corrected time went to the other up country Mountgay 30 African Fire skippered by Dave Millard.

The day ended with a cocktail party and drinks sponsored by one of the main sponsors JOTUN PAINTS.

We awoke for day two with a strong South Westly blowing (35 plus knots) and horrendous sea conditions with the owner of the bridge boat and the rescue/mark laying boats not happy to go out to sea.

Dave Ruston (the race officer) consulted with the race organizers and the Richard Bay Port authorities and quickly came up with a plan to hold the races within the Richards Bay harbour and as it happened there were no shipping movements until the late afternoon.

Three races were sailed in very windy conditions but the bonus was flat waters. The additional obstacles now came into play. The skippers and crews had to negotiate sand banks, channel marker buoys and other contestants while sailing in the narrow channel. A few of the boats (while pushing the limits) "hit the putty" and blew their chances of a good finish.

The results of the days racing was Zeus again getting line honors in all three races but Enzer Betelgeuse winning on the corrected time in two of the races giving Zeus their only first place on corrected time in the 5th race of the regatta, with African Fire hot on their heals with one second and two thirds on corrected time.

The big Saturday night party saw most of the skippers and crews having a few drinks around the pub and telling the war stories of the days racing. Sponsored prizes were awarded for various things like cleaning the bottom of the keels on the sand banks (to name but a few.)

Sunday saw a light to moderate South Westly wind blowing of between 10 to 15 knots with a 2 m swell running with little or no chop. One race was held off shore and the results for this was the same as previous days races, namely Zeus getting line honors but again being beaten by Enzer Betelgeuse on corrected time, with African Fire third.

The prize giving was held at 14h30 and sponsored snacks and drinks were supplied and enjoyed by all.

The race organizers decided to award the sponsored prices of electrical hand tools and paint to the Race officer, the race secretary, the bridge boat skipper/ owner and the rescue boat skipper as every organized race needs these type of willing and very helpful people to make the races happen for the "yachties", and they went through some trying times of Fridays racing off shore.

The final positions on corrected time were as follows,

Class 1:

1st	Enzer Betelgeuse	Mount Gay 30	Alec Schon	LDYC
2nd	Zeus	Fast 42	Don Voysey	ZYC
3rd	African Fire	Mount Gay 30	Dave Millard	LDYC
4th	Nemisis	Fast 42	Peter Van Breda	ZYC

Class 2:

1st

Money Penny

L34

Mike Scorer

ZYC

A big thank you to the ZYC and all the sponsors who contributed to the event once again being the big success that it was and to the race organizing team which was as follows:-

Sponsors (in alphabetical order)

IRC Provincial Championships organizing team