1 November 2004

The KZN Grand Prix Series got off to a splendid start. Background work by Martinus Myburgh and Chris Despy saw an impressive turnout for the Island Sailing Club and Bluff Yacht Club jointly run event. Three Senior and 14 Youth Lasers joined the 13 Optimists to compete Grand Prix I. Several other Novice Optimist and Laser sailors entered the Grand Prix but the windy conditions put paid to them finishing a race. To their credit many of them teamed up and crewed for their mates on a Laser helping to keep it upright in the gusts!

Race Officer Jim Ferguson kept a tight rein on safety and issued a stern warning about steering clear of shipping in the channel at the skippers briefing. He knew a thing or two of what the wind was to bring.

The Optimist fleet started first doing a sausage & triangle on the Olympic course. Rudy McNeill was soon home followed by Sam Hancock who obviously liked the heavy conditions. Third in was David Leigh from Zululand Yacht Club. The Lasers on the second start and sailing a full course had to deal with the wind which had by then built to gusts of 19 knots. Capsizes were the order of the day! Local Durban boys, Aaron Larkens and Michael Bissett sailing Radials were first home followed by Luke Wagner from HMYC. RO Jim wisely sent the fleet home for lunch forecasting that the wind would ease from about two o clock, which fortunately it did. This allowed for two more races in the late afternoon. In the Youth Laser fleet, first and second went to Larkens and Bissett followed this time by Jean-Marc George in third place. The lighter wind also favoured Master Laser sailor Andy Gray who followed Daniel Larkens and Steve Martin home in the Senior Laser fleet. Rudy McNeill was chased home by Claire and Emma Walker who unfortunately couldn't repeat their top three places again in the regatta. Novice Oppie sailors Ashley Nel and Louise Joubert from Bluff and Island respectively completed their first race that afternoon. It was in the last race of the day that Byron Gray caused an upset, clinching a very well earned second place in the Optimist fleet. Bryan Martin also scored a creditable third place in the last Laser race of the day.

Sunday morning greeted us with a building Easterly, the dread of which kept some boats ashore. A fine brekker was had by many at next door Bluff Yacht Club and it was a thing not to miss. Only one race was possible and even that was completed with a recorded maximum gust of over 26 knots. Jim Ferguson set a wild course ensuring some spectacular reaches. Watching the boats planning and sometimes seeing Centerboards clearing the surface was awesome. Admittedly a lot of guys were on the extreme edge and some notable death rolls were recorded. Prize for the best capsize was unanimously awarded to Steve Martin! Luke Wagner importunely suffered from a broken top section to his mast. Stuart Purchase also had to retire after a collision.

The Larkens brothers did extremely well, both finishing first in their divisions but also admitted to a dunking or two.

Results were reported at a thank you ceremony conducted by Martinus Myburgh. The official prize giving will take place at the end of the series. The are three more weekend events to go in the round robin series; the next Grand Prix will be hosted by HMYC at Midmar on the 20th & 21st November followed by Grand Prix III at Zululand Yacht Club.

Thanks very much to Jim and his team of helpers at Island for loads of fun and some hairy stories! Be sure we'll be back for more.