The wind at Richards Bay can always honk for days on end and this event was no exception. This event was only a five race regatta and only by taking out the braver members of the fleet on Sunday towards last race time was the event completed. Friday afternoon was the best wind of the weekend. A dying SW buster had left parents repairing the rips in their tents and an ideal 8-10knots of wind. Unfortunately organization problems prevented the first race starting before 2.44pm. After a general recall the oppies started under the I flag and amazingly the top three kids who had not noticed, started over the line and had to return took advantage of a sudden swing to SE and sailed to the first mark! In Dabbies Matthew M’Crystal and Gordon Quarmby made their mark early although Matthew was blighted by an OCS, which he was not aware of till the final beat.

The second day dawned with 2 races under our belts and a howling NE wind. The committee boat went out to have a look with the postponement flag but the keener kids came out for a look too. It didn’t take long for the bay to look like junior soup so the battered and bent were sent home. Late in the afternoon the wind abated enough for one race but as it was finishing the puffs returned with a vengeance and the fleet was dragged home. Andrew Tarboton stamped his authority on the Dabbie class; his strength and skill in these conditions were a joy to watch.

On the final day some people woke to howling SW buster. The rest had been up since 1.30am holding down their tents. With no sign of abatement the race committee under the able direction of Rob Barker took out a severely diminished fleet and managed to get in two races. Again, Andrew Tarboton was unstoppable, sometime finishing a whole leg in front of next finisher to win the event. 2nd and tied on points was Gordon Quarmby followed by Harry Haddon.

Ian Hogg