The L26 Match Racing Series continued on Friday evening in Durban with an interesting match between Nigel Milln's Dockleveller Supplies and Terry Flynn on Wild Thing.
Several thunderstorms in the area resulted in very unsettled wind conditions with some huge changes in direction and strength. Certainly the wind got a whole lot stronger than anyone had expected just as the first match started. This placed a premium on boat handling skills especially after the two boats sailed each other close to the layline on the first downwind leg. A hard gybe was followed by a very tight reach into the mark with both boats steaming along at great pace but also broaching out more often than they would have liked. In the end this match went Dockleveller's way when Wild Thing failed to control the spinnaker at the end of the first downwind leg while pressing hard to catch their opposition who were slightly ahead at the time.
The second race went to Wild Thing who won the start and opened up an impressive lead early on in light conditions made harder by the fact that both boats had changed down to number three headsails.
The third match saw the biggest turnaround with Wild Thing again winning the start and leading well as Dockleveller struggled upwind in a big hole. A sudden wind switch and increase in strength on the downwind leg saw Wild Thing caught on the wrong side of the course and with a tight line to the mark they battled to hold the kite. This allowed Dockleveller to get through and they held their lead to the next weather mark. It was by now however dark and they overlayed it somewhat nearly letting Wild Thing back into the match. It didn't happen though and Dockleveller held on the finish, in the pitch dark, to win the match.
It looked like difficult and at times frustrating sailing but it was certainly good to watch. Sadly the video recording of the match didn't quite do it justice with the hectic conditions and onset of darkness making the recording more difficult than it should have been. The only solution then, come and watch it live the next time, it really is worth doing.
The next round takes place in two weeks time when Jerome McLoughlin on Harken is set to take on Harry Ellens in Parental Guidance. Should be another good match and definitely worth watching.
The current log is as follows:
| BOAT |
HELMSMAN |
RACES SAILED |
RACES WON |
| SLFC Cheetah |
Trevor Donald |
3 |
2 |
| Dockleveller Supplies |
Nigel Milln |
3 |
2 |
| Galactica |
Andrew Heathcote |
3 |
1 |
| Wild Thing |
Terry Flynn |
3 |
1 |
| Fusion |
Ernie Shaw |
0 |
0 |
| Harken |
Jerome McLoughlin |
0 |
0 |
| Parental Guidance |
Harry Ellens |
0 |
0 |
