The weather was better away from Durban on Saturday with 25 boats taking part in the inaugural Nautical Nomads Regatta that was held at Sterkfontein Dam.

Conditions for the race were mixed with everything from 0 to 25 knots. The overwhelming response from those who attended the race was that it was very worthwhile and definitely worth doing again next year. With that in mind the organisers have wasted no time in pencilling in the 24th of October 2003 as the date for the next Sterkfontein Nautical Nomads Regatta. The plan is that the Sterkfontein event will be the annual flagship event with the Nomads attending other regattas around the country during the course of the year.

The list of events that the Nomads will be attending has yet to be released however will be published in Smooth Sailing just as soon as it becomes available.

Back to this weekend's event and the racing, the fleet was mixed with the competing boats including Tornados, a Hunter, Flying Dutchman, Lasers, Hobie's and 505s. The 505 class was the biggest single class in attendance with this securing them an individual class trophy for the winners. The fastest boats made it around the course in around an hour and a half with the slower boats taking in the region of four hours. Having spoken to a few people who attended the only complaint I came across was from a Laser sailors who was muttering about a bruised butt, the four hours he spent on his boat having been the longest sail he had done in a while!

The trophy winners for the event were as follows:

1st Line Honours : Wayne Bird - Tornado
1st Handicap : Nigel Trevarthen - Flying Dutchman
1st Biggest Fleet : Hans Rogotski - 505
Longest Sail : Dave Claxton - Hunter