The grey and wet weather on Saturday 15th March proved to be no deterrent for the keen crews taking part in the Quadrangular Challenge in Table Bay. This sailing challenge is held between SAS Unitie, SAS Yselstein, General Botha Old Boys and Royal Cape Yacht Club.

RCYC was very ably represented by Bat Tromp and his crew on his Miura, Apricot, with Ian Lindsay from General Botha and his crew aboard the Miura, Chen. Ernie Chicken sailed his L26, Macnificent, for SAS Yselstein and Steven Bentley did the honours for SAS Unitie on the L26 Cape Recife.

Doc o' Shea was the Race Officer and set a very good course out to the Landfall mark and back to a laid mark off Moullie Point Lighthouse with a spinnaker run to the finish. The first race was won by Chen, who despite starting a tad late, made up enough to pip Apricot by just over a minute. It was close racing between the L26's who sailed neck and neck for most of the course. Ernie and his son put up their spinnaker on the downwind leg, and they managed to pull ahead of Cape Recife by a minute at the finish line. Visibility was very poor, and needless to say, the Bridge crew were looking like drowned rats by lunchtime!

After a very welcome lunch break at General Botha, and a nip or two of Old Brown Sherry to chase the cold away, it was time for the second race. With the rain still pelting down and the visibility down to "murky", the fleet made a colourful spectacle running to the line with spinnakers flying. Victory went to Apricot this time round with Chen finishing a good twenty minutes later due to sailing into a dead patch at the top mark. The L26's had another good race, and despite sailing shorthanded, Macnificent was the leading L26 at the line.

Back to SAS Unitie for hotdogs and "refreshments" before the Prizegiving. Commander Morom handed out the trophies to the proud winners as follows:

Race 1 SAS Unitie vs. SAS Yselstein - The Bell Trophy: Winner - Macnificent (SAS Yselstein)
SAS Unitie vs. RCYC - Micky's Mug: Winner - Apricot (RCYC)
RCYC vs. General Botha Old Boys - Barry's Platter: Winner - Chen (GBOB)

Race 2 SAS Unitie vs. General Botha Old Boy's - Barrel Trophy: Winner- Cape Recife (SAS Unitie)
SAS Yselstein vs. GBOB - The Old Salts Trophy: Winner - Macnificent (SAS Yselstein)
RCYC vs. SAS Yselstein - The Yselstein Trophy: Winner - Apricot (RCYC)

The van Winsen Trophy for Overall Line Honours on handicap was won by Apricot for Royal Cape Yacht Club.

A very big thank you to Tony Nicholas from General Botha Old Boys for organising the moorings and lunch at Granger Bay, and to Commander Morom from SAS Unitie for the use of the Navy's vessels for Bridge and mark laying duties. Grateful thanks to all the crews and competitors who braved the rain and cold to take part in this great regatta.

Here's looking forward to 2004!