News
SAS Grand Slam and Hobie 14 Provincials
Sailing conditions don’t get better than the Durban balmy winters and sailors took full advantage of the warm days over the long weekend competing offshore in the SAS Grand Slam incorporating the Hobie 14 Provincials hosted by Point Yacht Club.
Mount Edgecombe’s Garth Loudon dominated the Hobie 14 class finishing 18pts ahead of his closest rival. Loudon has just returned from a successful adventure in Europe where he, together with his sailing partner Robbie Edwards-Bettsy, won the European Hobie 16 Grand Masters. Loudon competing solo at the Hobie 14 Provincials took line honours in five of the races offshore. After his two race discards, his score sheet also showed three seconds and two thirds.
An impressive fleet turned out over the four days, with over 50 boats taking to the water for a maximum of 12 races. The first two days, the conditions were champagne sailing with a gentle dose of wind mixed in with blue skies. Race Officer for the event, Kevin Bingham managed to get in the majority of the races on the first two days, slotting in four races on the first day and five on the second.
The predictions were correct on day three as a building south-westerly with personality greeted the sailors. With only three races still remaining, Bingham and his team constantly kept an eye on the Anemometer. During the eleventh race, conditions deteriorated causing havoc on the water. Majority of the fleet battled with the growing gusts’, looking out from the bridge boat it was carnage on the race track with a number of boats cartwheeling and tumble-weeding across the short sharp chop.
Rear Commodore for Dinghies, Myles White said, “Despite the white horses in the harbour, the average wind speed proved to be around 17 knots with gusts in the low 20s – so, the boats were called to the race course, the Oppies stayed onshore, and the start sequence got underway. The first race was completed despite several capsizes in all classes, but it was after the second race got underway that the breeze got up properly. We had cartwheeling Hobies and Lasers crossing the finish line before being sent home. In one humorous instance, Hobie competitor Wayne Smith capsized on the finish line in dramatic fashion, and shouted across to the bridge boat if he was ‘over’, and we confirmed in more than one way.”
The rescue and support team were kept busy righting boats that had been knocked down in the blustery gusts. Racing was suspended at the end of the second race, with the brave competitors safely returning to shore.
The fleet needed to come out on Women’s Day to conclude the regatta. Majority of the boats took to the water in near-perfect conditions for the final race that took place after the sprinkling of sailing stalwart, Bob Fraser’s ashes in the harbour.
The fleet comprised 50 boats altogether with 19 of these being Hobies. Also on the water were Darts, a Tornado and Hobie Tiger comprising the Open Cat fleet; 505s and 29ers being the Open Dinghies; approximately 10 Lasers, and 12 Optimists who wanted offshore experience in advance of an upcoming international regatta.
The next event for the yacht club requires all in attendance to don their smart attire at this year’s Commodore’s Dinner with host Beauty Ramapelepele that takes place on Saturday 20 August.
For more info visit www.pyc.co.za or contact the club on 031 301 4787.
Powering out of the starting blocks, Laser sailor Marcello Marcia bolts his way up to the top mark during the SAS Grand Slam incorporating the Hobie 14 Provincials hosted by Point Yacht Club offshore over the long weekend.
Results
Hobie 14 Provincials
1 Garth Loudon 17pts, 2 Peter Hall 35pts, 3 Dylan Albert 40pts, 4 Richard Gorlei 44pts, 5 Wayne Smith 54pts, 6 Sean Fennessy 56pts, 7 Jethro Brophy-Tintinger 73pts, 8 Matthew Hall 92pts, 9 Justin Butler 94pts, 10 Stephanie Goodyear 98pts, 11 Rudi Fokkens 100pts, 12 Liam Fennessy 102pts, 13 Struan Campbell 124pts, 14 Rudi Rogge 126pts, 15 Ralph Thorpe 142pts, 16 Aldino Gorlei 149pts, 17 Bart Fokkens 157pts, 18 Sven Paton 167pts, 19 Nik Albert 168pts
Laser Radials
1= Kai Leslie 20pts, 1= Damian Muller 20pts, 3 Elsje Dijkstra 32pts, 4 Sam Lombaard 33pts, 5 Hannah Fokkens 39pts
Open Dinghies
1 Jason Muller (Laser 4.7) 24pts, 2 Rob Goulden (Laser) 28pts, 3 Rudolph Holm (Laser) 34pts, 4 Jonathan Ham (505) 37pts, 5 Benji Daniel / Chad Stevenson (29er) 39pts, 6 Hans Rogotzki (505) 61pts, 7 Rob Tarboton / Nick Matter (29er) 64pts, 8 Albrecht Holm (505) 66pts
Optimist
1 Keagan Nel 18pts, 2 Tristan Tomlinson 20.5pts, 3 Duncan Hawksworth 27pts, 4 Iain Bowman 33.5pts, 5 Helen Janse Van Vuuren 34.5pts, 6 Scott Bowman 39.5pts, 7 Ingrid Holm 44pts, 8 Cameron Diesl 54.5pts, 9 Lena Holm 59.5pts, 10 Alex Wiederhold 72pts, 11 Ethan Hooper 74pts, 12 Jessica Fennessy 77pts
Open Catamarans
1 Rob Samways (Dart) 18pts, 2 Mark Kopel (Dart) 19pts, 3 Mark Witjenburgh / Brandon Witjenburg (Hobie Tiger) 27pts, 4 Gavin Wadsworth / Geetjie Wadsworth (Dart 2) 34pts, 5 Francois De La Fleuriot / Eli Brphy – Tintinger (Hobie Tornado) 48pts
Photo Credit: Sophie Thompson
Author: Durbanite
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