Busy sailing weekend for RNYC

THE Royal Natal Yacht Club had a busy weekend with three events taking place for the small dinghies and the larger keelboats.

On Saturday the Flying Fifteens and dinghies competed in the bay, the larger boats competed in both the third day of the Dinghy Bay Series and the Flying Fifteen Regional Class Championships, while the other competitors participated in the club Dinghy Bay Series.

In the blustery prevailing wind, the sailors had their jobs cut out for them, reading when the puffs would overpower their boats and having to work hard as the switchy wind dropped down. There were a number of thrills as the sailors planed their boats flying down to the bottom mark with their spinnakers flying, working hard to maintain the power as the wind shifted around. A few spills saw some landing in the water as they pushed their boats hard around the windward leeward course.

The only Laser brave enough to venture out watched in dismay as his mast snapped half way up during the second race, leaving Denmar Nel stranded with his miserable sail flapping in the breeze, forcing him to retire and limp back home.

Another dramatic turn of events occurred right on the start line as the young team of Mongezi Mfeka and Michael Boorman boisterously overshot the start and had to turn around to start legally. The team racing the Flying Fifteen Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum cut back through the fleet only to T-bone an approaching Flying Fifteen that was coming through the start line a bit late but at a rapid pace. The victims of the meaty blow were John Bandfield sailing with his grandson, John Bandfield Junior. The Bandfields were sailing the club’s Flying Fifteen in her maiden voyage after having been on land for years and slowly been lovingly restored over months and months of work by John. The Bandfields had to retreat cautiously back to land with a massive gaping hole in her beautifully restored bow.

The Rear Commodore, Rob Samways, racing on his J22 celebrated his birthday on the water with his crew and relished the conditions. Being the only J22 in the competition, the trio racing Running with Scissors took the time out on the water to perfect their gybes that needed a bit of work.

On Sunday, the Flying Fifteens competed in the final day of the Flying Fifteen Regional Class Championship and the larger yachts headed offshore to race in the Umdhloti Mayor’s Race.

The Flying Fifteen team of Steve Hegerstrom and Siya Vato ended the fourth day of racing victoriously claiming victory from the duo of Patrick Harris and Jeremy Kriek who have dominated the class over the last decade. Finishing third were Myles White and Estelle Buys with Martin Zimmerman sailing with Neil Yelland driving their classic FF hard to finish fourth in a competitive fleet.

This weekend the Dinghy Bay Series continues in the bay with the keelers preparing for the Memorial Regatta at the end of February.

For more info visit www.rnyc.org.za or contact Keiran at the club on 031 301 5425.