Vasco race lives up to its gruelling rep

GREGG Hurter of Morningside retained his handicap honours in this year’s Vasco da Gama Yacht Race after a long hard slog from Maputo.

The well-established highlight on the South African yachting calendar that started last Thursday and ended late on Saturday evening lived up to is name of being a gruelling race. On Thursday night, the fleet were hit by a front moving up the coast and were left with light winds and rolling swells.

Less than one hour separated the top three positions as they finished offshore Durban late Saturday evening (21 June). First across the line was the ‘family’ boat, Ray of Light skippered by Michael Kavanagh from Port Shepstone. They finished in just under two and a half days. The crew comprised of the extended Kavanagh and von Bredow family: father Pieter, daughters Heidi and Sigi, son-in-law Michael and Heidi and Michael’s five year old son, Sean together with Sophie Pages; Jacobus Langner and the Rear Commodore Sailing of the Royal Cape Yacht Club, Luke Scott.

Sailing in his second Vasco, Kavanagh said “The race was good and hard with more emphasis on hard. The exhausted skipper added after the prize giving on Sunday (yesterday) afternoon, “We raced to our strengths which got us through. The crew’s support was phenomenal; even if they were down below battling with the conditions they were still supporting the guys on deck. The bad weather was extremely challenging for us on Thursday night.”

The course record holder, Chris Frost on the helm of Southern Storm came second across the line with Hurter on Bellatrix hot on his heels finishing only two minutes later.

Southern Storm’s captain Chris Frost explained, “We were doing well in the heavy weather. The rest of the race the winds were light and fluky and we were a bit too far offshore. At one stage the land breeze picked up and Ray of Light and Bellatrix were rewarded for staying inshore and gained three hours on us.”

A delighted Hurter enthused, “The race was very long! My team manned up on the first night and held together. We had a very wet first night with the guys getting drenched on the rail. On the last day we had Frostie and Ray of Light in sight. We worked so hard and pulled up on Southern Storm but we didn’t manage to pip them on the finish line!”

Congratulating his team, Hurter said, “From the start we had a very structured watch which made things easier. The whole team can be so proud of themselves. Brennan (Robinson) and Struan (Campbell) kept our morale up high throughout the race and Malcolm (Tiley) and Lianne (Tiley) did a fabulous job with the boat admin and keeping us watered and fed.”

The Commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Graham Rose skippering the L34 Zap was unable to make it before the cut off time, and ended his ninth Vasco attempt with a DNF (Did Not Finish). More than half the fleet didn’t manage to complete the gruelling 300NM with five boats retiring out of the fleet of 11 which started.

In his prize giving speech, Rose said, “The Vasco 2014 lived up to its reputation: all or nothing! The Maputo to Durban International Yacht Race should feature on the Rolex Spirit of Yachting as it encompasses all the drama and prestige.”

Bellatrix’s Drew Amoretti received the Choose Life Youth Trophy for the first U25 sailor on IRC handicap. Mike Surgeson navigating on Bellatrix was awarded the Bentley Nuttal Trophy for navigator on the first boat across the line.

Results

Line honours: 1 Ray of Light (Beneteau First 44.5, RNYC) Michael Kavanagh 59 hours 11 minutes 54 seconds, 2 Southern Storm (RNYC) Chris Frost (Pacer 395, RNYC) 60: 00:18, 3 Bellatrix (Beneteau First 40, PYC) Gregg Hurter 60:02:36, 4 Sticky Fingers (Whitbread 30, RNYC) Rob Samways 63:37:06, 5 Pallucci (Simonis 35, RNYC) Warren Clark

On handicap: 1 Bellatrix (PYC) Gregg Hurter, 2 Sticky Fingers (RNYC) Rob Samways, 3 Ray of Light (RNYC) Michael Kavanagh, 4 Southern Storm (RNYC) Chris Frost, 5 Pallucchi (RNYC) Warren Clark