Catamaran series gets underway

The exciting third day in the Catamaran Series got underway directly in front of the Royal Natal Yacht Club lawns on Saturday, 9 August.

Ten catamarans including nine halcats and one Hobie 16 attacked the course with vigour in the waist-high water making full use of the spring tide. Four races were completed with the final race being shortened as the wind died off leaving glassy testing conditions for the yachties.

Commodore for the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Graham Rose said, “Out of all of the boats that took part today, we had half of the guys racing halcats for the first time. Our youngest sailor on the water was nine years old and the smile on his face at the end of the day is what it is all about! The enjoyment of being out on the water!”

The boats flew in the open with a number of the more adventurous allowing their cats to heel over raising one hull out of the water. As the boats neared the weather mark, the wind dropped off obstructed by the buildings, leaving big holes of tranquillity that tested the sailors.

“What is fantastic about this idea is that the crowds sitting on the lawns actually have front row seats for the action. Sailing all of a sudden becomes a spectator friendly sport. We heard cheering and chirps from the lawns this afternoon. Everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously, both on the water and on the lawns.” Rear Commodore for the Royal Natal Yacht Club Rob Samways raved.

The final race got under starters orders just after 4pm with the surrounding water glistening in completely still conditions. The fleet crawled their way over the line, with Race Officer Carol Ferguson debating to abandon the race. As the colourful sails moved further away from the club, a smidgen of a breeze filled in.

The slow agonising race humorously turned as race leader, Samways chased the wind down to Wilson’s Wharf and got caught in a patch of zero wind battling to return to the finish of the shortened race. Roy Close racing close to the rhumb line impressively stole the race, finishing in a well-earned first. The fleet actually drifted across the line with no wind assistance with majority of the fleet concerned that the turning tide would actually take them further away from the finish line.

Adrenaline junkie, Michael Dickinson and his crew member Dylan Alberts got bored of the calm conditions and as they neared the finish, lay on the front of the hull opting for the faster option of paddling with their arms to get back to shore.

“We have more than doubled the numbers in two weeks. Our first event we had four boats on the water and today we had ten!” Samways continued.

Next event for the catamarans will be this Friday, 15 August with a twilight sail starting at 4pm. While the RNYC annual prize giving will be held on Saturday, 16 August, the next major event for South African sailors is the prestigious Lipton Challenge Cup in False Bay on the 24 August.

Visit www.rnyc.org.za or contact the club on 031 301 5425 for information.