Blustery conditions greet weekend sailors

SUNDAY revealed chalk and cheese conditions for the second day of the Royal Natal Yacht Club's Dinghy Spring Series with nine yachts arriving in the blustery conditions.

Race Officer, Jennifer Weyer set a windward leeward course for the small boats in the harbour. Conditions were ideal for loads of thrills and spills. The gusts edged up towards the 30 knot mark but the wind was blowing mostly around the high teens or low twenties. With a lot of chop in the bay, all the sailors were drenched by the spray from the water. The larger dinghies were required to do three laps, the Rebel and Laser classes only two with the smallest boats needing to do only one lap of the course.

The three Flying Fifteens relished the conditions and flew on the run powered by their larger spinnakers. The most competitive fleet on the water did three laps of the sausage course, finishing consistently around the 35 minute mark for all three races. It was fantastic racing between the three in the last two races. On the run down to the leeward mark, the spinnakers kept catching up to each other. On the beat up to the weather mark the tactics came into play as they split up in the field, all tacking and heading off in different directions.

Crossing the line for the final race of the day, Myles White helming his Flying Fifteen brushed past the bridge boat shouting in delight, “Please can we have another race, we are loving these conditions!”

The first boat to call it quits having been unable to start was the smallest boat in the fleet, the small RS Tera capsized on the way to the start and took a while to right himself. Denmar Nel from Pinetown also spent a lot of time in the water as his Laser toppled over on numerous occasions. Not managing to finish the first race, an exhausted Nel opted to turn his efforts in and head for shore mid-way through the second race.

Late arrivals, Chad Stevenson racing on his Extra and Jethro Brophy-Tintinger helming a Laser got tangled together nearing the start line. Brophy-Tintinger capsized dramatically tangled up with Stevenson’s Extra and the duo drifted through the start line as the fleet made their way for the second race. Stevenson never recovered after his unfortunate arrival, tearing his main sail and experiencing rudder problems, eventually having to be towed home after the final race.

The oldest competitor in the fleet, Trevor Gibb sailing with the youngest sailor, Ian Bowman managed two races in their Mirror and after they crossed the finish line for the second time, headed for shore.

David Curtiss from Botha’s Hill helming his Rebel sailed two up with up-and-coming Dylan Alberts from Durban North. The team battled with the gusts that swept through the race track, finding their boat going over on more than one occasion. They also retired, not managing to finish the second race.

Next weekend will be busy for the oldest yacht club in the country as the Royal Natal Yacht Club have the third day for the smaller boats with the Spring Dinghy Series then on Sunday they host the Battle of Trafalgar offshore for the keelers.

Visit www.rnyc.org.za or contact Kearin on 031 301 5425 for more information.