Small fleet tackles regatta

A SMALL competitive fleet participated in the Christmas Regatta hosted by Royal Natal Yacht Club over the long weekend in Durban leading up to the festive season.

The regatta that incorporated the Flying Fifteen nationals needed 10 boats on the water to constitute a fleet for nationals but only nine boats ventured offshore in a variety of conditions. The Regatta results still stand but unfortunately there is no 2014 national champion.

Race officer Rob Samways managed to get in nine races over the three days of competition with eight races counting and one race being a discard. Newcomers to the fleet Paul Changuion and crew member Tim Duguid were crowned champions in the Flying Fifteen fleet.

Changuion and Duguid have recently made a move from racing in the Hunter class to the Flying Fifteens. The sailors who have had the honour of competing in events such as the Lipton Challenge Cup and other big National and International events worked hard in preparation for the National Regatta. Their determined hard work paid off toppling defending champions Patrick Harris and Jeremy Kriek. They earned three first places, three second places, a third and fourth to end the regatta with 16points. Their discard was a race that they didn’t compete in, the final race on day two.

In the 505 class there was a tie on points at the conclusion for the overall leaderboard. Brothers Thomas and Peter Funke were in a demanding position claiming the top spot in the first four races. On the second day the brothers opted not to compete but rather to get in some training ahead of the 505 World Championships, the conditions offshore were testing with winds in the low 20knots and the 4m swell rising in quick concession. The talented duo spent five hours offshore flying across the water and as racing concluded disappointedly damaged a fixture on their rudder and were unable to race on the final day. Sharing the points with the Funke brothers were Ulrich and Marius Fourie who, like the Funke brothers only got on the water for two days. They both ended on a respectable 16 points.

Samways said: “It is a treat for the Flying Fifteens to race offshore and the conditions were somewhat trying. The first day was perfect racing with a small running swell and winds just over 10knots. Nine boats joined us that day. The numbers dropped drastically for day two but the conditions were extremely challenging for everyone out on the water. Myles was telling me that he clocked a boat speed of 14knots with only his mainsail powering them. Massive swells with winds consistently in the high teens and early twenties. Day three was overcast and drizzly but seven boats joined us which was fantastic.”

He said only two 505s participated which was disappointing as the World Championship is around the corner, but thanked those that did participate.

“They got some really good training with the variety of conditions,” he said.