Superb weather for weekend sailing
Local sailors were in for a great sailing weeekend with Durban's weather playing the game.
THE weekend weather made for superb sailing both in the bay and offshore with the first of the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Dinghy Series held in the harbour and the conclusion of the Caney Series offshore.
On Saturday the winds were consistent around the 20 knot mark and the water was relatively flat giving the dinghies fabulous fast conditions to zip around the course set by Race Officer Jennifer Weyer. Four Flying Fifteens, two darts and five lasers tackled a course incorporating a triangle and sausage.
The course was a short, sharp one forcing the sailors to tack and gybe often in the south westerly. Flying Fifteen crew member, Chris Clark said when he had returned to land, “It was good practice, we had to work hard. We don’t often have a short course.”
Weyer managed to sneak in four races but was forced to shorten the final race due to ships being escorted close to the race track as they made their way to their berths. In the Laser Class, Henri Frenken was in first position for the first two races with Richard Bates taking the third race. The fleet of Lasers all disappeared after the third race back to land after their tiring workout.
Having just returned from the Dart World Championship, Rob Samways with his crew member Jared Quinn relished in the winds screaming around the course in high speeds. Second placed Graham Weyer sailing with a novice also enjoyed being out on the water, sharing invaluable experience with the young sailor, Iain Modola.
Campbell Alexander and Chris Clark took line honours in the first two races. Getting in some training ahead of their 49er campaign in Abu Dhabi, Euan Hurter and Michael Dickenson took the win in the third race with the shortened race being claimed by Port Shepstone’s husband and wife team Heidi and Michael Kavanagh.
Following their good display with their Flying Fifteens, the Kavanagh family took line honours in the final race of the Caney Series held offshore by Point Yacht Club on Sunday. Competing on Ray of Light, the team did well in their first race back from their festive holidays.
In the multihulls, Wayne Smith powered his catamaran Crazy Diamond ahead of Sean Jones on Bandit, the two continuing to have a fierce tussle out on the water.
The overall winners were Jon Marshall helming Majimoto in the racing division with Smith taking first place in the multihull division on Crazy Diamond.
