Head of the Bay Regatta

DURBAN Rowing Club, the only rowing club in the City, is holding their annual Head of the Bay regatta this Saturday, 4 July.

The regatta starts at 6.30am and should be completed by 10.30am.

According to Mark Burgess, captain of the Durban Rowing Club, eleven boats race the same course but receive handicaps off their finishing time depending on the size of the boat. The smaller the boat, the great the reduction in time is applied. “The course comprises some 12 kilometres in often challenging conditions, from the DRC club house in the yacht harbour to the furthest point in the Bay (opposite the Bluff yacht club) and back,” explained Burgess.

In recent years, however, a shorter, 8km course has been introduced in addition to the main route, so that novice, young junior and social crews may also take part without over-exerting themselves.

“Until 1963 the race was purely social and crews took part just for fun, but since then the introduction of handicaps based on boat type and age of crew has made it more formal and, dare we say it, competitive!”

The course runs through the harbour and is marked by the shipping lanes' buoys, although umpires stand by at some markers to ensure safety and fairness. The average crew takes approximately 60 minutes to complete the 12 km course in “real” time. Final placing is based on “adjusted” time after handicaps have been taken into account. It is not unusual, these days, for the winning crew (or sculler) to produce a corrected time of below 40 minutes.

The challenge of the HOB race, according to Burgess, lies in the rowers being sufficiently conditioned – and having the ability – to row at a high steady state; to steer correctly and effectively around the course whilst taking into account the currents, wind and tides; and steering clear of ships, tugs, ski boats and all manner of other maritime traffic.