Sailors battle blustery winds and choppy seas

SAILING conditions don’t get better than the Durban balmy winters and sailors took full advantage of the warm days over the long weekend competing offshore in the SAS Grand Slam incorporating the Hobie 14 Provincials hosted by Point Yacht Club.

Garth Loudon dominated the Hobie 14 class finishing 18 points ahead of his closest rival. Loudon has just returned from a successful adventure in Europe where he, together with his sailing partner Robbie Edwards-Bettsy, won the European Hobie 16 Grand Masters. Loudon competing solo at the Hobie 14 Provincials took line honours in five of the races offshore. After his two race discards, his score sheet also showed three seconds and two thirds.

An impressive fleet turned out over the four days, with over 50 boats taking to the water for a maximum of 12 races. The first two days, the conditions were champagne sailing with a gentle dose of wind mixed in with blue skies. Race Officer for the event, Kevin Bingham managed to get in the majority of the races on the first two days, slotting in four races on the first day and five on the second.

The predictions were correct on day three as a building south-westerly with personality greeted the sailors. With only three races still remaining, Bingham and his team constantly kept an eye on the Anemometer. During the eleventh race, conditions deteriorated causing havoc on the water. Majority of the fleet battled with the growing gusts’, looking out from the bridge boat it was carnage on the race track with a number of boats cartwheeling and tumble-weeding across the short sharp chop.

“Despite the white horses in the harbour, the average wind speed proved to be around 17 knots with gusts in the low 20s – so, the boats were called to the race course, the Oppies stayed onshore, and the start sequence got underway. The first race was completed despite several capsizes in all classes, but it was after the second race got underway that the breeze got up properly. We had cartwheeling Hobies and Lasers crossing the finish line before being sent home,” said rear commodore for Dinghies, Myles White.

The rescue and support team were kept busy righting boats that had been knocked down in the blustery gusts. Racing was suspended at the end of the second race, with the brave competitors safely returning to shore.

The fleet needed to come out on Women’s Day to conclude the regatta. Majority of the boats took to the water in near-perfect conditions for the final race that took place after the sprinkling of sailing stalwart, Bob Fraser’s ashes in the harbour.

The fleet comprised 50 boats altogether with 19 of these being Hobies. Also on the water were Darts, a Tornado and Hobie Tiger comprising the Open Cat fleet; 505s and 29ers being the Open Dinghies; approximately 10 Lasers, and 12 Optimists who wanted offshore experience in advance of an upcoming international regatta.

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