Samways sails into second place
Westville's Rob Samways nabbed second place at the Royal natal Yacht Club's Sea Sailing Adventure Regatta.
THE Sea Sailing Adventure Regatta, which opened the sailing season and was hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club concluded on Heritage Day, dusting off any cobwebs Durban sailors may have acquired over the winter season.
The four-day regatta not only tested sailors on their wit on the water but also their nautical knowledge with a Cryptic Clue Competition on Monday afternoon sending everyone on a wild-goose chase around the harbour in search of clues. The final firey event was the team Potjiekos competition where the shore-based crews cooked up a storm.
Sixteen yachts took to the water for three days of challenging sailing as the sailors braved lumpy waters and blustering winds. The final results on handicaps had Gregg Hurter on Bellatrix crowned champion of the racing class and John Banfield on Spindrift the overall winner of the cruising class.
At the weekend the fleet went offshore with the race officer getting in three races. The first, a there-and-back race, took the competitors to Umhlanga and back.
On Sunday, Race Officer Ron Pet fitted in two ‘Round the Buoy’ races. In the morning the wind started off as a 10 – 14knot north easterly and swung around to a generous 17 – 20knot easterly.
On Heritage Day, the skippers whisked their boats around a south-easterly course in gusting winds that reached more than 30knots. Again drama in the cruising class ensued as defending champion Liquid Blue, helmed by Andy Murray, looked to have the regatta all sewn up before the final race. Dicing Bellissima on the line, they snagged the buoy costing them precious minutes as the class swept away from them. It took the crew close to ten minutes to rid the buoy wrapped around their rudder and keel before they got underway, the title slipping further and further away from them.
The Rear Commodore for the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Rob Samways said, “All the guys that took part can be applauded in their efforts on and off the water. We all had fun; some of us broke a few things on the boats in the unyielding weather. A hugely successful regatta to open up the season, we can only anticipate a magnificent season from here on out!”
The Royal Natal Yacht Club will host its next event, Twilight Race, on Wednesday 2 October. Contact Gayle on 031 301 5425 or visit www.rnyc.org.za.
Results:
Racing class
1. Bellatrix (Gregg Hurter), 2. Sticky Fingers (Rob Samways); 3. Donna Mia (Richard Winn).
Cruising Class
1. Spindrift (John Banfield), 2. Bellissima (Vernon Goss); 3 Liquid Blue (Andy Murray).
