Kloof sailor secures Vasco title
After a few rough days of sailing, Phezulu crossed the finish line in Port Elizabeth to claim the win.
A SUPREMELY chuffed Nigel Milln from Kloof, skipper of Phezulu, claimed line honours when he finished the hardcore 400NM Vasco da Gama Ocean Race race in two days, 19 hours and 15 minutes.
A small fleet of eight yachts headed through the start line set off of Durban on Thursday at midday. Only two yachts endured the tough conditions and glided through the finish line off the pier at the Port Elizabeth harbour entrance. The remaining six yachts retired due to damages and fatigue.
Flying the Point Yacht Club burgee, Milln added to his impressive history in this 47th edition of the Vasco da Gama and claimed his fifth line honours victory. Milln first sailed the Vasco in 2005 in his beloved Skitzo. In his 13 Vascos, he crossed the line in pole position in 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013.
He also has four handicap titles to his name, winning on handicap in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
The decorated sailor missed the 2017 race as he was on the hunt for a faster racing yacht. Milln’s last 10 months was spent hard at work behind the scenes modifying and overhauling Phezulu.
Arriving in Port Elizabeth, the conditions were freezing with the two battered boats finishing within hours of each other.
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On Phezulu, the instruments packed up, so they sailed most of the race without the comforts of modern day technologies.
One of the crew members fell down the companionway, hit his head and was concussed for a few hours.
On the last night of racing, one of the steering wheels came loose. Fortunately for them, the modern-day racing yacht has two wheels, which meant they could continue without having to stop and do running repairs.
The smallest yacht in the fleet, Seaport Supply DARG Shadowfax finished in three hours and 24 minutes behind Phezulu.
The next race, hosted by Point Yacht Club, will be a long-haul race on Sunday 20 May offshore of Durban.
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