Ballito’s Thomas and Kai (9) Funke showed their class in tough sailing conditions to win last weekend’s KZN Mirror Regionals aboard ‘Shesha’.

The father-and-son duo put on a near-flawless performance over two days and eight races at Durban’s Point Yacht Club (PYC), finishing first or second in every single race on their way to gold. Such was the skill level of their closest competitors however, that it still came down to the final race to decide the title.

The Funkes arrived on Saturday as one of the competition favourites and represented the host yacht club against eight other teams of two from across the province. Teams raced four times on Saturday and Sunday, with their overall score determined by their combined finishing positions, minus the worst result.

Thomas and Kai had a tricky first day by their standards, registering one win and three second-placed finishes to leave them in second overall behind Steve Hegerstrom and Josh Pretorius from Henley Midmar Yacht Club. In windier conditions on Sunday however, the Ballito duo looked almost unbeatable.

“We weren’t fond of the conditions on Saturday, as we are strong wind people. Today we had big waves and lots of breeze. Kai loved it, he did so well,” said Thomas.

After registering two wins and one second across Sunday’s first three races, the Funkes and Hegerstrom and Pretorius were tied on ten points. The final race was winner takes all.

“It was very close with nothing in it. We rounded the top mark first but on the second leg of the triangle Steve snuck past. We knew our last chance would be on the next upwind,” said Thomas.

“Steve went right, we hit the left. When we came back together Steve tacked to leebow (a sailing manoeuvre where one boat tacks ahead and to leeward of another boat) us but the conditions were really tough and we managed to stay high and escape. We held him off on the run and managed to win the race. What a way to end the event. Tight racing. Well done to Steve and Josh, they are great competitors.”

Mirror sailors have a busy season coming up, with a flurry of major events in Durban. PYC will host the Mirror nationals next month in the build up to the African championships, also at PYC, before the Mirror Worlds in Durban in April.

Entries are already open for the event, with details available via the regatta website at mirrorworlds25.co.za. Non-Mirror owners are encouraged to charter boats and join in the action.

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