Sailor puts Sheppie on the map
Heidi Kavanagh and her family, all keen sailors, have moved from Cape Town to Port Shepstone.
EIGHT yachts took part in the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Offshore Series in ‘agonising’ conditions offshore of Durban recently.
One of them was Ray of Light, skippered by former Capetonian Heidi Kavanagh, now living in Port Shepstone.
The ‘there-and-back’ race got under way with the big keelers gliding at snail’s pace over the start line in winds just under one knot.
The start line was set off Vetchies Pier with race officer for the day, RNYC’s rear commodore Rob Samways dropping the weather mark roughly 4NM from the start line, just beyond the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Late arrival, Spindrift, skippered by Cowie’s Hill’s John Bandfield was the first boat to retire halfway up to the mark.
With the clock edging close to the two hour elapsed time, the first boat rounded the buoy.
Morningside’s Gregg Hurter, helming Bellatrix, turned hoisting his spinnaker with the time on one hour and 57 minutes.
Just over a minute later, Durban’s newest club member, Ray of Light, worked hard to stay on Hurter’s tail.
The 44-foot yacht, Ray of Light went further offshore on the long ride home catching a few puffs of breeze in the massive spinnaker that registered near three knots while Gregg stayed close to shore.
Heidi’s gamble paid off and Ray of Light crossed the line after having been out for three hours and 12 minutes.
Ray of Light was followed by Bellatrix, Flyer and Therapy.
