Lipton Cup Day 2 – Report, Results & Pics

by Richard Crockett

A Day of Redemption

Having had victory snatched from his team within metres of the finish line yesterday in Race 1, Roger Hudson and his team from the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) sailed an almost flawless race today – and won in fine style.

Flawless? Simply because by his high standards, and that of his team, Hudson would have been mightily annoyed at not finishing the job and winning that first race yesterday.

Conditions were absolutely perfect today for the rectangular course which was sailed in North Easterly winds, starting at about 10 knots and reaching 16 knots, gusting 20 by the finish. The leaders took 2 hours to complete the course.

Out of the start near the committee boat Rob Willcox (Victoria Lake Club) committed early to the right side of the course, while towards the pin end of the line the RCYC and Langebaan (LYC) teams choose to kept left on an inshore leg. They hung onto this course for a long time until they got the shift they wanted, and headed seaward.

It was a tough first leg with some wind shifts, but ultimately at the first buoy it was LYC who rounded first with VLC and RCYC hot on his transom, and then followed by UCT and LDYC. Some boats overstood that 1st buoy, costing them dearly.

The reach across to the second buoy was, predictably, a soldiers course. But once the fleet gybed for the 3rd buoy, tactics immediately came into play. Play the lay-line/low course, or go high. The RCYC team went high immediately, as did the RNYC team, with LYC and VLC playing a cat-and-mouse game down that leg erring on the low side.

When they converged on the buoy, VLC had taken the lead by a minuscule margin, followed by RCYC and LYC.

By this stage the wind was beginning to increase slightly and the swell build a little, so the windward leg became a crucial and difficult one.

 

Regrettably we missed the windward mark roundings, but caught the fleet at the 5th buoy where the RCYC had taken the lead from LYC, UCT and VLC. There were position changes here as the slightly stronger winds did not favour the inland clubs of VLC and LDYC who were dropping back. But with the increase in wind the two Durban Clubs of RNYC and PYC had picked up places. The RCYC and LYC boats had built a good lead and looked unstoppable.

By the time the fleet was downwind again, the RCYC were comfortably ahead with LYC not far behind – these two having a commanding lead by the time they started the final windward leg, with the balance playing for final positions in the race.

RCYC won the race in fine style, and had the young development team representing LYC behind them. These youngsters of LYC had a disappointing first day when they were adjudged to be over the start line, but the fought back like true sportsmen to achieve a very fine second place in the race, while UCT too sailed a great race.

Tomorrow, Aoelus permitting, they fleet will sail the final compulsory course being the equilateral triangle.

Results – Race 2
1 Royal Cape Yacht Club  – Roger Hudson
2 Langebaan Yacht Club – Sibusiso Sizatu
3 University of Cape Town Yacht Club – Ryan Barnardo
4 Point Yacht Club – Richard Weddell
5 Victoria Lake Club – Rob Willcox
6 Royal Natal Yacht Club – Paul Changuion
7 Lake Deneys Yacht Club – Richard Widerhold
8 Zeekoevlei Yacht Club – Heidi Burger
9 Zululand Yacht Club – Bryan Martin
10 Buffalo River Yacht Club – Nhlanhla Phakathi
11 Witbank Yacht & Aquatic Club – Kevin Rainier
12 Algoa Bay Yacht Club – Refeloa Zililo
13 Glenwood High School Yacht Club – Brendan Humphreys
14 Seal Point Yacht Club – RS Waldecia
15 Island Sailing Club – Eli Brophy-Tintinger
16 University of Natal Yacht Club – Hannah Fokkens
17 Bluff Yacht Club – Michael Boorman

Overall after 2 races
1 Royal Cape Yacht Club – Roger Hudson
2 Royal Natal Yacht Club – Paul Changuion
3 University of Cape Town Yacht Club – Ryan Barnardo
4 Victoria Lake Club – Rob Willcox
5 Point Yacht Club – Richard Weddell
6 Zeekoevlei Yacht Club – Heidi Burger
7 Zululand Yacht Club – Bryan Martin
8 Witbank Yacht & Aquatic Club – Kevin Rainier
9 Langebaan Yacht Club – Sibusiso Sizatu
10 Lake Deneys Yacht Club  – Richard Widerhold
11 Buffalo River Yacht Club – Nhlanhla Phakathi
12 Algoa Bay Yacht Club – Refeloa Zililo
13 Glenwood High School Yacht Club – Brendan Humphreys
14 Seal Point Yacht Club – RS Waldecia
15 Island Sailing Club Eli – Brophy-Tintinger
16 University of Natal Yacht Club – Hannah Fokkens
17 Bluff Yacht Club – Michael Boorman