Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
Today was a day all about the Defenders (Royal Cape Yacht Club) and Challengers (Point Yacht Club) – and boy did they go head to head all the way around the course in a titanic duel on the compulsory triangular course.
The race was sailed in a moderate North Easterly with the race starting in 6 knots and finishing in 12 knots.
Probably due to the fact that racing was cancelled yesterday, the fleet was raring to go from the gun, but too many jumped it, starting early, which forced the Race Officer to call a general recall.
The second start was good, but under the U-flag, and the fleet were away. The Defenders went left, the challengers went right, and when they crossed tacks way up the first beat, the Challengers were only marginally ahead. They continued to cross tacks all the way to the weather mark, and rounded with the Defenders trailing the Challengers by a few boat lengths.
The two reaches were pretty much a soldiers’ course with not much room to pass, and the positions remained the same with the Defenders right on the transom of the Challengers.
The beat was epic as both parties knew that whoever rounded the weather mark in first spot, was likely to be the winner. They duelled, throwing every possible trick in the book at each other, until they rounded with the Defenders in the lead.
The following two reaches allowed no passing lanes, for the top two anyway, although those looking for 3rd place and lower, were having their own private duels and found some passing lanes. UCT were 3rd, LDYC were 4th, VLC 5th and RNYC 6th, but going into the final beat those positions had changed as LDYC stole 3rd spot from UCT, followed by RNYC and VLC.
At the head of the fleet the Defenders and Challengers split. The Defenders went left, the Challengers rounded the mark and continued seaward, and it was anyone’s guess as to who would triumph until they crossed tacks again. The positions remained the same with the Defenders cool and calm and protecting their lead with clever covering to take the gun and win their second race.
Of the rest, LDYC kept her 3rd place, UCT was 4th, LYC 5th; VLC 6th and RNYC dropping to 7th – the LYC team sailing particularly well for their 5th spot.
The compulsory Lipton Cup courses are now complete, so the regatta is fully constituted. Should there be no more racing before the regatta ends on Friday the overall results at this point will count. Racing is scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Interestingly, the committee boat crew were surprised by a couple of breaching whales at one point in the day and saw more on their way back from the finish. Let’s hope the racing boats don’t have to ‘brake for whales’ tomorrow.
Results Race 3 – Triangle Course
Royal Cape Yacht Club – Roger Hudson 1
Point Yacht Club – Richard Weddell 2
University of Cape Town Yacht Club – Ryan Barnardo 4
Royal Natal Yacht Club – Paul Changuion 7
Victoria Lake Club – Rob Willcox 6
Zeekoevlei Yacht Club – Heidi Burger 8
Langebaan Yacht Club – Sibusiso Sizatu 5
Zululand Yacht Club – Bryan Martin 9
Lake Deneys Yacht Club – Richard Widerhold 3
Witbank Yacht & Aquatic Club – Kevin Rainier 13
Buffalo River Yacht Club – Nhlanhla Phakathi 10
Algoa Bay Yacht Club – Refeloa Zililo 12
University of Natal Yacht Club – Hannah Fokkens 11
Glenwood High School Yacht Club – Brendan Humphreys 16
Seal Point Yacht Club – Craig Deverson 15
Bluff Yacht Club – Michael Boorman 14
Island Sailing Club – Eli Brophy-Tintinger 17
Overall Results
Royal Cape Yacht Club – Roger Hudson 1
Point Yacht Club – Richard Weddell 2
University of Cape Town Yacht Club – Ryan Barnardo 3
Royal Natal Yacht Club – Paul Changuion 4
Victoria Lake Club – Rob Willcox 5
Zeekoevlei Yacht Club – Heidi Burger 6
Langebaan Yacht Club – Sibusiso Sizatu 7
Zululand Yacht Club – Bryan Martin 8
Lake Deneys Yacht Club – Richard Widerhold 9
Witbank Yacht & Aquatic Club – Kevin Rainier 10
Buffalo River Yacht Club – Nhlanhla Phakathi 11
Algoa Bay Yacht Club – Refeloa Zililo 12
University of Natal Yacht Club – Hannah Fokkens 13
Glenwood High School Yacht Club – Brendan Humphreys 14
Seal Point Yacht Club – Craig Deverson 15
Bluff Yacht Club Michael Boorman 16
Island Sailing Club – Eli Brophy-Tintinger 17
