Sailing Magazine
Photo by Judy Struwig
by Richard Crockett
It’s done and dusted, and was fast too. This 2024 Vasco da Gama Race was one that will be etched in the memory of all crew for all the good about ocean racing, and not for the toughness and “vasbyt” one often needs to tame the Wild Coast.
More importantly, there were some outstanding performances and new names to add to the trophies.
Of course the addition of a two-handed division is welcomed. Worldwide two-handers compete alongside the fully crewed boats for overall honours, yet this was denied them. Hopefully the organisers will see the light and bring them into the fold next year?
The YB tracker enables one to follow the race as if out on the water, so it’s difficult to sometimes fathom the moves made and tactics employed when you can see what the entire fleet is doing. This was especially so as the fleet was in the 50nm miles to go zone as at times it looked as if some may have been swept past the finish line by the current. It looked close for some, and I am sure there were some sweaty furrowed brows while trying to avoid that embarrassment!
Line honours went to ‘CFM’ (Nigel Milln) in a pretty quick time, a shade under 30 hours, but not fast enough to have broken the record set in 1996 by Colin Craig’s ‘Deja Vu’, a Simonis 50, of 24 hours and 53 minutes.
Over the line second was ‘Bellatrix’ (Greg Hurter), who wore the winner’s crown for parts of the race, and kept it at the end where it mattered most as he took the overall ORC handicap honours. This may be one of his best performances in a Vasco in some years, so hopefully it has sparked the fire that will keep enticing him back.
For me the tussle of the race was between ‘Regardless 2′ (Neville Bransby and Sean Jones), and ‘Adios’ (John Tudehope). This is not a fair comparison as ‘Regardless was sailed two-up by a 70 year old and a 60 year old, while Tudehope was fully crewed. But they were close for most of the race, and with ‘Regardless’ being ahead most of the time, there was a carrot for ‘Adios’ to chase – and that he did. Not only did he chase them down, and then edge ahead as the finishing tactics played out, but he sailed his best Vasco race ever to be second overall on ORC handicap.
Well done to both teams, although the two aboard ‘Regardless’ do deserve special mentions and accolades as their Farr 40 is a very demanding boat to sail well fully crewed, let alone race two-handed.
Further back, the likes of the L34s, ‘Aquavit’ (B Walsh) and ‘Spirit of Anna Wardley’ (K Makhanya) both sailed well with ‘Aquavit’ looking like her performance could earn her the overall handicap honours. She did slip to third overall at the end. ‘Spirit of Anna Wardley’ ended fourth overall on ORC Handicap – a great performance indeed from this Sail Africa crew.
The Baltic 42 ‘Magic’ (Peter Channing), was also double-handed, and she too had a good race by heading the double-handed results.
The only other double handed entry was ‘Astral’ (Elmo van Wyk) a Roberts 45. That’s a big heavy boat to sail two-up, and although they are bringing up the rear of the fleet, they have persevered and will finish.
As most followers of this Blog know, the Vasco is my favourite race by far. This year it was fast and relatively easy, a welcome relief from the tough conditions so often associated with this race along the Wild Coast.
The fact that there will be some new names on the trophies extrapolates to a big positive vibe, and hopefully a bigger fleet and renewed energy for this class coastal offshore race. Time will tell.
