The Cream Is Slowly Rising

Champagne sailing is what today was all about in the Lipton Challenge Cup contest sponsored by the City of Cape Town on Table Bay – with great tactical sailing too.

It was nerve-wracking out there today especially in the first race as the wind took forever to settle and steady. With just 6-8 knots from the north/north west, it was a race full of decision making, sound tactics and boat speed.

From the start gun the fleet spread quickly with those choosing to go in towards Table Mountain being clubbed hard and taking a big hit in the overall standings – especially the defending champions from Hermanus Yacht Club (HYC) who finished a very lowly 12th in the 17 boat fleet. As disappointing as this result is for them it has not derailed their efforts, nor their determination, to retain the coveted Lipton Cup as they were just 2 points off the overall lead after 4 races.

But the race belonged to Walvis Bay Yacht Club (WBYC) whose team led by Bjorn Geiger sailed a tactically sound and very sensible race to outstrip the fleet and win unchallenged by about three minutes from the Royal Natal Yacht Club (RNYC) and False Bay Yacht Club (FBYC) in 3rd place.

The second race today was a complete contrast to the first one as the wind set in at a solid 15 knots, giving a crackerjack race that was intense, interesting to follow on the race tracker, and which saw the cream in the fleet start to rise to the top.

Hermanus Yacht Club had the best start by far about two-thirds of the way down the line and going fast up the middle to take an early lead and do their utmost to avenge their poor result in the previous race. But they had a fight on their hands from a very determined RCYC team who had, in their own words “some disappointing results”, and who wanted to prove that their first race victory on day one was not a flash in the pan. These two duelled it out until the RCYC took the lead and held it to finish a solid 30 seconds ahead of the defenders, with Knysna Yacht Club third.

So despite a tough and disappointing day on the water the Hermanus Team are now just 3 points off the overall lead which has been taken by the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC). Rounding off the podium is the Royal Natal Yacht Club a further 2 points adrift of Hermanus.

There are still two days of racing left and a potential 5 races that could be sailed, so at the midway point the “cream” cannot rest on their laurels as there’s still lots to fight for and one of the oldest sporting trophies in this country to lift in victory.

The races ahead are going to be extremely exciting, tough and closely fought. Of that here is absolutely no doubt.

Overall Results after 5 races HERE:  Overall after 5 Races