Sailing Magazine
pic by Trevor Wilkins
Just two days ago the Notice of Race and Entry forms plus other documents were sent out via e-mail to approximately 1300 yachties nationwide. At the same time the race Facebook page was launched.
The response to next year’s Vasco da Gama Ocean Race has been phenomenal so far with countrywide interest. Almost immediately we received our very first entry – that being A.L Mount Gay Rum – the Farr 38 from Cape Town. Her owner is Rob van Rooyen who was one of the top competitors in Cape waters last season.
Sensing a great on-the-water duel, Point Yacht Club Rear Commodore Jon Marshall submitted the second entry – also a Farr 38 – so no doubt these two Farrs will be going head-to-head on the race course.
And as our finishing hosts are Algoa Bay Yacht Club we received correspondence from a Port Elizabeth owner confirming his intention to compete and stating that his entry form will be with us soon.
The race winner for the past two years is Gregg Hurter’s Bellatrix, and Gregg too has confirmed that he will be defending his title and looking forward to racing to Port Elizabeth.
Vernon Goss was next confirming that his Hanse 43 Bellissima will also compete.
The organisers have received serious enquiries from two other owners, one being Cape based.
Further proof of the positive response is that the Facebook response has shown just under 100 ‘likes’ in the first 24 hours and a post reach of over 300 people.
So, the initial interest shown countrywide is a positive re-enforcement that the Vasco da Gama Race will continue to grow positively and be an offshore race sailors have to do. Once you have ‘Vasco blood’ in your veins, it’s infectious, and one of those races one simply keeps coming back to.
The race is hosted by the Point Yacht Club (PYC) and starts in Durban on 25 April 2015 and finishes at Algoa Bay Yacht Club in Port Elizabeth.
The Notice of Race; Entry Form; Safety Requirements and Trophy list, plus crew list are all available from:
Lucy de Freitas – sailing@pyc.co.za
