Harbour: Sunday 1 October
It was a gentle start to the sailing season with champagne sailing conditions greeting the fleet for the first day of Point Yacht Club’s Port Captain’s Sprints that took place on Sunday in the bay.
The majestic yacht, Bellissima helmed by James Goss, glided across the finish line first. Only two other boats finished the course correctly, with a few of the boats misunderstanding which way to turn around the marks.
Race Officer for the day was Jon Marshall, he set a start line near the container terminals, with the fleet going around the sand bank and then running down the Maydon Wharf channel heading towards the Bluff Yacht Club, turning around for a long beat back and looping down towards the Navy base. At the start of the race it was a gorgeous 10 knot East – North – Easterly pushing the boats, but gradually as midday ticked by, the breeze slowly dropped, forcing Marshall to shorten the race.
The beautiful Mafuta, skippered by Robin Hulley had only two sailors onboard, and the striking yacht Zing, skippered by Gavin Smith managed to cross the line in the last of the wind. Mafuta did, however, do an extra lap, misunderstanding the shortened course flag. The compact trimaran, Ladybird skippered by the friendly and passionate sailor, Andrew Dolloway, didn’t see the shortened course flag and continued on their way completing the full three lap course. Ladybird ran out of breeze, eventually packing it all in on the long beat back towards the yacht mole and motoring home.
The leading lady, the magnificent Bellatrix would have been the first Division A boat to finish, but sadly didn’t round the buoys correctly.
Also, out on the water was keen Laser sailor, Hannah Fokkens getting as much water time as possible with visiting Danish coach, Lauritz Walsoe. Fokkens has just returned from a gruelling Nationals up at the Vaal Dam, where she finished 11th and was one of the top ladies in the large competitive fleet.
This weekend sees the smaller dinghies take to the water for their first race in the Newbie Sailing, and the next Port Captain’s Sprints taking place on Sunday 15th October.
For more info visit www.pyc.coza or contact the club.
