Lipton Challenge Cup Day Two

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Lipton Challenge Cup Regatta 2012

False Bay: 19 – 24 August

Day Two: Monday 20 August

 Side by side, the Royal Cape Yacht Club try and catch Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Orion B2G2 on the last lap of yesterday’s Lipton Challenge Cup. The Royal Natal Yacht Club team finds themselves just a single point off from the Royal Cape Yacht Club’s entry

At the conclusion of day two of the Lipton Challenge Cup, one point separated the top two teams on the log, with Greg Davies from Royal Cape Yacht Club lying marginally ahead of Ricky Robinson, from Royal Natal Yacht Club.

The story of the day was the determined team from Royal Natal Yacht Club were lying fifth heading into the finish straight, five boat lengths behind Royal Cape Yacht Club and managed a phenomenal surge on the last leg, overtaking Davies and crossing the finish with five boat lengths to spare.

After a big wind shift, five start recalls and a few other delays, the 25 contestants eventually got under way for day two of the Lipton Challenge Cup; the young team sailing for UCT Yacht Club proved that hard work and perseverance are what you need to claim a race, taking the honours in yesterday’s (Monday) race.

A minute before the start of the days racing, the wind veered off forcing the race officer to postpone the start, and adjusting the course. Several enthusiastic starts had yachts jump the gun causing five general recalls but eventually the yachts got underway surging forward in 10-12 knots winds.

Keeping an eye on their bag, the team from Royal Natal Yacht Club  head down to the buoy in yesterday’s (Monday) Lipton Challenge Cup. The consistent team sailed fantastically well and are just one point off the top of the leader board.

The two Durban entrants, the Royal Natal Yacht club and Point Yacht Club’s Choose Life High Performance team looked good on the first beat and were bunched together in the top five yachts as they worked their way up to the first mark.

At the turn, the positions were Fish Hoek Beach Sailing Club in first, followed by Richard Weddel sailing for PYC Choose Life High Performance Team, followed by Zeekoevlei Yacht Club and then Ricky Robinson on the RNYC yacht, Orion B2G2.

Malan on the UCT Yacht Club’s entry worked his way up the fleet cleverly keeping his nose in front around the second marker, with Weddel coming up on the inside of him in second place. The first five boats were still tightly packed as they shuffled their way around the square course.

The order again changed around the third marker with Fish Hoek having a good run and snatching the lead momentarily, UCT in second, and on their tail the two Durban entries, Point Yacht Club chased by Robinson.

Zeekoevlei were in fifth with Greg Davies from the Royal Cape Yacht Club edging his way up the fleet in sixth. Positions remained the same as they turned the corner, completing the first lap. The third entry from KwaZulu Natal, Craig Millar competing for Henley Midmar Yacht Club found himself in eleventh place.

The Royal Natal Yacht Club chase the leaders down in yesterday’s (Monday) Lipton Challenge Cup down in False Bay. The team find themselves one point of the pace in the most prestigious sailing event in South Africa.

  

Finishing the beat at the end of the second round, UCT were still in the lead, Davies was now in second position with PYC, RNYC and then Zeekoevlei Yacht Club in fifth. The defending champion, Andrea Giovannini sailing for False Bay Yacht Club made a massive charge, landed himself in sixth spot with a lap remaining.

At the hooter, Neil Malan crossed the line comfortably in first, flying the burgee for the University of Cape Town Yacht Club, with Fish Hoek Yacht Club in second. The Point Yacht Club’s Choose Life High Performance Team were in third, with Ricky Robinson sailing consistently at the front of the fleet,  on the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Orion B2G2 coming in in fourth place.

Royal Cape Yacht Club found themselves down the fleet in fifth place after race two, which gave them a total of six points, a single point separating them from Robinson on the log.

The young team from UCT proved that hard work and perseverance are what you need to claim a race in the Lipton Cup challenge. UCTYC took first in today's race in their effort to claim South Africa's most prestigious yachting trophy

  

Eight boats find themselves within two points of each other, PYC lie tie third on the log with UCT on 12 points. Fellow KZN entrant, HMYC is tied fifth alongside Defence Yacht Club on 13 points. Four boats are level on 14 points, with Fish Hoek Beach; Langebaan Yacht Club; defending champions False Bay Yacht Club and Zeekoevlei Yacht Club battling it out.

The third day of the weeklong event sees the top sailors from around South Africa take to the waters in the fight to win the 121^st Lipton Challenge Cup.

Photo Credit: Trevor Wilkins