Colorpress Vasco da Gama Race 2013 - First Overnight Race

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Colorpress Vasco da Gama Race 2013

Indian Ocean: Thursday 2 May

The annual international ocean race, the Colorpress Vasco da Gama gathers momentum with the first of three overnight races organised by the Royal Natal Yacht Club on Saturday 2 February encouraging local sailors to prepare for the premier blue water event.

The sailors set sail on Saturday in the late afternoon, weather dependent they head off to an imaginary mark set at a decent distance to test the crews, rounding the mark they trek back home under darkness. The object is for the teams to get used to navigating at night using stars and lights on the shore along with navigational equipment and charts to assist with the voyage.

Last year the long haul races attracted a number of entries, including yachts that wanted to participate in the overnight challenge with no intention of competing in the gruelling international race. The race officer sent the fleet off down south towards Scottburgh, north towards Ballito and offshore beyond the shipping lane. In the build up to this year’s international race, the yachts can expect similar courses to test their skills.

The tough 300 nautical mile international ocean race is not for the faint hearted especially along South Africa’s notoriously difficult East Coast.

“Despite some tough downwind conditions in gale force winds last year from Maputo to Durban, initial interest suggests that a record fleet could be on the cards for this year’s event.” a content Commodore from the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Richard Crockett stated.

“The Colorpress Vasco da Gama Race is known for the tactical decisions skippers and their navigators have to make. Many refer to it as a ‘navigator’s race’ due to the demands on the navigators as they have to weigh up the choice of course as the inshore option brings the possible land breeze and flatter water into account, whereas the offshore leg often brings with it a favourable current and stronger winds.” continued Crockett.

Concluding, he commented, “The three overnight warm-up races act as refresher courses for the chaps as they test their tactics ahead of when it really counts.”

Local sailors are preparing themselves ahead of the first overnight race that will give them much needed practice ahead of the Colorpress Vasco da Gama Race taking place in May.

To find out more or to follow the race, find them on Facebook under Vasco da Gama Race 2012-2014.