Chatting to sailor Chris Frost

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Chris Frost

Umhlanga’s Chris Frost will be taking to the high seas to compete in the upcoming Colorpress Vasco da Gama hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club that begins in Maputo this Thursday (2 May).

Frost will be competing in his ninth Vasco, the toughest ocean race in Southern Africa. “It has been a while since I last competed in a Vasco, the last time was in 2008 for the RNYC 150^th anniversary race.”

Previously in 2006, Frost and his crew set a new course record and was the first yacht across the line. As the fleet of 14 yachts line up to tackle the 2013 race, Frost’s remarkable record still stands, “We had superb conditions ion 2006 in a 25 knot north easterly until Tugela where we were hit by a 50 knot westerly front.  Before then we had an eta Durban of below 22 hours!  We shredded our main in the westerly, essentially finishing with a flat tyre. That we set a good record that has stood seven years in those conditions was extraordinary.”

“I love sailing offshore, it is far more exhilarating than dam or bay racing, and Durban is one of the best places to sail, doesn’t get better. Warm water, great swell and good wind, year round!” Frost boasts about his hometown turf.

The experienced sailor has had a busy sailing month, having just won the double in the Inhaca Island to Richard’s Bay Race, being the first yacht across the line and winning on handicap. “It was a good warm up for us for the Vasco. Southern Storm performed well in the light conditions and I am looking forward to feeling her surf down the swells this weekend.”

Southern Storm will have the same crew as the Inhaca Race, “The crew were simply fantastic, a mix of experienced yachtsman like Long John Lupton – Smith and Gerrie Boshoff who have sailed with me for years and talented youth sailors such as Gareth Elias and Tamzin Gennissen. Gareth and Tamzin are flying in from Turkey to compete.”

Frost took a year off from competitive sailing in 2012, “I took a year off competitive sailing in 2012 because the previous year, 2011 I did my international programme and felt like a break, with more emphasis on cruising to avoid burn out.”

In 2011 Frost took his yacht Prodigy to victory in the Cape to Rio Race, “2011 was a great year, we broke the course record for the Heineken Cape to Rio race, and I still hold that title, along with being the defending champion for this transatlantic race. A few months later, I competed in the New York Yacht Clubs’ Transatlantic Race to Lands’ End in the United Kingdom. We also entered the Fastnet Race that year.”

The highly decorated sailor, who has been sailing for around forty years, still has a number of events that he would like to compete in, “There are a few international races that I want to tick off, the Fastnet, Rolex Middle Sea Race; Newport Bermuda Race and the Rolex Sydney to Hobart are absolute musts.”  

Pausing, he states, “I also want to continue cruising the world’s best and most exotic sailing areas.” Each year the Frost family spend about four weeks cruising on a 60ft Catamaran named Salty Dog. “We have been lucky enough to have cruised Bazaruto, Pemba, Zanzibar, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Balearic Islands, Malta, Greece and Turkey over the past six years.”

Asked what he most enjoys about sailing, he says, “Predominantly the competition! When we are surfing at 25 plus knots, at the front of the fleet on Prodigy IV, a Simonis Voogd Design 54, life is absolutely invigorating.” he states beaming.

The long range weather is looking good for the fleet as they all navigate their way back from Maputo, finishing offshore of Durban.

“It promises to be a cracker of a race, this year we have a quality fleet with guys from around the county crewing, so it is going to be interesting. Seeing the different strategies play out as we charge down the coastline back home.” Frost concludes.

ENDS