Wrap up for the Coopers Lighthouse There-and-Back Race

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Coopers Lighthouse There-And –Back Race

Sunday 26 May

The trimaran Ladybird skippered by Andrew Dolloway dominated in Sunday’s Royal Natal Yacht Club Coopers Lighthouse There-and-Back Race taking line honours in a fleet of 17.

Dolloway led from the onset heading offshore on the run as he raced to the mark set furthest for the racing class. Being the first boat to turn around the buoy, he opted for the route closest to the shore as he worked his way up to the finish line in a magnificent time of just over two hours.

Second around the racing pin, Sticky Fingers with Rob Samways at the helm navigated his way down the centre of the course. On his approach, Sticky Fingers caught up with the first in the cruising class, Bellissima with James Goss steering the larger yacht. The two duelled their way to the finish line in a wonderful tussle for the honour of second across the finish line. Bellissima powered her way to the end, pipping Sticky Fingers at the post.

James Goss enthusiastically stated after the race, “That was exciting! We were within inches of Sticky Fingers. I opted to wait and head further offshore on our approach to the finish with our final tack taking us perfectly through the line. This tactic worked fantastically and I am so pleased with our result!”

The wind filled the sails just in time for the race officer, Greg Challis to set the cluster of yachts off on time with one start for all the sailors. A gentle 5knots and glassy waters greeted the sailors as they set off flying their spinnakers sailing down to two marks just off Coopers Lighthouse off the Bluff.  The slower, bigger boats in the Cruising Class turned first with the racing classes buoy further down the coast allowing them to stretch their legs and power their way around the course.

On the beat back to the finish, the north easterly got to around 8knots giving the boats a bit more power. The entire fleet finished within one hour after the leader Ladybird with only one yacht retiring. The Durban sailors were treated to a once in a lifetime backdrop as they made their way back to the finish line near the harbour mouth, three Dutch Tall Ships departed Durban continuing their circumnavigation with the next stop in Port Louis in Mauritius made for a welcome and memorable sight.

Ahead of the biggest sailing event in South Africa, four L26s used the race to get some hard earned time on the water for the upcoming Lipton Challenge with the two big contenders finish first and fifth on handicap in the racing class.

Results

Cruising Class

1 Bellissima (James Goss), 2 Caversham Caprice (Richard Crockett), 3 So Basic (Stuart Ritchie), 4 Inside Out (Phil Downing) 5 Cest La Vie DNF

Racing Class

1 Choose Life Coordination (Richard Weddell), 2 Sticky Fingers (Rob Samways), 3 Aquavit (Ross McGill), 4 Majimoto (Jon Marshall), 5 Orion B2G2 (Patrick Harris), 6 Zing (Gavin Smith), 7 Therapy (Gavin Wadsworth), 8 Choose Life Element (Siya Vato), 9 Container World (Michael Dickinson), 10 Flyer (Brad Rayson), 11 Zap (Graham Rose)

Multihull

1 Ladybird (Andrew Dolloway)