Royal Natal Yacht Club Dinghy and Offshore Series

Miserable weather over the weekend didn’t dampen the hearts of Durban sailors as they took to hefty swells in two events.

On Saturday, the second of the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Dinghy Series was held in the bay; only twelve yachts braved the gusting winds that hit Durban before the storm with the smallest of the dinghies deciding that the weather was a bit too big for their small boats and retreated back to safety.

Laying a windward leeward course, the port control indicated the winds were blowing at 27knots in a north easterly direction. Race Officer Lucy De Freitas got the racing underway with two starts for the two classes on the water.

Five Flying Fifteens set off with Ballito’s Carl Zimmerman and Durban’s Mongezi Mfeka jostling for position on the line while experienced campaigner Jeremy Kriek, letting the drama unfold in front of him, quietly got on with his sailing. Kriek and his crew member, novice Flying Fifteen sailor Tjaart Kat from Margate sailed consistently, opting before the race not to fly their spinnaker in the blustery conditions.  The duo led for the entire race, finishing ahead of Myles White and Estelle Buys, both from the Highway area. White, sailing on his new boat did well to work his way up the fleet to come second. Mfeka sailing with Andile Zulu finished third and the two other boats retired as their boats took a beating from the over 30knot gusts.

In the Laser class, four sailors took the sausage course with Henry Franken reading the conditions well to lead the smaller boats. Behind him was Campbell Alexander who has just returned from sailing in England. Young Michael Dickinson sailing on a Radial, didn’t complete the race due to his boom being dislodged when a 35 knot gust came through the course damaging his rigging.

On Sunday, the larger keelers were faced with the dilemma of wanting to sail but not wanting to damage boats in the massive swells offshore. The fleet debated for a long time about running the first of their Offshore Series in the safety of the harbour as outside resembled a washing machine.

Five yachts raced in the confines of the bay with Sticky Fingers helmed by the Rear Commodore Rob Samways tussling for the lead with Gavin Wadsworth sailing on Therapy. Samways had the edge on Therapy but hit the sandbank which lost him precious minutes, allowing Wadsworth’s nose in front. For the remainder of the race, Samways had to reel in the bigger yacht, just managing to get ahead of him moments from the finish. Sticky Fingers took line honours with Therapy taking handicap honours.

Special mention must be made to Container World crewed entirely by school kids. The young crew with Eli Brophy Tintinger at the helm kept persevering in the damp conditions with the four other boats well ahead of them.

The next sailing for the club is Wednesday for the Sails and Boating Twilight Series and on Saturday for the conclusion of the Royal Natal Yacht Club Dinghy Series.

For more info contact Gayle at the Royal Natal Yacht Club on 031 301 5425.

Where blue sky touches paradise

I love island escapes; there are always enough activities to keep you occupied and on an island you are forced to relax and rejuvenate. 

This was the case on my recent visit to Bazaruto Island in Mozambique staying at the magnificent Indigo Bay Resort. One of two resorts on the island, my destination was three short flights away from Pietermaritzburg.

Bazaruto is the biggest island off Mozambique, spanning 37kms from tip to tip with a girth of 6kms. With 2,700 locals inhabiting the island, you get a good feel of everyday life in our neighbouring country. International tourists lap up the opportunity of cultural excursions into the villages and in the evenings locals put on a vibrant show, and dance around bon-fires lit on the beaches.

Gazing out over the water surrounding Indigo Bay, you are mesmerised by the number of shades of blue there are in the world, some I am sure don’t even feature on detailed colour charts. Rising early for sunrise strolls, I beat all the other tourists onto the beach, relishing my island-style existence sauntering along neatly- kept beaches, my footprints were often the only ones left in the golden sand.

Later in the morning, when the resort came to life, refreshed tourists ventured out to tackle various activities with gusto. Each day the activities menu included snorkelling; sunset sailing on a dhow; diving; dune boarding; horse-riding; deep-sea fishing or surfing. An extensive selection of boards are available in all shapes and sizes. And if that wasn’t enough, there is a myriad other options which can be custom-ordered – kite surfing for example; or snorkelling or diving off two-mile reef. Everyone at Indigo Bay would go to the ends of the earth to make your stay a pleasant memorable holiday.

My first full day was spent snorkelling around Paradise Island, true to its name. I hunted for a precious glimpse of the fabled Dugong – a rare cousin of the more familiar dolphin. After almost two hours in the water, having seen an encyclopaedia of reef life, I retreated back to the boat all prune-like, unsuccessful in my Dugong quest, but utterly satisfied. That afternoon we were free to explore Paradise and went onto the neighbouring island.

In the 50’s an extravagant Portuguese man had built a huge resort on the island, with rooms, chalets, a restaurant reaching out into the ocean and an interestingly-designed church. When the civil war struck, he escaped back to his homeland, leaving the place to lie dormant. After 25 years the now desolate place is a wonderful setting for a Robinson Crusoe wander. Having extensively clambered through the ruins, I reunited with my fellow snorkelers. After all the fresh air, swimming and walking we devoured our lunch, the picnic style beach braai was munched under a massive tarpaulin sheltering us from the sun. All of us returned in the late afternoon sun-kissed and happy.

A couple of hours later I was treated to a session at the spa, in arguably one of the best settings I have ever seen for a spa. After 45minutes of kneading elbows and healing hands I walked out taller, far less entangled and knotted. Walking back to the reception I stopped to enjoy the setting sun casting a firey glow on the trickling pond that disappeared into the ocean beyond.

The following day when the world was still asleep I met Holy Lad; a tall, dark and handsome steed. Together with Alfonso, the activities man, Holy Lad and I cantered off along the beach. Following Alfonso we passed coral reefs revealed by the low tide, shell banks and basic boat building yards set amongst coconut trees. Two works-in-progress of varying completion were propped up against the trees with a few chaps busy adding more wood to their creations. Alfonso explained that one dhow, a traditional fishing boat, could take anywhere between six months to a handful of years to complete.

Shortly after we turned up and trotted through a number of villages, a few of the small rondavel like huts were equipped with solar panels. Children played in pristine front gardens before heading off to school. Everyone greeted us pleasantly as we rode past them.

Inbetween formal activities, I managed to spend hours soaking up the sun or perfecting hanging out in a hammock on the seaside accompanied by an anthology of Saul Williams poetry. Home for my stay was a thatched chalet raised on sticks nestled in amongst the coastal forest. It was a stone throw away from the ocean, at night you were lulled to sleep by the waves gently tumbling onto the sand. I was utterly enchanted by the outdoor shower with gorgeous sea views.

Another highlight was a sunset dhow cruise. We waded through knee high water and boarded a local’s dhow, setting sail to nowhere. We carved through the water in a light wind with the skipper quietly gliding us offshore as the shadows grew longer and the sun slipped below the horizon, displaying yet another perfect sunset.

He dropped us off in front of Club Naval, the beachside restaurant where we were enticed to indulge in yet another exquisite menu. The food over the period of my stay was heavenly, from buffet breakfasts fit for a king, to lunches that encouraged siestas. To dinners, both buffet and set menus, that would have Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson going back for more.

I returned home with batteries recharged, completely invigorated and revitalised by nature.

My trip was kindly made possible by Airlink, Indigo Bay and Solenta Aviation. Airlink fly into Vilankulo, for more info go to www.airlink.co.za. A short flight on a Cessna airplane operated by Solenta takes you to Bazaruto, for more info contact 011 312 0196 or reservations@cfa.co.za. For bookings at Indigo Bay, contact Rani Resorts on 011 658 0633 or www.indigobayresort.com.

ENDS

Royal Natal Yacht Club Battle of Trafalgar Pursuit Race

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Battle of Trafalgar Pursuit Race

Sunday 20 October

Fifteen brave yachts took to mountainous seas yesterday in the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s first pursuit race, the Battle of Trafalgar Pursuit Race, with Gregg Hurter taking honours on his yacht Bellatrix.

Five yachts opted for the drier and less bumpy option and after seeing the lumpy conditions outside the safety of the harbour, turned around and didn’t race. My Way skippered by Clynton De Fin was the first out of the starting blocks flying the French Flag that the fleet were hunting down, De Fin on his 24ft yacht battled the conditions and an hour into the race retired leaving only nine boats in the fleet.

Hurter sailed an impeccable race as he climbed swells and surfed down the back of them on Bellatrix. Starting at the back of the fleet in the staggered start sequence, Hurter was first round the weather mark with a comfortable seven minute lead ahead of Sticky Fingers sailed by the Rear Commodore Rob Samways.

Samways and his crew on the smaller yacht worked hard on the run back to the second mark, finishing only a handful of minutes behind Hurter.

The small group of diehard sailors took to a 25knot North Easter with the winds dropping down to around 20knots. The fleet headed north from the start line, turning off Virginia Beach and then enjoyed the smoother run down to the turning mark off Vetchies Beach with a short beat up to the finish line.

Race Officer Stuart Ritchie had only one thing to say when he got off the water, looking completely exhausted and soaked from head to toe, he stated, “It was hectic out there!”

A pursuit race is aimed to have the entire fleet finish en mass, with the boats being handicapped before the start and sent off in a staggered start sequence with the slowest boat going off first and the pacier yachts going off last.

The next race for the Durban sailors is the Sigma series that Royal Natal Yacht Club will be hosting on Sunday 27 October.

Results

1 Bellatrix (Gregg Hurter), 2 Sticky Fingers (Rob Samways), 3 Bandit (Sean Jones), 4 Therapy (Gavin Wadsworth), 5 Palluchi (Warren Clark), 6 Container World (Eli Brophy-Tintenger), 7 Zap (Graham Rose), 8 Flyer (Brad Rayson), 9 Keren (Nic Koekemoer), Retired My Way (Clynton De Fin)

A bit of fun in Mozambique

On top of Red Dune north of Vilankulo, Mozambique. Bazaruto Island in the distance and the inviting water dividing us. 

The bow of a dhow - it rhymes! Sailaway Safari's located on the road in Vilankulo. 

An old skeleton dhow, the locals that I chatted to assured me that this beast had a colourful past but no one could remember the story. In the distance another dhow being left to ruin. 

Bazaruto Island, hanging out at Indigo Bay. An hour after sunrise, the beach is absent of all tourists - a perfect time to go wandering. 

The old ruins at Paradise Island. A Portuguese resort after the inhabitants have left a quarter of a century ago.

A sunset cruise on a dhow off Bazaruto Island.