Royal Natal Yacht Club's Offshore Series

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Offshore Durban: Sunday 25 May 2014

Eight yachts participated in the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Offshore Series in agonising conditions offshore of Durban.

The ‘There-and-Back’ race got under way with the big keelers gliding at snail’s pace over the start line in winds just under 1knot. The start line was set off Vetchies Pier with Race Officer for the day, RNYC’s Rear Commodore Rob Samways dropping the weather mark roughly 4NM from the start line, just beyond the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Late arrival, Spindrift skippered by Cowie’s Hills John Bandfield was the first boat to retire half way up to the mark.

With the clock edging close to the two hour elapsed time, the first boat rounded the bouy. Morningside’s Gregg Hurter helming Bellatrix turned hoisting his spinnaker with the time on 1hour 57minutes. Just over a minute later, Durban’s newest club member, Ray of Light skippered by Heidi Kavanagh worked hard to stay on Hurter’s tail.

The 44foot yacht, Ray of Light went further offshore on the long ride home catching a few puffs of breeze in the massive spinnaker that registered near 3knots while Hurter stayed close to shore. Port Shepstone’s Kavanagh’s gamble paid off as they managed to keep their bag filled. Hurter frustratingly found a few holes in the wind with his 40foot yacht just bobbing at stages.

Ray of Light crossed the line after having been out for 3hrs12min, Bellatrix finished 8minutes behind her narrowly missing out on the handicap win, needing to have finished within 5minutes of Kavanagh.

Commodore Graham Rose also had a difficult time battling with the shifty light winds. “We did two full 360 degree turns out there trying to stay with the wind! The wind would pick up just a smidgen and then shift or drop leaving us high and dry.”

Westville’s skipper Gavin Wadsworth sailing on his yacht Therapy only had one crew member, Reg Aburrow. The two of them pushed the 38foot yacht along in the glassy conditions, even being brave enough to hoist the spinnaker. “We were told recently by club member Nqoba Mswazi who just competed in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race that in conditions lighter that 5knots, they sailed without a main so we tried it. It was easier to see what was happening with the spinnaker, if it worked – who knows!”

Ballito’s Brad Rayson on Flyer finished third having opted not to fly a bag and staying inshore. Wadsworth and Aburrow scrapped in seconds before the cut off time, being the fourth boat home. The smaller boat Counter Point didn’t manage to finish but were upbeat about their day out on the water.

Half the fleet managed to finish with three yachts retiring from the race and Counter Point running out of time. Samways said, “It was great practice for the guys. We have been lucky this season with good winds but it takes an accomplished sailor to compete in the light stuff. It was good practice for the Vasco da Gama as well as I am sure that the fleet competing in the international blue water race will be faced with a day of zero winds.”

Results

1 Ray of Light, 2 Bellatrix, 3 Flyer, 4 Therapy