Royal Natal Yacht Club
Vasco da Gama Race
The 2014 edition of the Vasco da Gama yacht race hosted
by the Royal Natal Yacht Club
started this morning (Thursday 19 June) with weather predictions looking like
it is going to be tough slog for the 11 boats competing.
The race that started in the bay of Maputo had the
sailors racing around Inhaca Island and tackle the elements offshore. The conditions
predicted are a thumping South Wester nearing 40knots with big swells.
The navigators will more than likely opt for keeping
close to the shore and not heading out towards the strong Aghulas current as
the sea conditions will be upside down.
Sailing on the smallest boat, the Rear Commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Rob Samways
helming Sticky Fingers said before his departure, “If the weather does come
through we are contemplating three options. Either we are going to take shelter
in the Maputo Bay or beat up to Inhaca Island and ride the weather out. The
third option that we are talking about is using our tri-sail which will be able
to handle the conditions and ride through the nasty stuff.”
Accomplished South African sailor, Brennan Robinson who
participated in the epic Cape2Rio at the beginning of the race commented, “We
are all going to have to put our heads down and ride out the bad weather.
Safety is the main thing out on the water and knowing your boats limits and not
pushing them.”
The fleet are due back in Durban in the late hours
tomorrow night (Friday) or the early hours of Saturday morning but if the front
doesn’t dissipate the fleet may have a later ETA, as late as the early hours of
Sunday. This will be scraping it fine as the race has a cut off time of 09:00am
on Sunday morning.
The prize giving for the International Blue Water Race
will take place at the Royal Natal Yacht Club on Sunday afternoon once all the
boats are back in safely in Durban.
All of the fleet participated in the annual Mohante Race
yesterday (Wednesday) in a short bay race on a windward leeward race jointly organised
by Maputo’s Clube Naval Yacht Club and Royal
Natal Yacht Club. Local Mozambican VIP’s joined the Durban sailors on board
the 11 boats in the fun inbay race. A
local boat named Cymru also participated in the race.
For more info like the Facebook page Vasco da Gama Ocean
Race 2014 hosted by Royal Natal Yacht Club.
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