Lipton Challenge Cup Day Five Race Four

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Lipton Challenge Cup

Day Five Race Four

It is a case of all or nothing today (Friday) for the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s sailors competing in the Lipton Challenge Cup down in Simonstown.

Racing was abandoned yesterday (Thursday) due to the extreme weathers hitting the Cape. Winds registering well over 30knots pelted the coastline, making sailing conditions to dangerous. One of the sailors from Knysna was treated for mild hyperthermia on Wednesday in the icy miserable weather.

This is the second race that was abandoned; the first race on Sunday never took place due to light conditions. The weather gods certainly have given South Africa’s top sailors a variety of extreme weathers, from light fluffy conditions to high winds, squalls and rain, and big seas.

Six points separate the top three boats as they head into the final day of racing in the most coveted sailing event in South Africa, the 105th Lipton Challenge Cup. The winner of the 2014 event will host next year’s race and at this stage the historic cup looks to be travelling to Cape Town.

For the leading Durban team, to win they will need Greg Davis sailing for the Royal Cape Yacht Club to have a disastrous race finishing towards the back of the fleet in eighth position or worse. They would also need to keep four boats between them and second placed Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club’s B&G.

Surrounded by very dark clouds, the spirit was upbeat amongst the teams. Captain for the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Brennan Robinson said, “The Capies are tough to beat on their home waters and in the conditions that they're accustomed to. We knew it would be difficult but I am really impressed with our young team, they have given their all. The final day is going to be epic.”

The Rear Commodore for the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Rob Samways commented, “We are very proud of our team which is destined for greater heights over this three year campaign. They have sailed hard against some big names and shown Durban has some future stars knocking at the door of likes of veteran Davis.”

The weather looks to remain chilly in Simonstown with no rain predicted but still a bit of breeze around to make the conclusion of the 2014 Lipton Challenge Cup a humdinger of note.

Leader board
1 Co-Ordination (Royal Cape Yacht Club Greg Davis) 4points, 2 B&G (Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club Daniel Agulhas) 7points, 3 Orion B2G2 (Royal Natal Yacht Club Brennan Robinson) 10points, 4 Intasure (False Bay Yacht Club Markus Progli) 13points, 5 LTC / Cab Technology SA (Hout Bay Yacht Club Theo Yon) 16points, 6 Southern Charter UCT Maverick (UCT YC, Chris Gough) 17, 7 Point Yacht Club (PYC, Craig Millar) 18

ENDS