Land Rover 4x4 Experience

When asked if I would like to go off-roading for a course at the Land Rover 4x4 Experience, there was no hesitation in accepting.

I have never had car envy, driving on the roads, I vaguely know most of the makes; models I could busk my way through half of them but driving my hard-working, determined little utility van getting from A to B is always a pleasure. I however have to confess, sitting in the driving seat of a Defender, staring down an uncharted puddle while you crest a rocky mound certainly was an unforgettable experience.

After the rains, early on a Sunday morning, we met high above the Inchanga Railway Station. I believe the first test was correctly navigating the driveway up to the venue. Chatting to Mica Dawson ahead of the course, she claimed the driveway was the warm-up for the event.

The car park was full, mostly with posh gleaming new 4x4s, eager owners keen to get their pride-and-joys a tad bit muddy. Our group mingled ahead of our briefing, consuming coffee and muffins at the welcoming desk and soon enough, we excitedly made our way back out of the car park. My co-driver, Adrian whom I shared the experience with, had previously called shotgun and had the keys tossed to him. We found ourselves at the back of the slow moving convoy, gradually edging back down the driveway.

Halfway down, each vehicle got their first actual

lesson about going off-road. An instructor leaned in through the window, explaining what buttons or gears did when engaged, and then moved up the line to the next vehicle, leaving you to get to know your vehicle as you mounted through divots, dug out holes and waterholes. At the base of the steep hill, Instructor Mark kept a watchful eye, assisting with directions as you crawled towards him.

After successfully making our way down the hill, we all drove to the Inchanga Valley. This picturesque setting certainly whets everyone’s appetite to go exploring off the beaten track more. We made our way slowly crossing through streams, drove at precarious angles, clambered over rocks and eventually made it through the valley. All unscathed, and everyone buzzing wanting more, the adrenaline evident.

I would have to say the introduction to 4x4 was tame; perhaps I had too many images of vehicles playing stuck in the mud or precariously with one wheel in the air, not getting any grip. I discovered that tyres do make a huge difference. Our little Jelly Bean, the Defenders gorgeous name, was kitted out in these huge sturdy shoes that certainly pulled us up or along in a couple of situations.

I also discovered that there are different ways to handle a steering wheel when off-roading seriously compared to just joy riding on the tarmac. Thumbs are essential if

you are kart driver, but thumbs should always be facing up and not wrapping around the wheel comfortably. This is encase you lurch over a rock and your steering bolts to the side unexpected, which it is renown to do over craggy terrain.

My only complaint, the experience ended far too quickly! I left wanting more, which is a good thing. Driving home on the road, the journey felt disappointing gracefully avoiding all the cars on the relatively smooth roads.

And I have to admit, I may have caught myself looking longingly at a few muddy, rugged 4x4s in passing. The bug has bitten…

For more info or to book visit http://www.landroverexperience.co.za or contact Land Rover Experience on 031 783 4209.

Chatting to 505 Sailor Thomas Funke

Point Yacht Club

505 World Championships

Interview with Thomas Funke

Watching the sailing brothers Thomas and Peter Funke carve through the water offshore of Durban on their 505 is pure sporting artistry.

The young duo are about to tackle top international sailors at the 505 World Championships taking place towards the end of March in Port Elizabeth.  This will be their sixth outing to compete at a World Championship.

“Our Dad started us off young on his keelboat, when we were only a few months old at Hartbeespoort Dam. We grew up on the water. When I was old enough to sail solo, I jumped onto an Oppie for about a year and then moved to a Dabchick which I raced on until I was in matric.” older brother, Thomas shares.

At the turn of the 21^st century, the brothers joined forces to form a formidable crew racing in the 505 class. A 505 is a one-design high performance two-person monohull that is extremely exciting to sail as both crew members trapezes on a wire as they soar through the water.

“Racing 505s is a bit of an addiction at the start, and then you just keep going. The World Champs is like those big work conferences, it is just this group of crazy guys that meet all over the world every year for this event.”

“We last competed at the Worlds in Kiel, Germany last August. We struggled a bit, the average wind speeds were about 25knots for the whole regatta and the boat we were racing wasn’t set up for the winds we experienced. We finished OK, 47^th out of a 175 teams. We wanted a top 40 which we have done before but it was not to be. In Barbados, the year before, we almost cracked the top 30s but had a last bad day.” Funke explained.

With four national titles behind their name, Funke enthuses, “This year, we are feeling very good leading up to the regatta. We have just purchased a two year old boat that costs more than buying two cars but we won’t talk about that.” he states with a wry chuckle.

“We took the plunge because for us, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that the Worlds is coming to South Africa, our home waters! The last time it was hosted here was in 2000 in Durban. It was a complete blow out and the organisers were very hesitant to host it here again.”

“We have managed to train a lot in PE; we competed in a regatta towards the end of last year. There were some visiting Germans who were here training and we managed to beat them in all the races which helped our confidence. We recently invested in a new set of sails, so the equipment is up to scratch now it is up to us. No more excuses!” he says laughing.

“Our performance is already showing signs of improvement, this boat that we are using now is a full carbon boat and you can feel the difference between our previous old reliable boat to this one. Every wave the old boat used to give a bit and the new one doesn’t give at all.”

Training together for the Funkes requires a lot of travelling. Thomas has been residing in Ballito for almost five years now and Peter lives up in Gauteng. “We usually meet half way at Sterkfontein Dam in the Free State. We plan on training in PE, in Johannesburg, all around the country really before the event. We try and make a plan to meet up every free weekend. Otherwise rely on general cardio to keep fit.”

“Being brothers, we’ve had our challenges. We used to swop helming after every race but then we almost got protested out because you had to keep the same driver for the entire regatta. Then we started alternating after every regatta.”

“Campaigning in Europe and doing so many worlds, it wasn’t feasible to change all the time. After the Worlds in La Rochelle, France where I skippered, we decided to concentrate and perfect one role. Also with the last worlds so soon before this one, we decided it best for Peter to helm and build on the teamwork that we have been doing.”

“Peter is four years younger.” he states, “It is interesting, a lot of the 505 teams are family, either father and son or brothers.”

Asked what his most memorable moment is on the water, he “There are many great moments, either flying across the dam or offshore. One that comes to mind was in 2010 in P.E., it was blowing about 35knots and they canned the racing. We decided to get some video footage so we went out, put the bag up and absolutely screamed towards Bird Island. This motor boat with the film crew couldn’t keep up. That was on the edge.” a reminiscing Funke claims.

The Funke brothers together with a handful of Durban lads will be off to Port Elizabeth to compete in the 505 World Championships, returning back to the scene of one of his epic moments on the water with his brother, and hoping that this is the year that they score big in the results.

Hobie Epic

Point Yacht Club

Hobie Epic

Thursday 19 February

A small fleet of adrenaline driven sailors set to embark on the annual Point Yacht Club’s Hobie Epic, racing between Durban to Richards Bay.

This is the sixth epic race, with the small catamarans launching from the Point Yacht Club’s Beachsite or at the Zululand Yacht Club and trek all the way along the coast. The fleet are hoping to set off on Thursday, but will need to wait for a good weather opportunity and could be on standby until Sunday 22 February.

Hobie Representative, Peter Hall explained, “If the conditions are a North Easterly wind then the race is a Richards Bay to Durban race, and if the winds happen to be a South Westerly then it is done in reverse from Durban to Richards Bay. The last two years a front has come through on the weekend of the race and a South Westerly has blown launching us at 6:00am racing to Richards Bay.”

The rules are easy, launch at one of the yacht clubs site and sail non-stop up or down to the finish at either the Richards Bay Harbour mouth or at the beach landing at Vetch’s. All boats are fitted with a tracking device to keep an eye on them, with race support shadowing them as they sail along the coastline.

“We are hoping that eight boats will be lining up for this year’s event. The weather window unfortunately clashes with the other sailing endurance event, the well-attended 9 Hour event in Midmar, so we are expecting fewer boats on the water this year.” Hall stated.

Hall has won the event five times on his Hobie 16, and fellow sailor Mark Wijtenburg has dominated the event in the Hobie Tiger division. “It usually takes the Tigers six to eight hours to get to Richards Bay and the Hobie 16s a couple of hours longer.”

This gruelling event takes the small crafts along some of the most treacherous coastline in the world, “The guys get off the water and are exhausted, both physically and mentally drained. But the experience is well worth the demands of the adventure. In a word it is epic!” Hall concluded.

Richards Bay or Durban awaits the arrival of a handful of Hobie sailors as they compete in the Point Yacht Club’s Hobie Epic.

To follow the race, go to www.pyc.co.za or like the clubs Facebook page.

2015 SA Laser Nationals

SA Laser Nationals

Durban: 30 April – 3 May

 The 2015 edition of the SA Laser Nationals will unfold offshore off Durban over the May Day weekend kicking off on 30 April until 3 May.

The Laser is the most popular single-handed sailing dinghy in the world and the annual event is hoping that close to 80 boats from around the country will hit the water to compete. Top South African sailors along with a handful of international competitors will take to the Indian Ocean in the hope of being crowned national champion.

Lining up at the start to defend their titles that they won last year in the Western Cape will be local lads, Rudy McNeil and Sam Lombard together with the rose of Durban’s Laser community, Frances van Breda. Van Breda recently competed in the 2014 Audi Laser Master World Championships in France, with the lessons learnt in Europe, she promises to be a feisty competitor in her home conditions.

Another big name is the 2012 winner from when it was last held in Durban; Stefano Marcia from Cape Town has been doing loads of training in Spain and more recently in Australia in his campaign to compete in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Australian Grand Master, Colin Dibb confirmed that he would be travelling to his place of birth to compete. With a string of world champion titles to his name, he will be returning to his old hunting ground to show his class. Dibb came third overall in the 2012 Laser Nationals and was the recipient of the Grand Master or ‘Greybeard’ Trophy.

Top local lads, Rudy McNeil and Sam Lombard will be back to defend their titles, along with top national and international sailors. McNeil is hoping that 2015 will be a better year for him having been plagued by injuries last year. The young Lombard recently competed in Japan, not doing as well as he had hoped, finishing 21st in the silver fleet but claims that he hopes to improve on his performance in years to come.

Joining them are other locals Michael McNeil who placed third in his class last year; Campbell Alexander; Trent Bingham; and Richard Bates. Doing well on the club circuit, Henri Frencken will also be hitting the water.

Flying the flag for the Western Cape contingent along with Marcia are Alan Keen, Ken Holiday, Lance Burger, Ralph Thomas and Alistair Keytel. Keen is preparing for the Laser Worlds in Kingston, Canada taking place in July.

  

Rudolph Holm and Shellee Nel will be leading a contingent of young sailors from Gauteng.

Campbell Alexander stated, “This is the second time in many years that we are hosting the Laser Nationals in our home waters. Durban in May is at its best with the beach, the sun, the great sea swells and good breeze – and when the breeze picks up fantastic wave riding. I am sure that everyone competing will love our “Durban, the warmest place to be” conditions.”

  

Leading up to the Nationals, Richards Bay will host the KZN Provincials offshore. A fleet of sailors will use this opportunity to get in some much needed time on the water before the big event.

Laser – a swell boat to sail, the South African Laser Nationals will be taking place in Durban from 30 April to 3 May.

For more info visit: http://www.laser.org.za/, https://salasernationals.wordpress.com or like the Facebook page.

Day Five for Point Yacht Club's Dinghy Class Champs

Point Yacht Club

Dinghy Class Champs Day Five

Harbour: Saturday 7 February

A splendid fleet of 24 dinghies participated in the fifth day of the Point Yacht Club’s Dinghy Class Champs held in the harbour on Saturday.

Returning after a long absence, Patrick Harris and Jeremy Kriek returned to the water in their brand new, glisteningly beautiful, carbon hull Flying Fifteen, Ffigjam. The highly decorated sailors showed their class as they powered to the front in their division, with a comfortable lead in all three races. 

In the Laser class, Gregg Dobson returning home from work in Madagascar loved being back on the water. He took the line honours in the first race, but got jammed up at the start in the second race, finishing in seventh and then a fifth in the final race. Trent Bingham also returned from a long absence from sailing, claiming the honours in the second race, but was forced to retire from the third race due to his kicker breaking. Another long-time absent sailor made his welcome return. Rowen Clark from Pennington took to the water after a number of years. It didn’t take him long to get back into the swing of things, finishing in seventh in his first race. He managed to up a gear and finished in fourth in the second race, then improved some more in the final race finishing third.

The only lady in the fleet, Frances Van Breda showed up a number of the blokes with a fine tally of a fourth, a sixth and a third in her three races.

A colourful fleet of Hobies also came out to compete to get in some water time ahead of their Nationals, the upcoming Hobie Epic to Richards Bay and the 9 Hour at Midmar. The entire fleet opted to retire from the first race, all camping out on the sand bank in the middle of the bay due to the winds dropping off.

Peter Hall sailing one up on his Hobie 14 came first in the second and third race with a tussle for second place occurring between Michael Dickinson and Hannah Fokkens on their Hobie 16 and 14 year old Dylan Alberts racing on his Hobie 14. Dickinson helming the Hobie 16 took second place in the second race, meanwhile Alberts snuck in ahead of the larger Hobie in the final race, much to his verbal elation at beating the older and more accomplished Dickinson.

The multi-coloured and multi-class fleet of 24 dinghies consisted of a Mirror, a Dabchick, Hobies, Lasers, Flying Fifteens, RS Teras, a 29er and an RS Feva.

After the first race, the breeze shifted from an Easterly, moving around to a South Easterly, causing the Race Officer, Kevin Bingham to make a course adjustment. Bingham managed to get in three windward leeward races in near the T-Jetty. As the afternoon drew on, the 8knot breeze dropped to a gentle 5knots, forcing Bingham to shorten the final race.

This weekend sees two events hosted by Point Yacht Club, the conclusion to the Dinghy Class Champs and the first in the Jockey Series offshore of Durban. Race Officer Ron Pet has organised a tactical sausage course for the keelboats, ensuring lots of action as the bigger boats are required to carve through a set of ‘gates’ in the centre of the course and will have two options to round at the bottom mark.

For more info visit www.pyc.co.za or like the Point Yacht Club’s Facebook page.