Battle of Trafalgar Pursuit Race

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Battle of Trafalgar

Offshore of Durban: Sunday 16 November

The second attempt to chase the French Flag will take place offshore of Durban on Sunday 16 November after inclement weather forced the postponement of the Battle of Trafalgar Pursuit Race hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club.

The Battle of Trafalgar was raced in big seas last year with Morningside’s Gregg Hurter sailing Bellatrix taking honours. Hurter and his crew have entered and are hoping to defend their title as they hunt down the French Flag.

The Trafalgar race is a pursuit race; the slowest boat will head through the start line first and usually flies a French Flag at the back. The rest of the fleet heads off through the start line at intervals at a specific time depending on their handicap and the fastest boat heads off last. They then chase after the slowest boat, in the hopes of capturing the flag and the title.

“If the conditions play along, then the finish is really exciting with all the boats converging on the line on-mass.” the Rear Commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Rob Samways explained. “The start is quite technical with the boats heading off in batches at a specific time. It is like racing an everyday car versus a Formula One beast, you of course are going to give the slower car a head start.”

10 yachts headed off on Sunday 19 October to compete in the age old annual event, including defending champion, Hurter. As the small fleet exited the harbour, they were greeted by huge running swells with a few rogue waves breaking off in the distance.

Race Officer for the day, Rob Samways tried valiantly to get the race underway dropping a start line off of Addington Beach but conditions was too hazardous for the yachts. Light winds would not have been able to power the yachts over the rising swell with the tail end of the set having white horses on them.

“We watched as a heavily laden ship departed Durban and saw how the conditions were knocking it about. It was tilting at about 40degrees as it got hammered by the waves.” Samways stated when he was safely back on land.

“About 70 guys are really looking forward to the race, we have a competitive fleet entered, including newcomers to Durban sailing, Ray of Light skippered by Heidi Kavanagh from Port Shepstone, formerly from Cape Town.” The Rear Commodore concluded.

The hunt for the blue, white and red flag is on as the Durban sailors head offshore to compete in the Battle of Trafalgar on Sunday 16 November.

For more info visit www.rnyc.org.za or contact Kearin on 031 301 5425.