Point Yacht Club
Jonsson Cup Pursuit Race
Historically, the Jonsson
Cup Pursuit Race is a huge highlight on the dinghy sailing calendar; the
event opens up a busy summer sailing season for the Point Yacht Club’s on Saturday 25 October.
After the global success of the Bart’s Bash World Record
Attempt that started the season for the keelers, the smaller boats get their
opportunity on the water. The iconic dinghy race, the Jonsson Cup is the oldest
dinghy race in Durban. Sailors will take to the bay to challenge each other for
the magnificent trophy.
A pursuit race is extremely exciting: the race starts off
with a technical start. The start time for all the boats were staggered
according to their boat handicap or boat rating, this is scientifically worked
out according to the boat weight, sail area, boat design and many other
factors.
The slower boats go off first with the faster boats
chasing them down. “We are hoping to get a number of entries on the water for
this event,” an eager event Co-ordinator, Lucy De Freitas stated. “The finish
is the best part. If things go according to plan, most of the fleet dash for
the line, making it quite tight as we all converges on the finish.”
Defending champion, young Sean Hurter will be back to
defend his title He won the race last year on a Dabchick, a proudly South
African designed one-man dinghy. The up-and-coming sailor has just returned
from competing in the ISAF Youth World Championships in Tavira, Portugal. He
was racing, together with his older brother Euan in the 29er class.
Continuing, De Freitas added, “The idea is to bring young
and old together and for the speed merchants like Hobies and 49ers to
chase the slower Mirrors and Dabchicks. Over the years the middle speed boats
like Flying Fifteens and Lasers have often won. It is a fun event with Boat
Park abuzz with music and vibe with the spring upon us.”
The pursuit race has a clock on it, once racing gets underway, the sailors have two hours to complete racing until the race officer stops the chase. If no boat has crossed the line, then whichever boat is in the lead is awarded first place.
“It is a testing race, two hours on the water on a dinghy
is hard work. You can’t rely on crew members to make it easier as there are only
one or two people on a boat. Sailing dinghies is highly physical and I am sure
that all of the guys will have a great work out.”
Point Yacht Club is hoping not only for glorious warm
weather for the event, but for all dinghy and cat sailors to join them on the
water inviting hobies and darts form the beach site and the Halcats from the
Royal Natal Yacht Club camp to join them on the day.
The Jonsson Cup Pursuit
Race gets under way early afternoon on Saturday 25 October as Point Yacht
Club summer sailing season gets underway.
For more info visit www.pyc.co.za
or like their Facebook page Point Yacht Club.
ENDS
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