Royal Natal Yacht Club
Battle of Trafalgar Pursuit Race
Offshore Durban: Sunday 16 November
Ray of Light helmed by Heidi Kavanagh was in a league of
their own as they convincingly took the honours in the Battle of Trafalgar Pursuit
Race hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht
Club offshore on Sunday.
The husband and wife team Michael and Heidi owned the
pursuit race crossing the line two minutes ahead of nearest competitor, Wayne
Smith racing on his catamaran Crazy Diamond. Smith was the last out of the
blocks in the pursuit race and reeled in 8 boats, sailing a magnificent race to
finish behind Ray of Light.
The Kavanagh’s large 43.8 foot boat crossed the start
line over a minute after their start time under the power of the
spinnaker. After a good run down to the
leeward mark, the crew dropped the bag and prepared to round the buoy. As the
team settled in on the rail, one of their men a bit too enthusiastically in
getting to his position went overboard.
“Once we saw him go over, we overshot the mark so that we
could turn around and pick him up.” Heidi Kavanagh stated when she was back in
the club.
Skipper of the rescue craft, Scorpio on standby at the buoy
where the Refeloa Zililo went into the water, Alec McNamara boasted, “Their
execution of the Man Over Board was the most phenomenal thing I have seen on
the water. Ray of Light magically turned on their keel and just like that,
plucked him out. He wasn’t in the water for more than two minutes. Amazing!”
Michael Kavanagh quietly said, “It was the first time in
Durban I insisted all the guys wear their inflatable lifejackets and I am truly
glad I did. It couldn’t have happened at a better place, as we were rounding
the leeward mark, so we were already turning, so didn’t impact too much on the
race. As soon as Refeloa hit the water his lifejacket responded.”
Smiling, he continued, “The guy that went for a swim
couldn’t have a more appropriate nickname amongst the sailors, and I think
after today he can keep it. Known as Waterboy, he will certainly remember this
race.”
20 boats were entered to compete in the pursuit race but
only 11 boats braved the elements and raced. The start line was set just off
Addington with the turning mark just off La Lucia Mall, 7 nautical miles away.
On the run towards the leeward mark, Majimoto skippered by Jon Marshall was
forced to retire after their spinnaker pole bent and they had problems with
their backstay holding up the mast.
Ray of Light registered a top wind speed of 42.9 at the
top of their mast. All the boats started with the wind nearing the 20knots and
long rolling swells but as the day progressed the wind picked up with gusts
knocking the fleet right over and the sea conditions worsening to resemble a
washing machine.
This weekend sailors will be sailing offshore for the first of the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Spring Series.
Results
1 Ray of Light (Michael Kavanagh), 2 Crazy Diamond (Wayne
Smith), 3 Bellatrix (Gregg Hurter), 4 PheZulu (Leo Kroone), 5 Therapy (Gavin
Wadsworth), 6 Zap (Graham Rose), 7 Magic Dragon (Bill Ellens), 8 Zing (Gavin
Smith), 9 Candi (Theuns Nel), 10 She-Myra (Frans Van Oers), RET Majimoto (Jon
Marshall)
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