Durban Sailing Communities donate money to National Sea Rescue Institute Rescue 5

Point Yacht Club

NSRI Fundraiser

Donations from the Barrel Race 2014 were presented to the National Sea Rescue Institute Durban Station with the Durban sailing community raising a whopping R109,075 to the volunteer organisation.

The annual Barrel Race is an event hosted by Point Yacht Club and organised jointly with the Bluff Yacht Club, Island Sailing Club and Royal Natal Yacht Club.

Fundraising activities included a beach party at PYC’s Beach Site, a fine dining event at PYC, a party at Royal Natal Yacht Club and the main Barrel Day during which all clubs contributed and took part.

The fun-filled Barrel Day included a fun race in the harbour, where a number of the NSRI volunteers joined the sailors on their romp around the bay. After all the water based activities, the fun returned to the shore for the land-based festivities.

In addition to the events, the money raised was through various donations, including the generous contributions from Seaport Supply, Offshore Sailing Academy, Dockleveller Supplies, Decorland and Alexander, Cox Attorneys.

The Durban sailing community handed over a cheque to the value of R80,000 to the NSRI in 2013, growing their support by nearly R30,000. The money raised will go towards helping with their maintenance that is a constant drain on their finances as well as adding to their savings towards a new 12meter rescue boat that they are hoping to launch in Durban in 2015.

“Local support for Sea Rescue is critical. It is extremely expensive to run a NSRI station and having the support of local business, clubs and individuals helps us to afford to keep our equipment in tip top condition, make sure that we always have fuel, excellent Personal Protective equipment like wetsuits and lifejackets as well as carrying out general preventative maintenance.” affirmed Clifford Ireland, the Station Five Station Commander.

Ireland joined the NSRI in 1992 and soon became a Class 1 Coxswain, and then the Durban Station Commander in 2010. “Last year the NSRI nationally had 662 rescue responses, spent 3,992 hours on operations and 7,903 hours on training across all 35 stations. We rescued 1,131 people.” Ireland proudly explained.

The hard working Durban establishment is one of four in the KZN province and their team is constantly training for any instance that could happen in our coastal waters, “Training depends on the station, but a norm would be a crew meeting each week, often on Wednesdays and then training on one day of the weekend. Again this changes station to station. The smaller stations will have one crew who will be training each weekend and the bigger stations four crews who train one day a month on their weekend on duty.”

Looking ahead at the 2015 Barrel Race, Ireland commented, “Thank you to all who took part and to all who put so much time and effort into making the 2014 Barrel Race unforgettable. Monies raised in this year’s event will be used to replace wetsuits and life-jackets. And of course towards the big one, our new rescue boat that will cost in the region of R13 million!

This year the Barrel Race hosted by all of the Durban yacht clubs will be held on Sunday 28 June

For more info visit the yacht clubs websites.

Point Yacht Club Dinghy Class Champs and Royal Natal Yacht Club North South Race

Point Yacht Club / Royal Natal Yacht Club

Dinghy Class Champs Day Six

North South Race

Harbour: Saturday 28 February

Offshore: Sunday 1 March

Yachts big and small came out to participate in light winds for two events over the weekend.

The conclusion to the Point Yacht Club’s Dinghy Class Champs day six had a fleet of 25 yachts working hard to find the winds in the harbour on Saturday.

Overall winners were Dylan Alberts in the Hobie Fleet; Myles White and Charlotte Marshall in the Flying Fifteens; Trevor Gibb sailing on his Mirror in the Open Class; Richard Bates in the Laser class; Rob Samways and Jared Quinn in the Dart division and young Sven Paton racing on his RS Tera Pro.

It was contradicting weather for the racing of day six, two weeks ago racing was abandoned on the day due to heavy winds. The postponed racing got underway with a slight breeze but as the afternoon drew on, the winds completely disappeared at times.

Shifty winds made it relatively tough for the race officer and sailors. During the three races, Kevin Bingham adjusted the course three times to accommodate the change in wind direction.

On Sunday 9 big keelers made their way offshore to compete in the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s North South Race with Gregg Hurter helming Bellatrix took the line and handicap honours.

Race Officer, Rob Samways got the boats underway directly off of Addington Beach, the small fleet had a short beat up to a buoy set off the north breakwater of the harbour. The boats had a port rounding before heading out to the fairway marker on the horizon. Here the yachts had a starboard rounding and made their way to another buoy set off the old Whaling Station on the Bluff before returning back to the finish line.

Bellatrix finished the 11 Nautical Mile race in just under two hours, finishing ten minutes ahead of second placed Majimoto skippered by Jon Marshall. Having rounded first, Bellatrix turned on the gas and opened the gap between themselves and Majimoto as they made their way out to the Fairway Mark. Majimoto made the mistake of not flying their spinnaker directly but waited till they were clear of the wind shadow caused by the Bluff. Hurter and his crew continued to build on their lead all the way to the finish.

In third place, Gavin Wadsworth on Therapy managed to stay in front of Brad Rayson on Flyer the entire race. The tail end of the fleet had a momentous tussle between the only two L26s racing. Brendan Humphries on the stick of Container World managed to edge out Denmar Nel helming PYC Challenger. One second separated the two as Container World surged forward on a swell pipping Nel at the post.

Results

Point Yacht Club

Dinghy Class Champs Day Six

Harbour: Saturday 28 February

Hobie Class

1 Dylan Alberts (Hobie 14), 2 Justin Butler (Hobie 14), 3 Wayne Smith / Kate Bains (Hobie 16), 4 Peter Hall (Hobie 14) 5 Michael Dickinson (Hobie 16), 6 Justin Butler (Hobie 16), 7 Murray May (Hobie 16), 8 CJ Miln (Hobie 16), 9 Chad Stevenson (Hobie 16), 10 Nathan Constant (Hobie 14), 11 Sean Fennessy (Hobie 14), 12 Matthew Hall (Hobie Dragoon), 13 David van Niekerk (Hobie 14)

Flying Fifteens

1 Myles White / Charlotte Marshall, 2 Patrick Harris / Jeremy Kriek, 3 Campbell Alexander / Chris Clark, 4 Gregg Hurter / Nik Albert, 5 Paul Changuion / Tim Duguid, 6 Simon Musgrove, 7 Craig Campbell / Ian Hogg, 8 Rick Parker, 9 Florence Marshall / Edrich de Lange, 10 Vincent Tiedt, 11 Heidi Kavanagh / Michael Kavanagh, 12 Carl Zimmerman / Simone Yelland

Open Class

1 Trevor Gibb (Mirror), 2 Benji Daniels / Euan Hurter (29er), 3 Denmar Nel (L26 PYC Challenger), 4 Rob Tarboton / Michael Dickinson (29er), 5 My Way (Clynton de Fyn), 6 Sean Hurter (Dabchick), 7 Euan Hurter (Dabchick), 8 Chad Stevenson (Dabchick), 9 Rudi Fokkens (RS Feva), 10 Thokozani Latha (L26 Lindiwe), 11 Jethro Brophy Tintinger / Eli Brophy Tintinger (420), 12 David Curtis (Rebel)

Laser

1 Richard Bates, 2 Frances van Breda, 3 Henri Frencken, 4 Anthony Arbuthnot, 5 Denny Moffatt, 6 Andrew Walford, 7 Rob Goulden, 8 Gregg Dobson, 9 Anthony MacMillan, 10 Campbell Alexander, 11 Rowen Clark, 12 Trent Bingham, 13 Murray May, 14 Jethro Brophy Tintinger (Radial), 15 Chad Stevenson (Radial), 16 Simon Musgrove

Open Class Cats

1 Rob Samways (Dart), 2 Bill Ellens (Paper Tiger), 3 Coert Grobbelaar (Halcat), 4 Clynton de Fyn / Jackie Barnard (Halcat), 5 Jethro Brophy Tintinger / Eli Brophy Tintinger (Halcat), 6 Neil Wadsworth (Halcat), 7 Richard Potgieter (Halcat), 8 Andile Zulu (Halcat)

RS Tera

1 Sven Paton (Pro), 2 Cameron Paarle (Sport), 3 James Butler (Pro), 4 Liam Fennessy (Sport), 5 Chad Stevenson (Pro)

Royal Natal Yacht Club

North South Race

Offshore: Sunday 1 March

1 Bellatrix (Gregg Hurter), 2 Majimoto (Jon Marshall), 3 Therapy (Gavin Wadsworth), 4 Flyer (Brad Rayson), 5 Container World (Brendan Humphries), 6 PYC Challenger (Denmar Nel), 7 Bellissima (Vernon Goss), 8 Candi (Theuns Nel), RTD Thermopylae (Frank Edwards)

RNYC Dinghy Series and Umhloti Mayor's Race

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Dinghy Series and Umhloti Mayor’s Race

Harbour: Saturday 24 January

Offshore: Sunday 25 January

Two days of blue sky sailing hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club for a variety of Durban sailors took place offshore and in the harbour over the weekend.

The conclusion of the Dinghy Series hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club on Saturday saw Campbell Alexander and Chris Clark take the honours in the Flying Fifteens, Rob Samways and Jared Quinn on their Dart and Henri Frencken in the Laser class.

Race officer Jennifer Weyer only managed to get in two races for the 11 boats on Saturday. The conditions were near perfect with blue skies and 13 – 15 knots of wind powering the dinghies. Setting a long windward leeward course on the far side of the bay, the fleet took off punctually. Just as the boats neared the finish line, the first race was abandoned due to a large vessel being moved near the course. Racing eventually got under way.

There were two starts with the Flying Fifteens and Lasers sharing a start sequence and the two Darts and one Halcat going off in the second. Graham Weyer and Neil Wadsworth got off to a cracker of a start in both races, camping near the line and timing the start magnificently.

After the race, Neil Wadsworth stated, “My body is broken! But what a thrill being on the Dart, it carves through the water.”

Newcomers to the Flying Fifteen fleet, Struan Campbell and Richard Weddle worked hard and pushed the more experienced Flying Fifteens. The duo managed to take the second race after a fantastic race.

Offshore on Sunday 13 yachts started in the Umhloti Mayor’s Race in light winds and lumpy seas. The long distance race took the fleet north a nautical mile beyond the uMhlanga lighthouse. The Bill Piddington Trophy was won by Rick Parker, the trophy is awarded to the first over 60 year old helmsman. Rick Parker was at the wheel of second placed Bellatrix.

Ray of Light helmed by Heidi Kavanagh streaked ahead straight out of the starting blocks. The team seemed to have a comfortable lead as they neared the weather mark offshore of uMhlanga. Warren Clark skippering Pallucci had a cracker of a beat having opted to go offshore and out of sight while the rest of the fleet stayed inshore, Clark rounded the buoy moments after Ray of Light.

On the finish, Ray of Light showed her prowess crossing the line first with Bellatrix having a marvellous run, finishing six minutes behind of Kavanagh’s crew. There was a long wait until the third boat with the committee boating waiting just over an hour. Pallucci had a disappointing run claiming third in line honours with Jon Marshall at the wheel of Majimoto finishing five seconds behind Clark.

Another tussle took place in the multihulls between Bill Ellens on his trimaran Magic Dragon and Sean Jones on his catamaran Bandit. Ellens had a little more puff thad Jones, crossing the line two minutes ahead.

The Commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Graham Rose armed with his secret weapon, top hot shot sailor who is competing internationally, Jared Quinn; were unable to complete the race in the allocated 5hours and 15minutes for the race.

Of the 13 yachts that started only seven managed to finish, five retired from the race and Zap unfortunately not making the cut off time.

“I only have one word for that race,” Gavin Wadsworth, skipper of Therapy said back at the club house, “Frustration! There were loads of holes where we stalled. We had a decent beat, lying second at one stage but often lost boat speed in patches were there was no wind.”

This weekend sees the Point Yacht Club Class Champs on Saturday and the Royal Natal Yacht Club Waterfront Catamaran Series resumes.

For more info visit www.rnyc.org.za or like their Facebook page.

Royal Natal Yacht Club Christmas Regatta

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Christmas Regatta incorporating Flying Fifteen Nationals and 505 Championships

Offshore: Saturday 13 – Tuesday 16 December

A small competitive fleet participated in the Christmas Regatta hosted by Royal Natal Yacht Club over the long weekend in Durban leading up to the festive season.

Race officer Rob Samways managed to get in nine races over the three days of competition with eight races counting and one race being a discard. Newcomers to the fleet Paul Changuion and crew member Tim Duguid were crowned champions in the Flying Fifteen fleet.

Changuion and Duguid have recently made a move from racing in the Hunter class to the Flying Fifteens. The sailors who have had the honour of competing in events such as the Lipton Challenge Cup and other big National and International events worked hard in preparation for the National Regatta. Their determined hard work paid off toppling defending champions Patrick Harris and Jeremy Kriek. They earned three first places, three second places, a third and fourth to end the regatta with 16points. Their discard was a race that they didn’t compete in, the final race on day two.

In the 505 class there was a tie on points at the conclusion for the overall leaderboard. Brothers Thomas and Peter Funke were in a demanding position claiming the top spot in the first four races. On the second day the brothers opted not to compete but rather to get in some training ahead of the 505 World Championships, the conditions offshore were testing with winds in the low 20knots and the 4m swell rising in quick concession. The talented duo spent five hours offshore flying across the water and as racing concluded disappointedly damaged a fixture on their rudder and were unable to race on the final day. Sharing the points with the Funke brothers were Ulrich and Marius Fourie who, like the Funke brothers only got on the water for two days. They both ended on a respectable 16 points.

Samways stated, “It is a treat for the Flying Fifteens to race offshore and the conditions were somewhat trying. The first day was perfect racing with a small running swell and winds just over 10knots. Nine boats joined us that day. The numbers dropped drastically for day two but the conditions were extremely challenging for everyone out on the water. Myles was telling me that he clocked a boat speed of 14knots with only his mainsail powering them. Massive swells with winds consistently in the high teens and early twenties. Day three was overcast and drizzly but seven boats joined us which was fantastic.”

Continuing he said, “Only two 505s participated which was disappointing as the World Championship is around the corner but well done to the guys that did come out. They got some really good training with the variety of conditions.”

Flying Fifteen Nationals

1 Paul Changuion / Tim Duguid 16pts, 2 Campbell Alexander / Chris Clark 18pts, 3 Mike Wright / Jon Marshall 32pts, 4 = Patrick Harris / Jeremy Kriek 40pts, 4 = Gregg Hurter / Jeff Rose 40pts, 6 Myles White / David Curtis 50pts, 7 Craig Campbell / Ian Hogg 55pts, 8 Edrich de Lange / Charlotte Marshall 68pts, 9 Nqoba Mswazi / Thokozani Latha 78pts, 10 Neil Yelland / Michael Surgeson 88pts

505 Provincials

1 = Peter Funke / Thomas Funke 16pts, 1 = Ulrich Fourie / Marius Fourie 16pts

Royal Natal Yacht Club's Go Fly a Kite

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Kite Flying Competition and Christmas Eve Lunch

Wednesday 24 December

Celebrating Christmas in a colourful fashion, sailors from the Royal Natal Yacht Club invite members of the public to come and fly high with them at their second Kite Flying Competition on Christmas Eve.

Back by popular demand, the second kite flying competition commences at low tide on the sandbank in front of the yacht club lawns. At the inaugural event, over twenty kites were sent up with the experienced sailors having to negotiate winds in a different fashion to keep their kite a drift.

There were a number of fun competitions, including the person who could send their kite up the highest, the person who was able to keep their kite up the longest and also who could land their kite in target accuracy into a few hula hoops laid out in various spots.

Low tide will allow interested kite flyers to start flying kites from 09:30 and when the tide starts coming in, should conclude by 12.30. This will then flow into everyone being able to enjoy a hearty Christmas Eve lunch.

Rear Commodore for the yacht club, Rob Samways grinned, “The first session we had was so well received, we had kids in gum boats coming and flying kites, seasoned sailors all enjoying the gentle breeze. It turned out to be such a fantastic, colourful family event that we have brought it back because of all the requests we have been getting.”

Continuing, he said, “What better way to bring in the festive season than spending time outdoors.  Kite flying will commence early and then the club will be putting on a Christmas Eve lunch.”

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

South African Sailing Youth Nationals Championships

Point Yacht Club / Royal Natal Yacht Club

SAS Youth Nationals

Aeolians Yacht Club Vaal Dam – 13 – 19 December

The start to school holidays will be exciting as 13 of Durban’s promising youth sailors head to Gauteng to compete in the South African Sailing Youth Nationals from 13 – 19 December.

 The event hosted at Aeolians Yacht Club on the Vaal Dam promises to be highly competitive with a number of classes being sailed over the six days. The 031 representatives will be participating in five classes, Point Yacht Club has 11 sailors flying their burgee, and two will be representing Royal Natal Yacht Club.

Brothers in ‘class’, Jethro and Eli Brophy Tintinger (Glenwood High School) will be taking to the water in the 420 class while Euan and Sean Hurter (Clifton College) will be competing on their hardy Dabchicks.

The Fennessy siblings Liam and Jessica (Chelsea Prep) will be racing in the Optimist class. Another young lady to be taking on the boys is highly decorated upcountry sailor Michaela Robinson representing Royal Natal Yacht Club. Coming from a highly successful sailing family, Robinson has taken part in two Cape to Rios and a number of international events. She will be sailing with Benji Daniel (Thomas More College) in the 420 class.

Another family with a keen interest in sailing is the Gaughrans. The eldest brother Matthew (Kearsney College) is taking on the fleet on his full rig Laser while his younger brother Ross (Kearsney College) will be sailing on a Laser 4.7. Youngest Gaughran, Calum (Highbury) will be competing in the Oppie Class. 

The only sailor to be racing in an RSTera Sport is Cameron Parle (Durban Preparatory High School). Sven Paton (Durban Preparatory High School) and Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Chad Stevenson (Umhlanga College) will both be racing in the sturdy RSTera Pros.

Thalia Naidoo (Eden College) will be back on the water having been concentrating on horse riding, she will be participating on her Tera Pro after having done extremely well in the Tera Worlds. She finished fourth overall and was the second lady in the recent World Championships. 

Dylan Albert (Umhlanga College) who has been getting loads of water time on his preferred Hobie 14 will be racing in the Dabchick class along with the Hurter brothers.

One disappointment is that Sam Lombard (Michael House) who was due to race in the Dabchick class will be unable to make the trip due to breaking his shoulder blade. Lombard has had the honour of being a part of the Lipton Challenge Cup for Point Yacht Club.

The Rear Commodore for Youth at the Point Yacht Club, Nik Albert stated, “We have a strong contingent of youth coming through our ranks and it is great to see that they are heading to major competitions. Every Saturday the guys have been getting training in, taking on the more experienced sailors and their hard work is showing.”

Soon-to-be-top-notch sailors, Durban’s up-and-coming water rats will be taking on the crème de la crème at the South African Sailing Youth Nationals up at the Vaal Dam this holiday.

For more info visit www.pyc.co.za or www.rnyc.org.za or like their Facebook pages.