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.

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.

Chatting to young sailor Ryan Robinson

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Interview with Ryan Robinson

“The best thing about sailing - I would say the way in which it mirrors life, and the lessons that you learn from it. Things may go your way, things may not! The only thing you can do is try your best from the very beginning to the very end, and then the results will come.”

These are the humble and wise words of Carlteonville’s up-and-coming sailor Ryan Robinson (17) who is heading off to Portugal to compete in the ISAF Youth World Championships this month. Robinson, together with team mate, Dominic van der Walt, they will be racing in the nippy 420 dinghy class.

The Grade 11 student from Carletonville High School says, “The 420 is an amazing boat! It’s just the right pathway boat for any future sailing you could want to do. It's able to sail in wind strengths other boats can’t handle, which makes it seriously fun.”

Responding to the next question, he pauses, “The most challenging thing about sailing a 420? I have to think about this one. It would be its pointing ability, when you don't have big fleets to sail in and you have to start on the same line as lasers and those types of boats, it’s a real mission to get a good start. But that's only if you have to share a start line with other classes of boats.

Robinson, together with his family competed in the epic Cape2Rio at the beginning of the year, “The Cape2Rio race was an amazing opportunity to get hours and hours of downwind practice which helps tremendously with my dingy sailing. The most important aspect of dingy training would be time on the water. You need to get almost a six sense feel for whichever boat you are sailing before you can race competitively.”

The Robinson family, one of the successful sailing families in South Africa competed in their second Cape2Rio crossing. A massive front hit the fleet at the beginning of the ocean crossing causing immense damage to a number of boats and resulting in one death.

“We thankfully made it through the storm unharmed. The knowledge that the storm had started to pass on day three would have to be one of the strongest memories I have of this year’s race. It was great knowing that the worst was over, and that we'd got through one of the most difficult challenges imaginable.” adding, he states, “and not being seasick anymore.”

Concentrating on his next major challenge, “The regatta is going to last for about a week and a half and that is also how long we'll be in Portugal for. Unfortunately our funds did not allow us to spend some extra time in Europe to do some warm up regattas, so we lose the advantage of big fleet racing, which we will have to make up for with intense training.”

“Luckily for us, locally we have the Vivier brothers (Eben and Johan) who always give us a go.” Chatting about who the competition will be at the championships, he continues, “Internationally the entire fleet is going to be the competition. If you pick one or two people you limit yourself, whereas if you race the fleet, you will always be able to improve.”

Having only competed together in one international regatta in the 420 class, Robinson said, “Dom and I have been sailing together for two years now. At first, communication was a problem but we worked through that and are sailing well together at this stage.”

“We are hoping to build on our experience from last year’s Youth Worlds. I wouldn't like to pick a goal such as a medal, mainly because I react very badly under pressure. So we are just going there with the mind-set of doing our best.”

The duo set off to Portugal, waving the flag for the Royal Natal Yacht Club, as they prepare to compete against the best young up-and-coming international sailors at the ISAF World Champ from 12 – 19 July.

For more info go to www.rnyc.org.za

Images by Trevor Wilkins - Start of the Cape2Rio
Others by Kath Robinson and from Ryan's Facebook page

Chatting to young sailing brothers, Euan and Sean Hurter

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Brothers, Euan and Sean Hurter are jetting off to compete on international waters in the next month.

The two Morningside sailors will be competing in Germany, Weymouth and Portugal racing in the pacey 29er class. This is the first time that the brothers will be competing internationally. The first two stops will be used as an introduction to the international circuit but the main event in Tavira, Portugal is the most important event for the duo. They will be joining another six South African sailors who will be racing in a variety of classes in Portugal at the ISAF Youth World Championships.

“For our first international out, I am very nervous but that is to be expected. The opportunity that has presented itself is phenomenal and the learning curve is going to be huge! I just want to make sure we make every part of it worth it.” said 18year old Euan Hurter.

Euan, who represented the Royal Natal Yacht Club at the Lipton Challenge Cup is a familiar face in Durban’s sailing circles but his younger brother Sean who up until recently dabbled in yachting, “This whole 29er campaign has sort of taken over the household. Almost everything we do has sailing in mind. We have to talk about sailing at home, or else we don’t move forward and improve. Often it might just be to fill in our training sheets, plan our next sail, and what needs to happen in general.” 16year old Sean shares.

Euan adds, “Sailing with my brother, for me, means I am more pedantic, more straight forward and to the point. I am less afraid of saying ‘we are sailing badly, this isn’t good enough!’”

Smiling, Euan states, “Simply how much fun can a 29er be? It is fast, thrilling and makes everything else seem a little bit boring. The hardest thing is keeping the boat going fast; for the smallest mistake you often pay with a surprise visit into the water as the boat is like standing up in a canoe.”

The Hurter boys who both attend Clifton College will be participating in the European Championship at the Kiel Week in Germany from 21 – 29 June, then the smallest event in Weymouth, United Kingdom at the Eurocup Event from 5 – 6 July. Then they will be joining the best young up-and-coming international sailors at the ISAF World Champs in Portugal from 12 – 19 July.

Euan concludes, “I don’t admire one single 29er team, but rather all the teams that achieve really well at worlds and those that further their sailing rather than stopping once out of youth class.”

The Hurter lad’s Dad, Gregg will be on the water while his sons are competing overseas. Gregg will be defending his title in the gruelling Vasco da Gama blue water race hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club from Maputo to Durban.

For more info visit www.rnyc.org.za