Mauritius to Durban yacht race returns

THE Point Yacht Club announced the return of the Mauritius to Durban race, adding to the festivities of the magnificent milestone in the Club’s 25th anniversary year.

This will be the seventh edition of the challenging race that is due to start in Mauritius on Saturday, 17 June. The last time this trade wind race was held was in 2005 where Cape Town’s Warrior took both the line and handicap honours.

The first time the 1,690 nautical mile event was held was in 1985 and 32 years later, the race returns. Boats entering the race will be eyeing out the record of 6 days, 8 hours and 32 minutes as the time to beat. The extraordinary race record was set in 1989 by the boat Get More Fun skippered by Terry Clarence and owned by Dave Reese.

Speaking about it’s return, Commodore for the Point Yacht Club, Craig Millar, said, “I think this is wonderful for the club and wonderful for yacht racing. The Mauritius to Durban race is such an iconic race for our country. It currently is the only international race finishing in home waters. It was so popular in the 80s, being held every couple of years and I am delighted that it is back. I plan to be the first boat to enter!”

Organiser for the event, Richard Crockett said, “It is a nice trade wind race where the guys can get in some good fast sailing. It is tactically a tough race where the navigators will have a big role to play. The three big challenges of the crossing will show the knowledge and mettle of the

guys guiding them home. The first key is how far will they leave Reunion Island to starboard and get away from the island’s wind shadow. The next is rounding the southern tip of Madagascar. And the third big one is the notorious Agulhas current.”

“We have had some keen interest; both locally and internationally encouraging us to resurrect the race and leading up to the announcement a couple of boats from Mauritius and Reunion have said they would love to participate. If we get a fleet of 15 boats, I think we can be proud. It

is an auspicious year for the club, and I think this is a completely fitting way to celebrate. If there are insufficient entries by 15 February, the event will be rolled over to the same time the following year in 2018.” continued Crockett.

No stranger to hard-core sailing, Millar, who was the skipper of the 2005 Durban entry in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race concluded, “We have a number of significant events planned in our big year and I think this long haul race rounds off the festivities nicely. Being a yacht club, it makes sense to have a significant yacht race to include in the diary. June is a fantastic month to do the passage and it is just after the other blue water race we are organising, the Vasco da Gama in April. So let’s go sailing!”