Dolphin Coast titles decided in gale-force drama

HANK McGregor wrapped up his victory in tough sea conditions at the Gara Dolphin Coast Challenge while the final stage saw overnight women’s leader Hayley Nixon falling out of contention after a freak incident in the strong winds, and Michelle Burn grabbed the title.

McGregor had a two minute lead in the bank as her started the rejigged second stage from the Durban Undersea Club on a northerly out-and-back course set by the organisers after the North Easterly buster swept into the area overnight, whipping up big surf conditions.

After grinding impressively into the choppy headwind McGregor mastered the downwind leg back to the finish ahead of Barry Lewin in second and Gene Prato in third.

In the women’s race reigning world champ Hayley Nixon started with a 20 second overnight lead over Michelle Burn and just had to stay with her and the on-form Nikki Birkett to win the title. Everything changed right at the start as they charged off the beach at DUC. In the choppy sea conditions she took a nudge from behind and fell out of her ski, and the strong Easterly wind blew her ski away from her.

“It turned into a very long swim as my ski was blown away from me. I finally got back to the boat and then fell out again trying to remount, and my ski blew away again. By the time I managed to get back on I couldn’t even see Nikki (Birkett) and Mich (Burn). It was a bad mistake and it cost me dearly,” she added.

That left the door open for Michelle Burn. She took the win, followed by Nikki Birkett and Hayley Nixon.

Clint Pretorius and Ryan Butcher won the double ski race from the husband-and-wife duo of Brett and Danica Bartho.

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