Top 20 finish for Toti sailor
Most of the entries used the event as practice for the upcoming gruelling 400 nautical mile Vasco da Gama to Port Elizabeth.
THE Easter weekend was a busy patch for the more competitive sailors of Durban with three major events concluding around the country.
Down in Port Elizabeth, brothers Thomas and Peter Funke achieved their intentions of finishing in the top 10 at the SAP 505 world championships. The Funkes came eighth overall after eight races. They were the top South African finishers on the leaderboard, behind legends Mike Holt and Carl Smit from America who cleaned up with five first places.
The Robinson brothers, Ricky and Brennan representing Royal Natal Yacht Club had a fantastic series, showing their dexterity on any sailing craft, to finish 13th. Amanzimtoti’s Jay D’Engle sailing with Capetonian Dewet Nel ended his regatta in 18th.
In Durban, oodles of Hobie sailors took to the warm waters to compete in the Hobie nationals. The bright and colourful fleet enjoyed superb conditions over four days. Race officer from Cape Town, Doug Allison got in 11 races. After a tense start to the regatta with three false starts in the opening race and a black flag being raised for the remainder of the day, the adrenaline junkies managed to roll in the results.
Taking honours in the main class, William and Lucinda Edwards from Knysna Yacht Club wrapped up with six first places and three second places concluding the four days as deserved winners. Iconic Hobie sailor and world champion, Blaine Dodds competing with his daughter Roxanne, tallied up four firsts and six seconds, settling for silver just two points behind Edwards. Top local PYC members, Ewald and Ali Erasmus were in the top 10, with their seventh place overall.
Special mention goes to Aldino Gorlei, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and finished an impressive fifth in the Hobie 14 class.
Up in Richards Bay an impressive fleet of 14 large keelboats are safely moored after fantastic downwind sailing. They set sail from Inhaca Island in Mozambique on Good Friday in the long distance race to Zululand. Most of the entries used the event as practice for the upcoming gruelling 400 nautical mile Vasco da Gama to Port Elizabeth.
Taking line honours in the 25th edition of the Inhaca Yacht Race, local entry from Zululand Yacht Club Zeus skippered by Don Voysey in a pacey 23 hours 16 minutes and 48 seconds followed by the Rear Commodore of Point Yacht Club, Jon Marshall sailing on Majimoto just half an hour behind Zeus. Marshall, sailing with his daughters and crewman Edrich ‘Lucky Eddie’ de Lange, were crowned handicap winners. Another PYC member, Greg Donkin helming Alkistis finished third in both handicap and across the line.
April continues to be a busy sailing season with the start of the Vasco da Gama Ocean Race on Saturday, 25 April and the SA laser nationals from Wednesday, 29 April with close to 100 boats taking part. For more info go to www.pyc.co.za
