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mcel Vasco da Gama Yacht Race 2008

Posted 4 months, 2 days ago

mcel Vasco da Gama Yacht Race 2008
www.Sail-Search.com: Strong south westerly winds have hit the fleet of yachts competing in the annual 300 nautical mile mcel Vasco da Gama yacht race from Maputo to Durban. The 20-boat fleet started in Maputo yesterday afternoon (Thursday 31 July) at 15h30, and had a fast ride overnight with good wind behind them. But by mid-morning on Friday the dreaded south wester hit the fleet, and Zeus (skipper Don Voysey) lost her rudder, while Nina (skipper Luke Wagner), lost her mast. Both boats have reported no injuries with the crew in good spirit. Initially Bellisima (Vernon Goss/Gavin Smith) went to the assistance of Zeus who is now under tow with the NSRI who will take her into her home port of Richards Bay, while Nina has reported that they are under power and will motor to Richards Bay. It is believed that Bellisima is back racing. When the yachts reported in to race control at 07h00 this morning (Friday), they all sounded in good spirit after a fast night at sea. Leading the fleet was Crocs (Nicholas Mace/Patrick Holloway), closely followed by Orion Unzipped (Mark Sadler). Both boats were off St Lucia, with Crocs being furthest offshore at 30 nautical miles. A bunch of strong contenders for the overall handicap victory were about 30 nautical miles behind. They included Tenacity (Errol Stern); Phezulu (Leo Kroone); Skitzo (Nigel Milln); Pants on Fire (Dwayne Assis) and Addis in Cape (Alexander Monat). The strong south westerly will slow the fleet´s progress, although the weather office in Durban expects the wind to moderate quickly and move around to the south east this afternoon (Friday), and then to the North tonight. This is a very competitive fleet with many of the country´s top yachtsmen competing. It is unlikely that a strong wind will stop them sailing hard, so the race will be on until the finish. Positions (in degrees & minutes) as at 07h00 on Friday 1 August. Addis in Cape, Alexandre Monat (Cape), 27 51S / 32 56E Alacrity, David Taylor (Richards Bay), 27 18S / 32 93E Ballyhoo Too, Iain Park Ross (Cape), 28 01S 32 54E Bellissima, Vernon Goss/Gavin Smith (Durban) Crackerjack, Stuart Ritchie (Durban), 27 07S / 32 45E Crocs, Nicholas Mace/Patrick Holloway (Cape), 28 36S / 32 56E Ingenuity Foxy Lady, Chris Sutton (Durban), 27 28S / 32 00E Kimaya, Gavin van der Merwe (Gauteng), 26 03S / 33 09E Leyna, Solly Heyns/Keith Vennell (Gauteng), 27 18S / 32 30E Orion Unzipped, Mark Sadler/Ellian Perch (Cape), 28 44S / 32 36E Pants on Fire, Dwayne Assis (Gauteng), 28 51S / 32 10E Phezulu, Leo Kroone (Durban), 28 00S / 33 03E Shanen (cat), Wendy Venter (Durban), 26 53S / 33 06E Skitzo, Nigel Milln (Durban), 28 00S / 32 52E Sun Tonic, Keith Stewart (Durban), 27 22S / 03 30E Nina, Luke Wagner (Durban), 27 18S / 33 01E Sway, Herbert Karolius (Gauteng), Tenacity, Errol Stern (Cape), 27 54S / 32 48E Windforce, Chris Webber (Richards Bay), 27 25S / 32 54E Zeus, Don Voysey, RETIRED - broken rudder The next report-in from the fleet is between 18h00 and 19h00 tonight (Friday 1 August). Source: Richard Crockett Related Link: NSRI Assists Zeus Full Story »

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