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Cracers and Racers

Posted 9 months, 1 day ago

Cracers and Racers
We had 5 boats taking part in the medium distance race on Sunday the 9th of December. It was originally scheduled to be a Noordhoek Race, but when I saw the weather forecast I decided that it would be far more FUN to go in a St Croix direction. (Feel the power Sailing Commodore, feel the power.....). Derek Bouwer graciously offered to do the skipper's briefing and Ronnie Baer the start as I was in Port Alfred for Philip's Rowing Boat Race Regatta. Derek provides us with this entertaining report on a Good Day's Sailing: Five boats took part; Duette, Sea Mole, Umbaleki, Tixalox II and Struan in a wind that was forecast to blow North East 13 knots in the morning and swinging to the South East 20 knots in the afternoon. The course was - a harbour Start, Brenton to Starboard and a finish by crossing the transit line formed by the Break water light and the Port control tower 200 meters seaward, in hind sight this should be 500 as in a South Easter 200 hundred meters is pretty close to the hard crunchy bits on a leeshore! A great day with great (c)racing*. First of all, to the juicy bits, with the crews braai on Saturday night still hammering in my head, thank goodness for aspirin and coffee. The fog that had blanketed the harbour lifted. We started, all boats getting away clean, including the "cracer". In the harbour entrance Duette showed everyone how to go sideways with a kite up that they surely could not hold to Brenton so they headed off towards Swartkops. Both Tixalox II and Umbaleki blasted out the harbour and started their duel. With the fog still obscuring St Croix, 66 degrees Magnetic was the call and with the South Easter having blown for 3 day it was a bumpy ride but amply made up for, by the sunny warm weather. With TixiboxII and Umbaleki engaged in a luffing dual most of the fleet followed heading higher than Brenton, except for Duette who where still kite up and heading for Swartkops. Struan hit 66 degrees and stayed there. Roll's and something cold were served and after a 2 hour fetch we rounded Brenton. 1st around was Tixalox II followed by Umbaleki, Struan, Sea Mole and Duette. Sails where loosed and the Broad reach started and with the stern quarter sea it was a yawing ride home the cracer hitting double figures on the surfs if our log is to be believed? The ride back was a lot faster than the going there, with an hour and a half roller-coaster ride and the figures being called as the log scrolled up and then we saw 11.3 knots, "Yippee, Iain you beaut!" Then both private duels where rekindled between Tixalox II and Umbaleki, while Struan tried as hard as possible to shake Sea Mole who where ever present snapping at our sugar scoop. We crossed the line with a huge broad reach furled the headsail, started the donk and headed for the deck and hair of the dog; "cold frosties" and a good yarn to cap an absolutely fabulous day's sailing with an elapsed time of 3 hours 32 Min. * Cracing stands for crusing-racing: You start, you do the course and if you don't like it, get bored, or it's getting too wet, then you go cruising and maybe you finish! Full Story »

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