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Warriors Tops

Posted 7 months, 7 days ago

Warriors Tops
http://www.mype.co.za/ With a challenge put out to other Yacht Clubs for this years race, The Intelegence Telecoms 2008 managed to attract a field of a total of 12 yachts, this being two entries up from last years race. 3 were from Port Elizabeth’s Algoa Bay Yacht Club, 1 from Arena Quays, 1 from East London Yacht Club and 7 from Buffalo River Yacht Club Again all the skippers and crew were enthusiastic, making it a pleasure for the race committee to organise. The Skippers briefing and sponsored evening for crews and their families, the NSRI, East London Yacht Club helpers, and Team Sponsors was held at the Buffalo River Yacht Club on the Friday evening, with welcome bags being handed out to the Skippers of the Yachts. Slaley Cellars kindly donated additional Sponsorship towards prizes and welcome packs with a very generous sponsorship of a selection of really top class wines. The Fish River Sun kindly donated a weekend getaway to one of the winners, and Automall in East London donated a whole lot of goodies and bags for the goodies. Team Sponsorship of R500,00 plus T shirts for the crews of each yacht entered into the race, was sold by the Yachts to companies, all this money was then donated to the local NSRI, this year we managed to Raise R6000.00 from these sponsors. As well as Proceeds from raffling a Magnum of Slaley Merlot, kindly donated for the purpose. THE RACE The Start line laid off East London’s Esplanade, with the first marker buoy to windward, off Eastern Beach, the yachts then were to round the Ports Eastern Pier, and choose their own courses to Port Elizabeth with the finish line between a marker 200m in line with the end of the breakwater and PE’s Port control Tower. The Race started promptly at 11:00 am in a approximately 10+ knot Easterly with Warrior from ABYC rounding the mark first, closely followed by Fleur from ELYC and Warrior from BRYC. This 10 knot wind was not to last too long, and as the morning progressed into afternoon the wind died steadily, although the initial predictions of weather for the race were a lot more favourable than the 2007 race, this proved to be incorrect. This years race was plagued by not strong winds and rough seas, but rather very light winds and almost glossy doldrums seas, not Easterlies chasing the yachts on a fast downwind slalom run, but a slow and tiresome Westerly that the yachts had to beat into. This made the race far more tactical with some yachts choosing to go far offshore looking for a bit of wind and the fast flowing Augulus current, others choosing an inshore route hoping for a land and sea breeze to help them on their way. During the night of almost windless conditions both inshore and offshore the majority of the fleet started to retire one by one until only four of the initial eleven of the starting yachts remained. Warrior PE, Warrior EL, and Fleur contending for the handicap mono-hull class, and Moments the only single handed entrant remaining. Occasional relief came to the remaining yachts by means of squalls offshore, on the route that they had taken, with winds picking up briefly to around 18 knots combined with lightening streaked cloudy skies and torrential rain, soaking the crews to the bone. As dawn broke Warrior PE was in the close vicinity of Bird Island, with Warrior EL and Fleur within sight of one another 10 to 15 miles behind, and Moments trailing a short distance astern of them. Saturday mornings wind picked up slightly with a 5 to 6 knot Easterly, and saw the three leading yachts round Bird Island and take the inshore route around Algoa Bay. Warrior crossed the finish line at 11 hours 43 minutes and 8 seconds winning Line Honours in just 24 hours 43 minutes and 8 seconds. By 2 p.m. the wind shifted to the South East and picked up slightly, and Moments decided to cut directly across the Bay, now trailing 11 to 12 miles behind Warrior EL and Fleur. Fleur crossed the line at 18:17 just as the wind died, and Warrior struggled in the windless conditions, finally crossing the line at 18:40, managing to take the Handicap Honours. Moments then drifted throughout the night, beating against a light 2-3 knot Easterly and limped in at 6:55 on Monday morning in the very light conditions. The feeling from all the yachts and crews that finished the race was, despite the race being exhausting both physically and mentally due to the light frustrating conditions, it was great fun, and a well-run event. Prize giving will be held at the Giza Challenge ABYC Week. The Organizers of the Race would like to thank: East London Yacht Club for their help laying the Start Line and first mark, and manning the Start. ABYC for the welcome on Arrival and the laying of the finish marker and especially Alan Straton for the interest he generated in the race from PE. The Daily Dispatch for their excellent coverage of this event, with hope through this, our sport can grow in the Eastern Cape. Intelegence Telecoms, for making the race possible, through their keen sponsorship. Slaley Wines for their generous donation of fine wines as prizes and welcome packs and to raffle off in order for us to Raise Funds for the NSRI. Fish River Sun for their donation of accommodation for a weekend away to one of the winning yachts at their luxurious hotel. All the Team sponsors of R500.00 to the NSRI and T-shirts to the yachts crews, this year we raised R6000.00. THANK YOU. The NSRI, for keeping track of the race by taking positions of the yachts every few hours. Final Results: 1st: Warrior East London, L34, Chris Church 2nd: Warrior Port Elizabeth, Simonis 60, Phil Gutsche 3rd: Fleur, Farr 38, Mike Ross Full Story »

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