Southern Spars Regatta
Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club hosted the 2008/09 season’s SouthernSpars Spring regatta on the weekend of the 6th September 2008. With just two races sailed on the Saturday in light South Westerly’s and the Sunday being blown out, the event was postponed to 24th and 25th January 2009. While originally 84 boats entered, when the regatta resumed on the 24th a further 44 boats.
The second weekend saw some good sailing with eight races (ten in total for the regatta). Moderate southerly winds prevailed, providing ideal conditions for most of competitors and only the last two races were sailed in freshening southerly winds.
On Saturday all the sailors were once again treated to a borewors roll and a free drink as they came off the water, while Sasha entertained all with his music. More drinks were drunk while sailors and their faithful supporters braaied and debated the days racing. It was great to see the club continue to encourage the social aspect of the sport – something many clubs appear to neglect.
The duty officer (Alan Keen) and the race officer (Lynn Keen and her crew) did a great job in getting the fleets through all the races and the club’s support staff (Lorna, Millicent and the galley) provided excellent back-up with their sterling work. All the prize winners in all the classes were presented with wonderful prizes from the regattas generous sponsor, SouthernSpars.
Click here to view the results.
Geoffrey Kilpin
Great conditions, great event… shame about the loss of numbers since September…?? For example Brevan & Callum, Ed & Josh would be happy to see the 420′s back on the water!!
From a mark layer/spectator’s angle a few comments: It seems that it is not only the Optimist fleet that tend to forget what the “tacking in the zone” rule really means… even with the new wording and deleting the term “two boat lengths” we still cannot tack at the mark just in front of a starboard tacker laying the mark while close-hauled… I saw so many of these, and to my great surprise no one made penalties and no one protested…??? In any international event, be prepared to respect this rule!
A real diamond: Our brave little Emile in the Oppie fleet impressed with some really great results despite of not too many regasttas under his belt… but how about this: In one of the Sunday’s races he came to the top mark looking all focused, but carried on straight towards me instead of bearing away to a run… and then calmly reported: “My dad is in trouble at the bottom of the vlei, can you go and help him?” After that he carried on racing and I had no choice but to head all the way to the other end of the vlei… and correct, there was our French hero with his dismasted boat, keel on the rocks. After towing the “mini-Open 60″ back to the club, I had hardly swallowed my lunch until she was sailing again with a fixed forestay fitting and re-stepped rig! We really need to learn some positive attitudes and semanship from these Great French Sailors!
See you in Hermanus.
Eero