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The VIP Yacht approaching the yacht club’s quarterdeck to salute the commodore, with the Sea Cadets in the Iain Fraser tossing oars in salute, during the closing cruise on Saturday, April 21.
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KNYSNA NEWS - Although the day dawned grey and gloomy with a threat of rain to come later in the day, Knysna Yacht Club sailing secretary Andrew Finn, went ahead and organised the club's closing cruise on Saturday, April 21.
The threatening weather kept many of the dinghies on the grass boat park, but there was a good presence of the Keelboat class, as they milled about waiting for 15:00 and the NSRI to lead them down to sail past the commodore at the yacht club.
The fleet bore down on the club house with a moderate Southwester pushing them along, the NSRI Colourpress Rescuer in the lead, and then the VIP Catamaran.
The plan was for the Sea Cadets to follow them, then the Keelboats and the dinghies. However, as Robbie Burns has said, "there's many a slip twixt cup and lip", and the VIP yacht, moving very slowly, drifting to starboard toward the club jetty, was overtaken by the Sea Cadet pulling boat, and began to squeeze the cadets against the jetty. Much desperate fending off, encouraged by loud instructions from the commodore got everyone out of difficulty, and sailing proceeded.
In a departure from past practise, the prize giving was then held.
The individual trophies having been presented after each race during the season, so it was the aggregate trophies that were presented and the special trophies, such as the wooden spoon for the biggest stirrer, and the trophy for the biggest mishap. The former went to Brett Gething and the latter to Declan Nurse amidst much banter and laughter.
All the junior sailors who had participated in the season's sailing were presented with certificates of participation. It was then all over until the opening cruise on September 1.
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