The regatta had nineteen sailors in the senior fleet, including visitors from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kroonstad and Port Elizabeth. The junior fleet was small with just five boats.
Many of the local youth sailors needed to do other things after sailing for a whole week in the recent Youth National Championships on Swartvlei Lagoon.
There was a newly created 'grandolf' fleet of five boats. The acronym stands for something like "Geriatrics and Decrepit Old Novices and Lazy Farts". This fleet starts with (or just behind) the senior racing types, but just sails two triangles and no silly sausages.
Instigated by Di Turner it has attracted Joan Musto and Hans Hefer with even a guest appearance by Herb Philips. John and Suzie Kennedy also sailed two races in this fleet.
Sailing over the four days was in light south- westerly conditions with switchy, wind holes, making for tricky sailing conditions.
A race was attempted on the first day, but had to be abandoned when the breeze faded to nothing. Attention then went to social matters and a welcoming party around the braai area.
The first races were completed on the Sunday morning. The Fireball of David Laing and Jenna Lammers was generally ahead of the Lasers, but only managed to eke one overall race win on handicap. The wind was too light to be able to perform better according to boat rating. Racing at the front of the Laser fleet was dominated by visitor Alan Keen and GLYC's John Marc Olivier.
Going into the last day Keen was comfortably ahead on points, but had to leave early for the trip home. Olivier Marc won the last two races to be able to get up to first Laser as well as first overall in the senior fleet. Another visitor, Tim Jones of Port Elizabeth, sailed consistently well to finish second overall. Missing the last two races put Keen down to third place. Di Turner was first in the 'grandolf' fleet.
In the junior fleet and consistently out in front was the top Optimist sailor Georgou Divaris, with younger brother Markos in second place. James Hellstrom joined in for the second part of the regatta on his Tera Pro, providing stiffer competition for Georgou. He won two races and got up to third overall. This put Kirstie Gehrung down to fourth and Chris Kennedy fifth.
The regatta proved to be a very friendly affair, with lots of time for social interaction between the participants and families. An exceptionally keen sailor was Cobus de Lange from Kroonstad who spent much time and money in refurbishing his Fireball. He was given much advice by the local sailors and had got his boat performing streets better by the end of the regatta.
A social highlight of the regatta was the presentation on New Year's Eve by Cape Town sailor David Muller of some "Oom Schalk Lourens" stories by Herman Charles Bosman. David is a professional actor.
Sponsors Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty and Raubenheimers Attorneys played a great role in the success of the regatta.
Part of the George Lakes New Year Regatta fleet starting a race.
