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KNYSNA NEWS - A team from Knysna walked away with top honours at the GP14 class national championships from 29 to 31 December at George Lakes Yacht Club, as part of its annual New Year Regatta.
The GP14 class mustered 10 boats, with entrants from Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as the local fleet. A light southwesterly wind blew on the first two days, permitting four races on each day to be completed. The best wind of the regatta arrived on the last day, with a moderate southeaster blowing. Three races were completed in these more challenging conditions.
GP14
With the GP14s starting first in each race, it was Tom Barry and Kirstie Gehrung who had the initial lead in the first race, before being overtaken by Knysna team Anthony Parker and Dudley Isaac, and Malcolm Osborne and Brent Gray. Parker took the first race win, ahead of Osborne, and Pat Mitchell came third. In the second race, it was Morgan Evans who took the initial lead, but he too fell back during the race. Osborne took this race win, ahead of Alan Keen and Parker.
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Parker then proceeded to rack up a series of race wins, only slipping in race 6 when a centreboard problem slowed the team down. Keen took that race. With the championship nailed down by Parker/Isaac, the minor placings were contested by Amber de Decker/Matthew de Villiers, Keen and Mitchell.
Spinnaker reach – the Fireball of Georgou Divaris and Ferdinand Holm (left), with Morgan Evans and Lavaughn Smit (centre), and Evelyn Osborne and Nelia Dannhauser (right). Photos: Charles Norman and Andrew de Villiers
De Decker did not do so well in the fresher wind on the last day and Keen and Mitchell ended with tied points for second place. Sailing’s tiebreak system gave second place to the team of Alan and Millicent Keen, with Pat and Jenny Mitchell pushed down to third place. At the prize-giving, the GP14 Silver Rosebowl trophy was awarded to Parker and Isaac, who sailed for Knysna Yacht Club.
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