Mossel Bay sailors win in Knysna

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Mossel Bay Sailing Club members went to Knysna last weekend and won in the over 1210 Portsmouth Yardstick-rated fleet.

These are the slower boats in the racing fleet.

The Knysna interclub regattas are traditionally held between Mossel Bay, Knysna and George sailing clubs. However, this year there were also clubs from the Eastern Cape.

The first few races on Saturday took place in a strong, over 20-knot wind, with a strong tide coming into the lagoon.

The racing upfront was close between the Mossel Bay sailors, with Rob Holden winning two of the four races sailed. However, Waydon Goliath's consistency, with three second places and one third, put him in first place.

On Sunday there was a long race to the heads in the morning in a 14-knot wind. The tide was coming in strongly.

This made sailing tricky, as the sandbanks in the lagoon were still a bit shallow and the boats had to make sure to stay in the channels, but out of the current, going upwind and to ride the current coming back. Tammy Holden won the long haul, playing the elements the best.

However, no one had an answer for Waydon Goliath's tactics in the three races that followed and he walked away with a first in the fleet.

Results

1st Waydon Goliath (12 points), 2nd Robert Holden (19 points), 3rd Tammy Holden (26 points), 4th Oliver Holden (28 points), 7th Renier Delie (46 points), 8th Ashley Lomati (48 points).

The next leg of the interclub competition will be held in Mossel Bay over the weekend of 26 and 27 February. If anyone would like to come on board with sponsorship, please contact Elfie Holden (082 826 3825) for more information.

Rob Holden, Khanya Mafuta, Ashley Lomati, Renier Delie, Waydon Goliath, Albert Lombard (Knysna Yacht Club president), Oliver Holden and Tammy Holden.