This was again so this year on Saturday, May 26, almost as unpleasant as last year, when the cruise was cancelled, was the weather.
Several club members, led by Alan Waterston and Colin Mathiesen, took to the water in their sailing dinghys after lunch, and were joined by five of the junior sailing prize-winners. Encouraged by this the commodore Jim Parkes declared the sail-by would go on, and three of the Keelboats, a few more dinghys, and the sea cadets on the restored whale Margaret Parkes and the cabin boat Pen-E joined the fleet. Two smaller powerboats joined the NSRI as they led the sail-past, and the commodore bravely stood on the quarterdeck to return the salutes of the passing boats.
Everyone was grateful to get off the water and out of the cold and rain, and join the spectators in the warmth of the club house. Margaret Parkes, the commodore's mother, and the catering staff had prepared a wonderful spread of cakes, sandwiches and savouries to reward those who had braved the weather conditions.
With the commodore and outgoing sailing secretary, Andrew Finn, officiating the prize giving proceeded. The Aggregate Trophy, in open class, for sailing throughout the season was awarded to Alan Waterston, second Peter Unite and third Colin Mathiesen. Joop Weddephol was posthumously fifth. The open class sailor who sailed the most races was Alan Waterston, and the most successful sailor in terms of points scored per race sailed was young Jason Cooke.
In the junior Aggregate Trophy, Sanel Maggaza was in first place, with Apendule Maneli and Sakumuzi Funda second and third respectively. The Laser Cup was won by Alan Waterston, with Colin Mathiesen second and Peter Unite third. The Cats Trophy was taken by Pat Tarboton, who beat international champion Blaine Dodds into second place, and Declan Nurse in third. The Active Cup for small keelboats, this being a popular recent innovation, was won by Patrick Wilson, with John Young second and Brett Gething third. The Daryl Gething Trophy for the best contribution to the sport of sailing during the season went to Mike Pogodin, the sail trainer at KYC. Pogodin has done amazing work with the juniors during the season, taking them and their boats to Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Mossel Bay to compete, and accompanied them to the RS Tera World Championships in England last year.
The trophy winners for the rest of the trophies were awarded their recognition at each individual event during the year, of which were the Baillie Cup, the Commodores Cup, the Devereaux Trophy, the Dewar Shield, the Club Class Championships, the Founders Trophy, Knuds Cup, Mathiesen Cup, Michaelides Trophy, Ma Wyatt Trophy, McKinnac Trophy, Parkes Cup, Westminister Cup and Fastnet Cup.
The competitive sailing season is now over, and will re-open with the opening cruise on August 30. An exception to the rule will be the World RS Tera Championships to be sailed at Swartvlei during July.
The Most Improved Novice Award went to Justin de Jongh, here receiving his trophy from the commodore, Jim Parkes.
The Laser Cup (best Laser sailors for the season) winners were Allan Waterston, Peter Unite, Colin Mathiesen, with the commodore, Jim Parkes on the right.
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