GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - For the second Sunday in a row, a brisk southeaster favoured the sailors of George Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) for the day’s racing.
With a wind speed of 15 knots and higher, with stronger gusts, Sunday 28 January was a day for the heavy-weather specialists.
Three races were completed, although there were just three boats for the final race, held in increasing wind.
A gust of 27 knots was measured at one point during the day.
The first race had three Laser Radials, two Dabchicks, a Sonnet (Dave Jones) and a Fireball (Georgou Divaris and Ferdinand Holm) finishing.
After a late start, the Fireball soon overtook the rest of the fleet and extended well ahead. James Hellstrom on Laser Radial (who started on time) was also able to finish well ahead, with the Dabchick of Matthew de Villiers next in line to finish.
In race two, the Fireball was also able to get well ahead, finishing seven minutes ahead. James Hellstrom was once again ahead on his Laser Radial, pursued by the similar craft of Malcolm Osborne. Joining in for this race was the Tera Pro of James Vonk, and Sean Vonk on Optimist, sailing the shorter junior course.
James had no problems in the conditions and finished well ahead of Sean, who was delayed by a capsize.
After the second race, most sailors were exhausted and retired to the safety of the shore. Just three boats sailed the final race – the Fireball, the De Villiers Dabchick and the Tera Pro of James Vonk. Needless to say, the Divaris/Holm team were well ahead on corrected time to win this race.
The senior fleet was racing for the Kim Cup, donated by the late Gordon Rivas and named after his daughter.
The first races for this trophy were sailed in November.
When scoring was completed after the last race, the winner was announced as David Laing.
The junior fleet was competing for the Island Lake Trophy.
There were four Optimists on the day, as well as the Tera Pro of James Vonk, but it was only Sean Vonk who was able to master the conditions. Kyle America, Thomas Lawa and Tristan Boshoff went out but soon found the wind too overpowering and had to be assisted back to shore. James Vonk becomes the winner of the Island Lake Trophy.
After the day’s racing, a wake was held at the club in memory of past commodore Gordon Rivas.
We were joined in this by friends from the Riding and Flying fraternities, also past times supported by Gordon.
The Kim Cup was presented to David Laing by Gordon’s daughter, Kim Wallace.
ARTICLE: MALCOLM OSBORNE
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