SAIL Magazine Vol 1

SAIL ROYAL CAPE YACHT CLUB CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

2009/2010 Racing Season All the excitement from this season’s top regattas

Local & international sailing

Improve your IRC rating

Cruise the Cape

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Royal Capers abroad

DAVID ABROMOWITZ & ASSOCIATES (PTY) LTD CAPE TOWN

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SAIL WELCOME RCYC

Ahoy there!

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elcome to the first edition of Sail, Royal Cape Yacht Club’s showcase of the season’s finest sailing on the Table Bay circuit. RCYC has a proud tradition of producing some of the best yachtsman in the world and so we’ve also given exposure to important milestones like the Shosholoza campaign, which define the club and its remarkable sailing heritage.

Sail brings you all the excitement around the different events in Cape waters. You’ll also read about the successes of the RCYC sailors at regattas in and around South Africa – for example the domination of our Royal Capers at MSC Week in Durban. In addition we’ll bring you the latest news on our members’ achievements on other shores, for example the dominance shown by Mark Sadler and his team at the China Cup. RCYC has the largest active racing keelboat fleet in South Africa and we want to promote this to yacht clubs around the world. To this end, Sail will be distributed to 50 yacht clubs locally and internationally, including Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Fremantle Sailing Club, San Francisco Yacht Club and the Royal Thames.

With the continued support of our many enthusiastic advertisers, we aim to produce this magazine annually. Enjoy the read.

Yours in sailing, The Sail Team

SAIL T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E

ROYAL CAPE YACHT CLUB

PUBLISHER Ingrid Hale MANAGING EDITOR Kim Richter ART DIRECTOR Piers Buckle (Fresh Identity) ADVERTISING SALES Jeanne van Rooyen, Shirley Roos (Jeanne van Rooyen PR and Special Events) CONTRIBUTORS Trevor Wilkins (cover photograph), Brenton Geach, Hylton Hale, Marcus Reuters, Di Meek, Gordon Kling, Harry Brehm, John Martin, Katie Beney, Admiral Koos Louw, Dr Peter Goldman, Nicholas Mace, Rick Tomlinson, Matthew Thomas, Peter Bazlinton, Alex Petersen, Trygve Roberts, Matthew Sheahan, Bjorn Geiger, Ray Matthews, Dale Kushner, Howard Minnie, Richard Crockett, Carlo Borlenghi, Robert Hale, Peter Mumford, Dave Hudson, Kirsten Veenstra, Mark Covell, Sally Collison SPECIAL THANKS Michela Byrnes; Harriet Symons; Mariette Roodt-Koffman; the commodore, John Martin, and his general committee and flag officers; Yachting World; The Cape Odyssey and Colin Farlam CONTACT RCYC Tel: +27 21 421 1354 | Fax: +27 21 421 6028 Email: info@rcyc.co.za | www.rcyc.co.za FOR LETTERS AND ENQUIRIES, CONTACT: Ingrid Hale Tel: +27 83 309 3895 | Email: sailrcyc@live.com PRINTING Paarl Media Paarl

Contents 3 Commodore’s letter 5 Mayor’s letter 6 International and local sailing round-up The global and local races that get our pulses racing

28 Sholsholoza Proudly South African – the campaign of a lifetime

30 Royal Capers abroad Follow the achievements of Royal Cape club members sailing among professionals internationally

34 Youth development sailing How Royal Cape Yacht Club plays its role in uplifting South African youngsters

36 Improve your IRC rating Here’s how to improve your boat’s performance using little more than a tape measure and a pen

41 Smoke on the water The contentious IRC system is alive and well at RCYC. Enter the fray if you dare

46 Club class action For serious competition and some real drama, look no further than club class racing

48 Destination anywhere From Lamberts Bay to Knysna, cruising in the Western Cape offers sailors some memorable experiences

51 Social scene Royal Capers know how to kick back and relax on and off the water

52 The committee Meet the people steering the club

54 Engine room It’s all about service at Royal Cape Yacht Club

58 Future’s so bright Enough with the speculation, here are the facts about the club’s relocation

60 RCYC events calendar All the fixtures from July 2010 to June 2011

62 Membership form Thinking about joining? Look no further

64 From the stern Fascinating facts on the history of RCYC and sailing in the Cape ©Royal Cape Yacht Club. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission from the publisher.

saIL story runner rcyc

The Lipton Cup circa 1964

Letter from the commodore

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t is an honour for me to write the forward to this newly established annual magazine. I am exceptionally proud and honoured to be the commodore of this prestigious yacht club and in so doing, provide a “Tavern of the Seas” for visiting yachtsmen and -women, whether they be racing, cruising or sailing single-handed around the world.

The committee and staff work tirelessly at creating a facility where our treasured members can sail competitively, at their leisure or simply socialise and meet friends both local and foreign.

Highlights have been the revival of Royal Cape Yacht Club as a host for international events. We were honoured, among others, by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, a long-standing friend, and his Clipper Round the World yacht race (see p8), the

Portimão Global Ocean Race (p10) and of course our own South Atlantic Race (p12) to Brazil (formerly the Cape-toRio), where we had 56 entries from 10 nations participating.

The youth development training that we undertake must never be underestimated, along with the Izivunguvungu School in Simon’s Town to which we contribute handsomely in funds, mentorship and skills. Then there are also our own junior members who have grown tremendously as keelboat sailors of considerable note.

These programmes must continue and grow with time and money.

Much has been written about what yachting brings to Cape Town: prestige, tourism, development and skills training, growth of the industry and a huge contribution to the country’s image in producing world-class competitors who can, and do, win honours for South Africa.

This is not a sales pitch or a cap-in-hand approach, they are the facts, which have been quantified over and over again.

Club sailing, which is our core business, is going extremely well, thanks in no small measure to our many sponsors. From me personally a huge thank you – we have all become friends. We

have established a marketable product and will strive to maintain our own high standard of professionalism in our approach.

For the future, I look forward to contributing for another year, during which time the biggies are defending the Lipton Cup Challenge and the South Atlantic Race, which will see racing multihulls participating in their own class and, of course, our highly competitive IRC fleet.

John Martin Commodore RCYC 2009/10

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SAIL RCYC

Letter from the mayor

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t’s a privilege to write a message for Sail, the new Royal Cape Yacht Club magazine. Sailing is arguably one of the best ways to appreciate our beautiful city, and we’re grateful for the work of RCYC in promoting the full use of our priceless natural resources.

This historic club, established in 1905, is still attracting the best sailors from all over the country to our city, while also making sailing open and accessible to all who are interested.

On behalf of the City of Cape Town, I wish to thank RCYC for its investment in Cape Town and for the important role it has played in our sporting and tourism industries. Your work has made Cape Town a better place to live in and a better place to visit, and this benefits everyone.

I am sure that the long tradition of yachting will continue to be nurtured and cultivated in your hands.

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You will be dealing with people who really understand the opportunities that offshore banking provides. Because we’re the offshore experts, we can help you take advantage of the opportunities your circumstances offer, with specialist products and services to help you make the most of your offshore savings and investments.

Take advantage of our offshore expertise: Visit www.offshore.hsbc.com/rc Call +27 11 676 4347

Alderman Dan Plato Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town

Issued by HSBC Bank International, a trading name of HSBC Bank International Limited, HSBC House, Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey JE1 1HS. HSBC Bank International is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission for Banking, General Insurance Mediation, Investment and Fund Services Businesses. HSBC Bank International Limited is a member of the Depositors Compensation Scheme as set out in the Banking (depositors Compensation) (Jersey) Regulations 2009. HSBC Bank International Limited, Representative Office South Africa, which is an Authorised Financial Services Provider. Copies of latest audited accounts are available on request. To help us to continually improve our service, and in the interest of security, we may monitor and/or record your communications with us. © HSBC Bank International Limited 2010.

All Rights Reserved. MC8237/SJ/2206320/CG

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SaIL I N T E r N aT I o N a L & L o c a L r c yc

International

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race  Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race  Portimão Global Ocean Race  The Volvo Ocean Race  The South Atlantic Race  Jules Verne Round the World Record Pages 8–13 

PHOTOGRAPH TREVOR WILKINS

Danger zone With unparalleled scenery, and weather and sea conditions that can change in an instant, the Cape offers thrilling sailing, and one of the most anticipated stopovers in international racing. At the centre of it all is Royal Cape Yacht Club. For all the excitement and adventure of the roundthe-world races and best local regattas, read on.

Local

The Audi Twilight Race Series  MSC Week  The Lipton Challenge Cup  Spring Regatta  The Double Cape  Crocs Summer Regatta  Mykonos Offshore  Cape Town Sailing Week Pages 14–25 

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CirCumnavigating the globe

The Clipper Round the World crew revel in the hospitality of Royal Cape – the first stopover on the trip of a lifetime. By Katie Beney

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n November 2009 the 10 ocean racing yachts competing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and their combined 180 skippers and crew arrived at Royal Cape Yacht Club at the start of the Cape Town stopover.

From the moment the bell rang from the clubhouse to signal the first team’s arrival to the final farewell as the race organisers left at the end of the stopover, the club and members could not have been more welcoming.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only one of its kind in the world where non-professional sailors compete on board 10 identical stripped down 68ft ocean racing yachts. More than 430 people are taking part in the 09-10 edition of the race. They represent more than 30 nationalities, including South African, and their professions range from student, taxi driver, CEO and housewife to management consultant, lawyer and even an archdeacon. Crew, whose ages range from 18 upwards (there is no upper age limit), can sign up to take part in a single leg, multiple legs or the whole circumnavigation.

The event, now in its fourteenth year, was established by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968 and ’69. An old friend of Commodore John Martin and regular visitor to RCYC, Sir Robin had no hesitation in asking the club to host the South African stopover of the Clipper 09-10 Race.

“Cape Town is rightly known around the world in maritime circles as the Tavern of the Seas, and nowhere is more hospitable than RCYC.

Since my first visit in 1966 up to my most recent in 2009, it has always provided a warm welcome and a chance to relax and wind down after a voyage around the Cape or in from the Atlantic,” says Sir Robin. “But it’s not just the members who make the club such a fascinating visit, it’s the crews from other world-girdling yachts who have inevitably called to sightsee, arrange repairs or re-fits, and re-provision. Having contributed to South Africa’s economy, we all leave vowing to return some day. The recent Clipper Race stopover is a typical example, with more than 200 crew enjoying, what is for most of them, their first taste of Africa. They loved it and RCYC was their home for the duration of their stay in port.”

RCYC’s facilities are greatly suited to the needs of the Clipper Race. The Regatta Centre doubled as the perfect loft for crew to work on their sails and organise victualling – bagging up supplies of food for each day they would spend on board during the race through the Southern Ocean to Geraldton, Western Australia. With up to 18 hungry mouths on board needing three decent meals a day, and more than three weeks at sea – not to mention all the energy-giving snacks between meals – there are a lot of provisions to organise! For the maintenance team, having the expertise of the boatyard and a re-fuelling facility on site was a great bonus.

On the water, Ron Keytel and the racing team at RCYC provided first-class support to the Clipper Race committee in overseeing the race

Route Leg 1 5 620nm 31-35 days The Humber, UK

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Leg 2 3 385nm 18-20 days

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (via La Rochelle, France)

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Leg 3 4 743nm 21-25 days Cape Town, South Africa

Leg 4 4 828nm 37-40 days

GeraldtonGreenough, Australia

Leg 5 5 680nm 30-34 days

Qingdao, China (via Singapore)

Leg 6 3 920nm 26-27 days

San Francisco, USA

Leg 7 5 159nm 31-37 days

Jamaica, Caribbean The Humber, UK (via Panama) (via New York, USA; Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia; Cork, Ireland)

SaIL I n t e r n at I o n a L r c yc

PHOTOGRaPHS mark covell

The giant A100 trimaran Majan in Table Bay.

Fly like a bird…

RCYC supports the new Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race, following a visit by the A100 tri-maran Majan – one of the world’s biggest and fastest multihulls. By Di Meek

Clipper 09-10 fleet and Table Mountain at the start of Leg 3 from Cape Town to Geraldton-Greenough, Australia.

finish from Rio and the re-start to Western Australia and also assisting with the customs and immigration procedures.

No mention of the stopover at RCYC would be complete without a huge thank you to Marcus Reuter and the office staff, and Riaan Bezuidenhoudt and the catering team, all of whom pulled out all the stops to make sure the Clipper team, skippers and crews were fed, watered, laundered and entertained.

E www.clipperroundtheworld.com

PHOTOGRaPHS clipper ventures plc

PROFILE Sir Robin Knox-Johnston age: 71 Nationality: British Career highlights: At the age of 28, he was the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. He did this on his 32ft teak ketch, Suhaili, taking 312 days between 14 June 1968 and 22 April 1969.

Other credentials: Winner of the double-handed Round Britain Race in 1970 and 1974; line honours in 1971 Cape to Rio Race; won the Jules Verne Trophy in 1994 with fellow sailor Peter Blake for fastest circumnavigation in 74 days, 22 hours, 18 minutes and 22 seconds!

He was knighted in 1995 and has uniquely been the UK’s Yachtsman of the Year three times. In 2006, he was one of the first six inductees for the International Sailing Federations’s Hall of Fame.

Interesting history: He has never been a fan of participating in team sports and went to sea in the Merchant Navy in 1957 as a Deck Officer with the British India Steam Navigation Company.

Read his book A World of my Own on his first solo circumnavigation (R170 from www.kalahari.net).

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oyal Cape Yacht Club has enthusiastically supported initial proposals for an Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race in 2012 that would be the first ever yacht race to link the Middle East, Africa, Australia and Asia and the first of its kind in the Indian Ocean.

This follows a high-profile 10-day visit to Cape Town in March this year by the A100 Majan – the first of a new breed of Arabian racing multihulls from the Sultanate of Oman in the Middle East – while tracing an inaugural route for the new race.

Majan’s 4am arrival on Tuesday 2 March followed a dramatic rounding of Cape Point under bright moonlight and south-easterly winds gusting up to 50 knots (kn), which brought her screaming down the Peninsula at speeds topping 35kn into a wild Table Bay. At the helm was Paul Standbridge, former sailing manager for South Africa’s 2007 America’s Cup Team Shosholoza and now skipper of Majan, which forms part of an ambitious Omani sail training project that aims to re-ignite the country’s rich maritime heritage. Also on the crew for the exploratory dash to Cape Town was top South African sailor and former Team Shosholoza trimmer Michael Giles.

A presentation of the Oman Sail campaign had the club buzzing with excitement and the popular Standbridge – a regular competitor in club events when he’s in the city – held a huge crowd of over 600 members utterly captivated as he told of Majan’s voyage to Cape Town. Majan’s crew were overwhelmed by the warm welcome given them by the club.

The Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race will feature city start lines in Muscat (the capital of Oman), Cape Town, Fremantle (Australia) and Singapore, and five “Cape” finish lines – Cape Ras Al Hadd off Oman; Cape Agulhas, the most southerly point of Africa; Cape Leeuwin on South West Australia; Cape Piai, the southernmost point of mainland Asia, just west of Singapore; and Cape Comorin on the southern tip of India.

“The locals we met certainly love the idea of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race and look forward to welcoming Oman Sail back again. We have made a lot of friends in the port of Cape Town. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality,” said media crew Mark Covell after the presentation at RCYC. E www.majan-a100.com, www.omansail.com or www.indianocean5capesrace.com w w w. r c y c . c o . z a

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A RACE FOR ALL F Sailors finally have the opportunity to race around the world in affordable 40ft boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race.

By Admiral Koos Louw

Route Leg 1 6 900nm 41 days Portimão, Portugal

Leg 2 7 500nm 42 days

Cape Town, South Africa

Leg 3 7 100nm 40 days

Wellington, New Zealand

Leg 4 5 000nm 30 days

Ilhabela, Brazil

Leg 5 3 500nm 21 days

Charleston, USA

Portimão, Portugal

or the fledgling Portimão Global Ocean Race, turning the dream of an affordable and attainable around-the-world race aboard fast, safe and competitive 40ft boats was a tough journey as race organisers sought the sponsorship required to launch a brand new event. In Portimão they found a city with real drive and ambition, and a hotel and marina with a race centre specifically designed for international races, making the town the perfect starting point.

There was a lot of excitement around the departure of the tiny fleet of six boats from Portimão on 12 October 2009. Speed boats with professional film crew accompanied the single- and double-handed yachts to the first mark of the 30 000 nautical mile course – a compulsory gate one mile south of the stunning cape of Sagres on Portugal’s Algarve coast. It was clear from the start that the Chilean boat was probably the fastest of the boats, but the quiet confidence of the two young Germans, Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme, on Beluga Racer created a formidable impression.

The first leg to Cape Town went well, with the Germans winning comfortably. The boats had a wonderful stay at Royal Cape Yacht Club, with crew spending serious money in Cape Town. False Bay Yacht Club also played its role, treating participants to smoked snoek and sambuca prawns washed down with good South African wine. The city hosted a memorable prize-giving event with the Izivunguvungu Youth Band playing themselves right into the hearts of those in attendance.

Leaving Cape Town for Wellington, New Zealand, on the second and longest leg of the race, the boats got off to a good start, but unfortunately one of the double-handed boats, Kazimir Partners of the South African brothers, Lenjohn and Peter van der Wel, was forced to return to Cape Town with mast damage. After sustaining significant keel damage, 70-year-old Dutch single-hander Nico Budel had to abandon his boat Hayai. Budel was rescued by a commercial ship, CSK Radiance, and also returned safely to Cape Town.

Four boats completed the race to Portimão. “I believe that this race has proven the capabilities of a 40ft boat to race safely and very competitively in an around-the-world event. Furthermore, the average speeds that the boats have shown are exceptional,” said one of the race founders, Josh Hall, on the completion of the event.

This wonderful around-the-world race on a poor man’s budget looks set to live on, with entries for 2011/12 already signing up. We’re excited – the concept is too good to die and, best of all, it’ll stop over at Cape Town again.

E www.portimaoglobaloceanrace.com

PHOTOGRaPHS trevor wilkins, sally collison

Lenjohn and Peter van der Wel arrive in Cape Town.

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SaIL I n t e r n at I o n a L r c yc

TEsT OF sTREngTh

With the most coveted trophy in endurance sailing at stake, Cape Town proves a welcome stopover to the Volvo Ocean Race. By Matthew Thomas

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ince the inception of around-the-world yacht racing, Royal Cape RCYC adopted Yacht Club and the City of Cape Town have been key players in Puma’s Il Mostro. ocean racing. Started as the Whitbread Round the World Ocean Race in 1973, the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) makes Cape Town its first stopover after its start in Europe and a long ocean dash.

Over the years, the boats have changed from IOR-rated maxis of 80ft to extremely modern carbon-fibre racing machines capable of 600 miles per day and bursts of speed over 35 knots. As the race has evolved, the level of sailing has increased dramatically and today all the crews are professional sailors, making the VOR extremely competitive and very exciting to follow. As the event has grown, so has its needs. It has become an awe-inspiring spectacle in each of the 10 ports. While the fleet is no longer moored at RCYC, Royal Cape is still a place that the crew can slip away to, to get out of the public eye and relax with other sailors.

In the 2008/09 race, Puma’s Il Mostro was adopted by RCYC, which was a unique experience for club members as it allowed them access to the entire team. The crew gave a fascinating first-hand account of sailing in the VOR in a presentation at the club. Much to the delight of members, a number of the Il Mostro crew were keen to join in one of the Wednesday night races and were Skipper-CEO, Puma Ocean Racing allocated local boats to sail. Unfortunately the black southeaster scuppered age: 49 Town, many Royal Cape members have the chance for local yachtsmen to sail Nationality: American been involved in the repair of the various with the world-class sailors.

Career highlights: Ken Read has boats. Not only have members been During the stopover, young apprentices twice been at the helm of Dennis involved in the repair of the boats, but from the Izivunguvungu Development Conner’s America’s Cup promany members have raced over the years.

School were allowed to spend a day at the grammes (2000 and 2003). He In 1985 RCYC had its own entry in the Puma shore base where they worked with was named “United States Rolex Yachtsman of the Year” Whitbread race. Built in Cape Town by local some of the world’s top sailmakers and twice and has 46 World, North American and National boat builders, Atlantic Privateer was boat builders. Puma’s strategy of making Championships to his credit in a variety of classes. Puma conceived and put together by Padda sailing accessible to as many people as has once again tagged Read as the man to lead the Kuttel and Ludde Ingvall for the race. possible meant anyone who was not afraid charge in the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race.

For the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race, of a little hard work was able to be part of Puma has announced it will again participate under the leadership of this amazing race. skipper Ken Read, with Puma being the official supplier of all VOR The 37 000 mile journey that is the VOR took the eight-boat fleet merchandise. Cape Town has also been confirmed as the first stopover to 10 different countries around the world, racing in and surviving the for the race, which starts in Alicante, Spain, in October 2011. We hope world’s harshest climates. Puma Ocean Racing and their Volvo Open that RCYC will once more be involved with this stopover. There are 70 Il Mostro finished second overall in the nine-month long adventure. many sailors from RCYC that are trying to get a spot on board one Looking back over the years, many of the boats competing in the of the Volvo teams. Watch this space!

Volvo Ocean Race have arrived in Cape Town in need of urgent repair. With E www.volvooceanrace.com a well established boat-building and repair industry in Cape

PROFILE Ken Read

Route

Leg 1 6 500nm 21 days Alicante, Spain

Leg 2 5 000nm 19 days

Cape Town

Leg 3 1 950nm 10 days

Cochin, India

Leg 4 2 500nm 11 days

Singapore

Leg 5 12 300nm 40 days

Qingdao, China

Leg 6 4 900nm 15 days

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Leg 7 2 550nm 7 days

Boston, USA

Leg 8 1 250nm 4 days

Galway, Ireland

Leg 9 525nm 33 hours

Marstrand, Sweden

Leg 10 400nm 1 day

Stockholm, Sweden

St Petersburg, Russia

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PerPetual motion

Set course for South America, across the wild ocean, in the legendary South Atlantic Race.

By Alex Petersen

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The super maxi ICAP Leopard set a new record for the 2009 South Atlantic Race.

intrepid voyages of Diaz and Da Gama and the shared history of he iconic South Atlantic Race from Cape Town to South exploration the two countries shared.

America, begun nearly 40 years ago to encourage South African The race has been a success from the start. The first race sailors to attempt ocean passages, has long excited huge local attracted an amazing international entry of 69 boats, whose skippers and international interest, and 2009 was no different. included Robin Knox-Johnston, Eric Tabarly, Kees Bruynzeel and It’s a tactical race, demanding both seamanship and weather savvy.

Lieutenant Commander Maximo Reveiro Kelly on the fleet that left Best known as the Cape to Rio Race, the race has headed mainly for Rio, Table Bay in January 1971. By 1976 Rio fever had become a pandemic. but at times to other South American venues, including Punta del Este The Cape to Rio formed one leg of the Gauloises Triangle Race, the first in Uruguay and more recently Salvador, the picturesque capital of the leg being from St Malo, in France, to Cape Town, the second leg to Rio Brazilian state of Bahia. The 2009 edition, the Heineken Cape to Bahia Race, de Janeiro, and the third on to Portsmouth in the UK. As a result, the saw two great sailing craft, ICAP Leopard from London and Rambler from Cape to Rio race attracted a massive fleet of 126 boats from 19 New York respectively, take the line-honours and handicap trophy. different countries. The race was also becoming faster. The 17 days and The 100ft ICAP Leopard inevitably set a new record for the course, five hours taken by Huey Long’s maxi Ondine sliced a big chunk off just over 10 days, slicing six days off the time set by the 37ft Windsong, previous times, while the prized handicap trophy went to Carlo di while Rambler crossed the line the next day to secure the handicap Mottola Balestra of Costa Rica, whose 38ft yacht Chica Tica took trophy. Also crossing was the venerable Voortrekker – a key player in 21 days and 12 hours to complete the course. Once again the iconic the start of ocean racing as we know it today, when in 1968 it placed Voortrekker was one of the fleet, skippered by navy man Bertie Reed. second in the Observer Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race, the event Political clouds hampered the race for nearly two decades, when that heralded the birth of modern ocean racing. On her return to Cape there were two races to Punta del Este in Uruguay, and only in 1993 did Town after a season of racing in Europe, Voortrekker’s owners, the the fleet sail to Rio de Janeiro once again. But it was South Africa Ocean Racing Trust, handed her over for a surprisingly large fleet of 83 yachts on the start line, use by the South African Navy. It was at the handover when two locally-built maxis, Parker Pen designed by that the vice admiral suggested that South Africa Cape Town, South africa Angelo Lavranos, and Broomstick, designed by Alex should have its own ocean race. This started the ball – South america Simonis, led the fleet out into the bay. The handicap rolling, the debate at first being whether it should be Approximately 3 600 miles trophy went to the high-tech 46ft racing machine, to Australia or South America. across the Atlantic Ocean Morning Glory skippered by SAP computer software South America, in particular Rio de Janeiro, won (After leaving Cape Town, executive Hasso Plattner, sailing with a professional the vote. As a pleasing “downwind” race, it would participants head north-west crew including an experienced weather router, and encourage the small South African sailing community towards the island of Ilha signalling the growing professionalism in ocean racing to cross an ocean. It also, fortuitously, linked to the Trindade, and south-west that has now become commonplace. from there towards South With the growing popularity of multihulls, the America. As they near the 2003 race introduced these craft into the race. The coast, skippers need to racing trimaran Nicator, sailed by Klas Nylof and crew, decide whether to take the and Brazilian Georg Ehrensperger’s racing catamaran longer route with stronger Adrenalina Pura offered a rather uneven competition winds, or a more direct route to Plattner’s latest monohull. with the chance for lighter The 2006 race set a new course to Salvador. This winds.) avoided the calms often met on the course after Ihla Trinidade. The inevitable controversy of pitting monohulls against multihulls was addressed by assigning multihulls to the cruising class.

Nevertheless Ehrensperger’s big Nigel Irons-designed catamaran, Adrenalina Pura, lived up to its name with an incredible crossing time of 10 days, eight hours and two minutes, and a fabulous welcome in the owner’s home port. Just as exciting was the performance of Windsong, Privateer sails out of Cape Town in the a Reichel Pugh 37-footer, skippered by Rob Meek. On occasions notching 2009 Heineken Cape to Bahia Race.

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PHOTOGRaPHS trevor wilkins & brenton geach

Route

SaIL I n t e r n at I o n a L r c yc Groupama 3 and another picture perfect day in Cape Town.

The South Atlantic Race fleet depart Cape Town.

up daily runs of nearly 300 miles, Windsong set a time of 16 days, two hours and 46 minutes, to take both line honours and the handicap trophy for the racing class.

In the 2009 race, local yachts fared less well. Of the local boats, by day four Vineta and Pontry Leisure had both suffered mast damage and retired.

For the future, the organising committee face a tough task. While Salvador is an attractive venue, many sailors would still like to see Rio de Janeiro as the finish – and for the 2011 race at least, Rio will once again be the final destination. The growing presence of racing multihulls also presents a problem. But despite these issues, the undoubted success of the event has assured the future of ocean racing in South Africa.

E www.heinekencapetobahia.co.za

PLAin sAiLing

By Ingrid Hale

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ranck Cammas and his men on Groupama 3 arrived in Cape Town to have repairs done to one of the out-riggers while attempting to break the Jules Verne Round the World record. They then discovered that the generator had to be replaced too. Royal Capers Manuel Mendez and Uwe Jappersen were involved in the repair, which took three weeks to complete. Royal Capers Nick Leggatt and Michael Giles sailed Groupama 3 back to NY. Groupama arrived in Port de Chateau on 21 March having beaten the Jules Verne Round the World record in a time of 48 days, seven hours, 44 minutes and 52 seconds!

Sadebo, another trimaran sailing around the world, arrived in Cape Town early in 2009 to have damage to the false bow of one of her floaters repaired.

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The twilight craze

If you’re looking for fun sailing or serious competition, there’s only one place to be on a Wednesday night. By Alex Petersen

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f parked vehicles extending a hundred metres and more in either Shadowed by tankers in Table direction from the entrance of Royal Cape Yacht Club are Bay, boats compete in a anything to go by, then Wednesday evenings are the club’s typical Cape southeaster. busiest time by far.

The reason is Wednesday night’s sailing, which, for the past two seasons, has seen an incredible increase in popularity. In part the result of a policy to encourage newcomers to sailing, the number of yachts out sailing for the regular mid-week racing around the buoys has exceeded all expectations. The response of would-be sailors has been strong, notes RCYC general manager Marcus Reuter. “At times numbers have been so great that it’s been difficult to find places on boats.”

With generous sponsorship from Audi, the IRC Class: hone their skills and teamwork. Finding crew Audi Twilight Race Series has been an undoubt1st New Balance Gumption willing to regularly give up weekends may be ed success. While the traditional approach to (Mark Sadler/Nicolas Mace) problematic, but a couple of hours midweek is Wednesday sailing has nominally been that of 2nd 8 Seconds (Harry Brehm) usually more manageable, and surprisingly fun racing, the competitive element has clearly 3rd Windpower (Rick Nankin/Phil Gutsche) effective. been ratcheted up more that a couple of Club Class 1: Brief as they may be, organising the races notches, with some really keen racing through1st Benba.co.za (Dale Kushner) can be demanding, and the dedication of people out a growing fleet.

2nd Maestro (Ankie Roux/Paul van Ass) like Ron Keytel has proved invaluable. Marcus Wednesday night racing was initiated two 3rd Me2Me (Derick Shuttleworth) Reuter says the club would like to see more decades ago by Geoff Meek and David AbroClub Class 2: members taking on the duties of race officer, mowitz. “We had taken part in the Admirals Cup 1st Reaction (Thinus Groenewald) while Michela Byrnes (who’s taken over the in Cowes,” recalls Abromowitz. “Wednesday 2nd Far Med (Vitor Medina) duties of sailing manager) says that volunteers night racing was hugely popular there, so Geoff 3rd FTI Flyer (Keith Mattison) for bridge duties are invariably welcome. She and I decided to initiate it here.” While the notes too that the racing has been increasingly competitive.“There have longer British summer evenings clearly invite the practice, even just been a higher number of collisions of late, which probably reflects that, over an hour or so of racing on Table Bay proved a great drawcard, and but it is something that worries the Safety at Sea committee.” the idea soon took off.

More craft on the water obviously increases the odds, but the stiff Rob Meek sees it not only as an attraction for newcomers to breezes on Table Bay can make things tricky. Witness the lamentable sailing, but also as an excellent device for training. “I think it has helped damage to two Clipper yachts when that race restarted, the resultant delay a number of new people learn to sail, and to get some idea of the for repairs upset the plans of some high-paying crew members. Having excitement of sailing in an easy and friendly manner. But it has also crew who can quickly read a tricky situation makes a big difference. achieved a lot more than that, since it’s an ideal opportunity to improve But all in all, the surging popularity of twilight racing is very positive crew work, to fine tune it and get it really slick,” he says. With crew in news for the club. And as Abromowitz sensibly notes: “Since people come demand, rather than just hoping that skilled sailors will be available, ashore quite thirsty, it also adds a useful boost to the club coffers.” skippers have found it worthwhile to hang on to a modest team and 14

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PHOTOGRAPHS KIRSTEN VEENSTRA, BRENTON GEACH

Results

SAIL LoCAL RCYC

Durban in July Royal Capers crash Point Yacht Club’s MSC Week party. By Hylton Hale

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Unleashed in the cradle in Cape Town.

MSC Week from the deck of Puma Unleashed

aptain Sarno and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) showed their confidence in Durban’s premier regatta by once again investing a substantial sponsorship in this champagne To compete and take a crew event. The July 2009 regatta was also the platform for the of 12 to Durban for a four-day J22 and IRC National Championships, attracting 16 Js and 19 IRC regatta has its challenges. boats split into two classes.

The priority was to have an On the J22s, no team could match the supremacy of RCYC’s Mark all Royal Cape team competing Sadler and his well drilled team, who took five firsts, discarding a third. on Puma Unleashed in Durban.

Some of their firsts were won by massive margins, showing up a Twelve air tickets were duly yawning gap between our fleet racing teams. The only challenge came booked with Mango (definitely the from another RCYC team in Ryan Avery on RCYC Eikos and the Witbank cheapest airline in SA – fly with Yacht Club team of C Emery on Jambalaya. Ultimately, the final tally them and see if you can walk for our Cape teams was first Sadler on Orion and fourth Avery on Eikos. when you get off at the other The IRC class had an interesting mix of Fast 42s, Pacer 27 sport boats end). Then three apartments in and a mix of other sport boats, including Prodigy IV and RCYC’s Puma the vicinity of Point Yacht Club Unleashed with a Hylton Hale/Paul Willcox skipper combination. The were booked. All set? Hang on testing light airs over the first few days challenged the Puma team with what about the boat?

Chris Frost’s lightly displaced Prodigy ghosting As part of their speedily around the course. The fight for IRC sponsorship, MSC National Champ went down to the wire with Frost offers free shipping IRC 1 Division: having a narrow lead going into the last day. to the regatta, but 1st Puma Unleashed (Hylton However the final day’s wind played right into the they can’t ship Hale/Paul Willcox) Puma team’s hands, with a blustery south-westerly masts as the 2nd Prodigy IV (Chris Frost) peaking at 30kn. Puma’s well-drilled team took two container ships do 3rd Music (G Nottingham) firsts, elevating them to the top of the pile. not have the IRC 2 Division: facilities for 1st Donna Mia (G Smith) offloading. After 2nd Stoked (S Campbell) much deliberation, 3rd Tantrum (T Cockerell) the team arranged J22 Division: for the fragile 1st Orion (Mark Sadler) carbon mast to go 2nd Wild Card (R Winderbolt) up with MACS 3rd Us n J (G Baker) Shipping, on a boat

PHOTOGRAPH RICHARD CROCKETT, HYLTON HALE

Results

ready the boat, the guys spent the week listening to colourful explanations on why the boat and mast were not in Durban.

Finally, at 10am the day before the first race, the boat arrives. The container ship is at a terminal that has extreme security and no one can get clearance on such short notice.

At 5pm, the mast arrives.

However the crane operator can’t guarantee his availability the next morning. So three of the crew spend the night dressing the mast using a bakkie’s headlights.

At 5am on the day of the start, the crane operator lifts and steps the mast without any incident. In the meantime, the crew, all dressed up with nowhere to sail, are at Point Yacht Club putting battens in sails and waiting for the boat.

Finally, at 9am, the boat arrives from the other side of Durban harbour, with just two hours left to the start. She is in a filthy state after being on the back of a ship for nearly two weeks. Job one: clean boat, all that needed to hands. Job two: fit the boom. stop in East London to offload Job three to 20: load sails, pull goods. The mast was well halyards, set up sheets... insulated but the thought of it With 45 minutes to the start, lying on a deck somewhere with we are off, but the rig is not offloading happening all around properly set up. So up goes the was hugely stressful. lightest team member with Allen As with all things of the sea, key, spanner and main sail. With there is no real programme – there are too many variables. But five minutes to the start, the two of Puma’s crew headed up to mast man comes down and Durban a week before MSC Week, Puma Unleashed is ready to sail.

This close shave was certainly to supervise offloading, and to character building and gave the dress and step the mast so that when the rest of the team arrived crew a unique team spirit that was rewarded by our winning the boat would be ready to sail.

However, instead of being able to the IRC Nationals.

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15

RCYC crew celebrate their victory.

– the only two yachts in South Africa meeting the specified measurement rules of the day. Tess won. Because only a few yachts met the rules, contests were only held from 1912 to 1914 and again in 1922 and 1923.

No further contests were sailed between 1924 and 1951. Following an amendment agreed in 1952, the contests were sailed in “yachts conforming to the thirty square metre rules” annually from 1952 to 1973.

Constructed of wood, these yachts had, by then, deteriorated to the point The fascinating history of the Lipton Challenge of being uncompetitive and perhaps even unseaworthy. In the absence of Cup gives some idea of the huge prestige around an obvious alternative class, the contests lapsed again from 1974 to 1981. this annual racing event. By Peter Bazlinton The deed was amended again in 1981 to compete in “IOR ¼ ton measurement yachts” of which a small fleet of the locally designed and built Sweet Pea existed. However for the 1982 contest, PYC and RCYC each n 1908, the renowned tea magnate Sir Thomas Lipton of entered specially designed “one-off” yachts that met the rule but at huge London agreed to donate a trophy to the Table Bay Yacht Club expense. These proved highly competitive and the Sweet Pea design was (TBYC), predecessor of the Royal Cape Yacht Club, “for the no match for them. By late 1982, a considerable fleet of the Lavranospurpose of encouraging yachting in South Africa”. Soon after, designed L26 Class yachts had been built and the rules were changed a large, highly ornate, solid silver cup arrived in Cape Town together again for the 1984 contest. As a result, the size of fleets increased with a signed copy of the Deed of Gift. dramatically, reaching a peak of 34 clubs in 2001. The L26 Class is still The Deed of Gift defined that the contests should be between going strong after 26 years “recognised southern with no obvious contender African yacht clubs” on an on the horizon. annual basis, one yacht Position Club Boat Skipper During the past 10 to representing each club.

1st Royal Cape Yacht Club Daly’s Insurance Greg Davis 15 years, considerable TBYC, although custodian 2nd Royal Natal Yacht Club Orion Challenge Mark Sadler emphasis has been placed of the cup, was restricted 3rd Fish Hoek Beach Sailing Club Intasure Insurance Brokers Andrea Giovanini on development sailing and from making any autocratic clubs have entered yachts amendments to the terms with young crews with surprising success against the more experienced of the deed. This was intended to eliminate the possibility of TBYC sailors. This is exactly in keeping with the intent of Sir Thomas’ gift. repeating the highly questionable and autocratic dictates of the New York The contest in 2009 was hosted by RCYC on behalf of Theewater Yacht Club that Sir Thomas faced during his five challenges for the Sports Club, defenders from the previous year. The cup was won for America’s Cup. RCYC by Greg Davis (his eighth win as skipper – an all-time record) with The first contest was sailed in Table Bay in 1911 between Tess, his crew David Rae, Hein de Jamaer, Ian Wolmarans and Mike Giles, sailing for Point Yacht Club (PYC) in Durban, and Patricia sailing for TBYC sailing Daly’s Insurance. RCYC will defend the trophy in Table Bay from

By Nicholas Mace, Lipton trustee 20 to 27 August 2010.

Sir Thomas’s gift

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Results

Time for change?

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD It is undeniable that certain L26s are “better” than others. This is contrary to the “fair sailing” requirement of the Deed of Gift.

The persistent unsubstantiated accusations and rumours of tampering need to be eliminated with facts. As a short-term 16

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solution, the L26 Class rules need to be more exacting.

NEW CLASS OF BOAT The L26 is not an exciting boat. An alternative, more challenging class is needed in the medium term.

Ideally, it would be an affordable sport boat with a sizeable international fleet, strict one-design rules and a strong class association. A lifting keel and being easily transportable between venues would encourage growth countrywide. However, it should also be seaworthy in 25 to 30 knots and allow for a maximum crew weight similar to the L26. The first step to

achieving this is boat selection – a task for South Africa’s top sailors.

sufficient to assist the winning team’s entry to the Class Worlds.

The winning team would have trained on an identical boat, could SUFFICIENT FUNDING take their own sails and represent With the right will, most sailing South Africa – with National clubs could secure a sponsor and raise funds to purchase and operate colours being awarded.

Without a plan and a common their own Lipton Class boat. With goal, sailing in South Africa will sufficient numbers of club boats, inter-club competition would lead to continue to stagnate. SAS, our governing body, is not taking the a regatta series beyond Lipton, lead in promoting keelboat racing. individuals purchasing their own The sailing community is awash Lipton Class boats, and expanded with strong, successful, resourcecoverage for the sponsors.

The Lipton Challenge needs to ful leaders, yet few have thrown up its game too. Besides the funds their weight behind the sport. The Lipton Cup and the Lipton Class required to run the regatta, the could be the catalyst for change. sponsorship amount should be

PHOTOGRAPHS BRENTON GEACH

While there are many good aspects to the current challenge, including consistency, good organisation and a healthy fleet size, the cup has developed a Cape bias, which makes it extremely difficult for non-Cape clubs to challenge. This is not a healthy situation.

A selection of pictures showing the competitive yachts in the Spring Regatta.

SAIL LoCAL RCYC

Smooth sailing

Royal Cape Yacht Club’s Rick Nankin and Algoa Bay Yacht Club’s Phil Gutsche power to Spring Regatta victory on Windpower. By Hylton Hale

PHOTOGRAPHS TREVOR WILKINS

T

he annual Intasure Spring Regatta held out of Simon’s Town’s False Bay Yacht Club, saw a glut of highly competitive IRC and club handicapped yachts from RCYC. Included in the IRC mix was Nick Maces’s New Balance Gumption, Gordon Kling’s Lobelia, Hylton Hale’s Puma Unleashed and the new IRC generation, Windpower, skippered by Phil Gutsche and Rick Nankin.

Day one didn’t start well for Windpower; they finished sixth in the first race when a plastic bag entangled on their rudder slowed them down. But after finding the problem, the team sailed an impressive regatta with four firsts and one sixth.

Says Nankin after their emphatic victory, “Our tactician, Shosholoza sailor Michael Giles, put the whole thing together. The last time I was sailing with Giles, about 10 years ago, we won it, so it was quite amazing to do it again.

It was really close between us and Gumption. Overall, there was tight, competitive racing and it was a very good regatta.”

The 2007 winners, New Balance Gumption, held the lead at the end of day one after finishing first and second in the first two races of the event. But they trailed Windpower for the rest of the event and finished in second place overall with seven points. The last podium position

Results IRC Class: 1st Windpower (Phil Gutsche/ Rick Nankin) 2nd New Balance Gumption (Nicholas Mace/Mark Sadler) 3rd Lobelia (Gordon Kling/Rob Meek) Club Class 1: 1st Mega Freight (Jendo Oceanasek) 2nd Fascination Umoya Omusha (Dave Herman) 3rd Raging Bull (Tom Brown) Club Class 2: 1st Far Med (Vitor Medina) 2nd Race Ahead (Marlon Jones/ Asenat Jim) 3rd Bertha’s Restaurant (David Shilton) had two yachts, Lobelia and Puma Unleashed on equal points, with the tie successfully broken by Lobelia – as a result of their better discard position (Lobelia discarded a seventh and Puma an eighth).

Hout Bay Yacht Club entry Mega Freight, skippered by Jendo Oceanasek, topped Division 1 with five points, while David Shilton, aboard Bertha’s Restaurant was victorious in Division 2 with seven points.

Garmin Fiesta, co-skippered

by Richard Gie and Mike Clark, dominated Division 3 with four points, while Harald Rogowski sailed Leonotis to victory in the Cruising Division.

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17

An iconic image of majestic Cape Point as seen from the water.

SAIL RCYC LoCAL

Classic challenge

The Double Cape is a test of endurance, tactics and teamwork.

By Hylton Hale

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he Double Cape can be one of the most challenging races on the Hylton Hale at the helm of Unleashed Cape circuit. Starting in Clifton’s calm waters, it goes onto the on the way to victory. fickle conditions off Hout Bay, around the notorious Cape Point and into sheltered Simon’s Town, with a sprint across False Bay and then back to Cape Town; a distance of about 125 miles.

Only 10 boats from Royal Cape Yacht Club made the start line with entrants from the other three yacht clubs pulling out. This was disappointing but did not detract from the fierce rivalry between Phil Gutsche’s Landmark 43 Windpower and Hylton Hale’s Puma Unleashed. Also in the mix was Greg Davies on his Scape 39 catamaran Set Sea. The other dark horse was the favourably IRC-rated Farr 40 Majimoto II, skippered by Lindsay Winner Club 1: Birch and Paul Mare.

1st Puma Unleashed (Hylton Hale) The race started in a light westerly, which Winner Club 2: eventually settled into the predicted 10 knot (kn) 1st FTI Flyer (Keith Mattison) south-westerly. The first point of call was a CSRI mark IRC Class 1: four miles off Kommetjie; with the leading boats having 1st Puma Unleashed (Hylton Hale) pleasant kite run to the Roman Rock Lighthouse. Set a difference of opinion on which way to go. Puma opted IRC Class 2: Sea rounded Roman Rock about 10 minutes behind for the inshore course with Set Sea and Windpower 1st Flyer (Joe van der Westhuizen) Puma and quickly reeled her in, with the cat enjoying taking the offshore option. The convergence at the the reaching conditions to Gordons Bay. mark saw Windpower with a healthy lead over Puma and Set Sea. From Gordons Bay it was homeward bound. With the sun set and no Unfortunately with the shifting wind, Puma had to put in a tack to make the moon, the sea was radiant with bright phosphorescence, giving the dolphins mark and Windpower carried on without rounding. Their error was quickly an eerie green glow while playing alongside the yachts. With the wind on noticed and rectified with a return sail to the mark; placing Puma in the the nose, Puma then overtook Set Sea sailing on one tack to Cape Point. lead. The wind continued to blow between 10 and 12kn from the southAfter Cape Point, with noses turned downhill for the 35-mile sprint to west with the yachts sailing in a south-easterly direction, prompting some the finish, Puma and Set Sea revelled in the surfing conditions with reports to hoist powerful Code Zeroes, which further elevated the frontrunners 19kn surfs. Puma grabbed line honours from Set Sea at 2am with a total from the rest of the pack. At Cape Point, the wind actually died off and race time of 15 hours 59 minutes. Third over the line was Windpower some of the yachts sat idle under the Cape Point lighthouse. Puma and Set followed by Majimoto II. Sea escaped the light patch and excelled in the building southerly with a

History of the Double Cape By John Martin, RCYC commodore and world-renowned solo round-the-world sailor This race is essentially a 170nm race around the Cape Peninsula, with all types of wind abnormalities.

Initially the race was started simultaneously from Royal Cape, Hout Bay, False Bay and Gordons Bay yacht clubs, and finished at the same starting place, the winner being calculated on total elapsed time. This well-supported event brought sailors from all over the peninsula closer. However over the years, with some really calm conditions, interest waned. Various formats were tried to improve the 18

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wind shadow areas. Certain starting points and marks of the course were dropped. This had some merits, but cut the length of the course and the resultant time at sea.

The recent revival of the event, with starts in Cape Town and Simon’s Town with participation from HBYC and GBYC, and turning marks out of wind shadow areas at GB and HB, is a winning formula.

Apart from the hard racing there is so much beauty en route.

From an experience point of view, the navigational skills required

are of the highest order, the younger helmsman get a chance to steer in all weather conditions. It’s a long race where endurance, leadership, skill and compatibility are tested to the full with a bigger vision of producing ocean racers of the calibre of years gone by.

I remember racing an L26 in a Double Cape when we encountered gale force plus winds off Cape Point. We were all young and enthusiastic. We popped the kite off Cape Point and caught a wave that seemed to last to Slangkop, surfing

at unbelievable speeds during the night. That particular race had about 50 entries. With the weather deteriorating I was told at the HB mark that we were the only entry still sailing, with wind at Cape Point gusting 45kn, so we retired, only to find another L26 skippered by Rick Nankin was surfing down to his finish in Cape Town and obviously took the table of prizes home. Even the disappointment of not being on the podium was easily overcome by the nonsensical attempt of Cape Point in 45kn.

PHOTOGRAPHS CAPE POINT/TREVOR WILKINS, HYLTON HALE/ROBERT HALE

Results

pumaoceanracing.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM PUMA UNLEASHED

2009 IRC, Class 1 National Champions

For stockist info call: Puma on 021 551 0832

Sailor’s raft up for a lunch-time braai shadowed by the new stadium.

Gale-force competition

A howling southeaster made for some extreme racing in the 2009 Crocs Summer Regatta. By Trygve Roberts

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Crocs (Mark Sadler) led the fleet on the long downwind run. The n Saturday 12 December 2009, the weekend of the Crocs smallest boat in the IRC fleet, the Pacer 27 Sport Regent Express (Trygve Summer Regatta, a violent south-easterly howled across the Roberts) came from behind and displayed outstanding downwind speed, Cape peninsula. It started gently at 20 knots (kn), but three carving her way through most of the big boats, rounding the bottom mark hours later had doubled in strength to 40kn. Twenty-four hours with Windpower (Rick Nankin) and Puma Unleashed (Hylton Hale). Further later gusts were being recorded at several stations between 60 and 80kn. back in the fleet, Dave Hudson skippering the Mumm 36 Ballyhoo Too Thirty-five entries had been received, with the rapidly growing IRC managed a spectacular gybe after a neat spinnaker peel that left them on division having the largest entry, followed by the smaller boats in Club their side for several minutes and close to the shore in just three metres of Class 2, and Club Class 1 with the smallest. The concept behind the Crocs depth. At that stage, the breeze had cranked up to around 26kn. By the time Regatta is that it is loosely based on Antigua Week, where the parties and the last of the IRC boats crossed the finish line the wind was already the racing compete with each other in terms of how hot they get. Royal gusting 35kn.

Cape Yacht Club had everything in place for a huge party, but the Race one was won by Windpower. In the Club Class 1 fleet, Flyer, devastating southeaster completely put paid to all shore-based activities. a Beneteau FC10 (Joe van der Westhuizen), won from Spectrum L34 Race officer Matthew Thomas set a 34-mile course along the (Andy James). There were only six entries in this beach past Milnerton and down to Blouberg for the category. But in Class 2 the competition was stiff with first race, which started in a 20kn breeze. In the Vitor Medina in his Muira Far Med revelling in the heavy hotly contested IRC fleet there was action aplenty.

IRC Class: conditions and taking first place from Ray Matthews in Barely five minutes after the start there was a port/ 1st A-L (Robbie van Rooyen) his V/D Stadt 34 Cabaray and third place being taken starboard collision between Addis in Cape (skippered 2nd Windpower (Rick Nankin)

by Thinus Groenewald in his RCOD Reaction.

by Alexander Monet) and A-L (Robbie van Rooyen).

3rd New Balance Gumption The fleet was ushered towards Granger Bay A-L ended up with a sizeable hole in her port quarter, (Nicholas Mace) where there was mercifully hardly any wind and forcing them to retire from racing for the day. To their Club Class 1: where crew spent an hour easing aching muscles credit they had the boat repaired and relaunched the 1st Flyer (Joe van der Westhuiand drying wet gear. next morning. Addis did a penalty turn and continued zen) The wind was up to 35kn for the start of race to race, only retiring later when racing was finished.

2nd Sheshisa (Lood Rabie) two. Many of the fleet, particularly the smaller boats, 3rd Spectrum (Andy James) retired before reaching the second mark. Only seven Club Class 2: of the 14 entries managed to complete race two with 1st Far Med (Vitor Medina) Windpower once again taking first place. In Class 2 2nd Reaction (Thinus Groeonly five yachts completed the race, with victory newald) again taken by Far Med. 3rd Apricot (Bat Tromp) Back at the small craft basin it was all hands on deck, securing boats in the howling southeaster, which had reached 50kn by 6pm. The race committee cancelled racing on Sunday and asked competitors to return for the final day’s racing on Wednesday, 16 December.

A-L lodged a protest against Addis in Cape for the port/starboard incident, but Addis had already retired from the race on their return. A-L also lodged a second protest against Addis for changing their mainsail between race one and two. Addis was disqualified from race two for this. A-L applied for redress and was given average points for the 20

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PHOTOGRAPHS TREVOR WILKINS

Results

Perfect conditions for sailing with spinnakers.

regatta. Later this would turn the event on its head, as they won both the races on the Wednesday, leaving them with two firsts and another two firsts on the redress issue.

Wednesday dawned with a perfect 10kn westerly that strengthened to 18kn by mid-afternoon. It was steady in direction and provided fair racing.

Race three started near Milnerton beach with a long windward leg up to the number two channel marker and a dead downwind leg back to

A break from sailing and the wind at Granger Bay.

SAIL LoCAL RCYC

Milnerton. The course offered very little opportunity to make gains.

The race was won by A-L. In Class 1, victory went to Flyer. In Class 2 a pattern was developing with Far Med once again taking first place.

A fairly long course was set for the final afternoon race. Crocs led the fleet around the course, but it was not enough of a lead to prevent the Farr 38 Benba to snatch first place, with A-L in second and Windpower in third place.

fe we of wners o t h . c e a For y servic valet

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Travel lift service for boat maintenance.

s from perate s ready to o 4 n Statio alway NSRI & they are . u a o y in ar assist our m

022 707 7000 info@clubmykonos.co.za www.clubmykonos.co.za

Windpower blasts off in the direction of Club Mykonos after a very light start.

SAIL LoCAL RCYC

The Mykonos Offshore has a certain magnetic appeal to all sailors – from diminutive Hobie Tigers to majestic 65ft yachts.

By Trygve Roberts

Downwind dash T

he potential for the Mykonos Offshore to become a national A helicopter provides a bird’s-eye view of the fleet. super-regatta is ripe. The 2010 entry list topped out at 108 of which 104 finally competed. The Pacer crews raved about the weather and superb racing. As things turned out, the Pacer 27s had a field day on the Friday, sweeping all opposition before them with their stellar downwind performance, scooping up the top four spots in the IRC division. These 27ft sports boats revelled in the rough conditions and strong breeze, with Regent Express logging a maximum downwind speed of 22.8 knots (kn).

This year, the weather gods provided a stiff southeaster of 40kn at the Table Bay start, making for some spectacular broaches. After a short windward leg, the fleet took off for a very long, fast downwind run to Club Mykonos in Langebaan. The breeze moderated down to 10kn near Bok Point and backed around to the south, picking back up to 25kn towards the end of the race.

There were two incidents – one of which prompted a medical evacuation when the skipper of the 34ft L34 Morgenster took a knock to the head after a gybe, leaving her unconscious for 10 minutes. The NSRI were called out to help the boat back to port in the gale-force winds. Further into the race, a crewmember was separated from his craft when a Hobie Tiger capsized, but he too received quick and able assistance from a well run shore-based rescue operation.

On the distance race, line honours on the High-speed keelboats went to New Balance Gumption, followed by excitement on the Pacer27 Felix The Cat and Pacer42 Puma Unleashed, Mykonos Offshore.

IRC Class: all in under six hours. However, the real winner over 1st Felix the Cat (Ant Wentthe line was Duncan Ross and Inge Schabort on a worth) Hobie Tiger, in four hours and 41 minutes.

2nd Unruly (Davy James) In the pursuit race, the back half of the fleet was 3rd Regent Express (Trygve given a solid slap in the face when a huge oil tanker Roberts) entered Saldanha Bay and anchored right across the Club Class 1: path of the course. The local pilot boat aggressively 1st Always Well (Lance Burger) sounded his claxon demanding that yachts clear the 2nd Amoya Omusha (D Herman) area immediately, which resulted in a significant 3rd Lapwing (Alan Keen) number of retirements.

Club Class 2: The regatta attracted about 2 000 guests to Club 1st Reaction (Thinus GroeMykonos, the main sponsor – making the whole newald) exercise a win-win for all. Well done to Hylton Hale 2nd Pure Magic (Alan Taylor) and his team for organising a truly well run event.

3rd Welsh Witch (Dave Garrard)

PHOTOGRAPHS TREVOR WILKINS

Results

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A Pacer 27 runs along the dramatic Chapman’s Peak pass.

High adventure

The combination of RCYC’s Cape Town Sailing Week and the Hout Bay Yacht Club’s Admiral’s Regatta into one prestigious event shows huge potential for growth. By Bjorn Geiger

Windpower takes the lead.

Addis in Cape starts at Table Bay.

24

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PHOTOGRAPHS TREVOR WILKINS

C

ape Town Sailing Week took place over two weekends in late March this year. The first weekend is hosted by the Royal Cape Yacht Club in Table Bay. During the second weekend, competitors head for Hout Bay in a pursuit race that links the two clubs.The event incorporates the Western Cape IRC nationals with a mixture of buoy, distance and bay racing.

This year, 33 yachts entered. The first race on Saturday was delayed until a light westerly of about seven knots set in, allowing race officer Doug Alison to set a good length course. Although the IRC fleet was slightly down with some noticeable absentees this year, three Pacer 27s bolstered the IRC boats to a total of 13. Two back-to-back races were completed with the ever-present Farr 38 A-L winning race one and Rick Nankin in the Landmark 43 Windpower winning race two. Billy Leisegang owned the Class 1 results in his Simonis 35 Our Diane, while in Class 2 Rodney Tanner was taking the bullets in the L26 Team Escape Eko Energy SA. Sunday promised more of the same style of racing, with a westerly wind reaching 12kn later in the afternoon. Windpower, New Balance Gumption, A-L and Addis in Cape dominated the three races of the day.

Monday saw yachts heading off on a 30 nautical mile (nm) medium distance race from Table Bay to Noordhoek beach. With a strong southeaster forecast and a rhumb line routing taking the fleet through the wind shadow of Sea Point and Clifton, this was always going to be a lottery-style race. The race began with a short beat to Paarden Island, followed by another short reach in a stiff south-easterly, which petered out after Green Point. Those who sailed inshore parked for a while, while those who ventured offshore enjoyed a good breeze. That group included Tenacity, Lobelia, Addis in Cape and Regent Express. It would cost them dearly as the day wore on. The inshore group managed to get ahead by a mile or so until they ended up in Clifton with no wind. New Balance Gumption tacked far off to close in with the shore, while Windpower, Puma Unleashed and Felix the Cat tracked down the middle. After that, the leaders’ advantages multiplied. The southeaster hit a solid 25kn, with Windpower taking the gun from New Balance Gumption and Puma Unleashed.

Crews then had four days to recover tired bodies in preparation for the final weekend’s racing, which came with low scudding, dark clouds, grey lumpy seas and intermittent rain.

The start in Hout Bay on Saturday was delayed due to the extremely deep water, which makes it difficult to lay marks. Many boats had seasick crews. Some of the boats high tailed it back to the club

Vitor Medina’s Far Med against the backdrop of the beautiful Twelve Apostles.

before the race even got underway. Conditions were difficult in short steep seas that seemed to loom from every direction. A long windward/ leeward course was set with a 2.5nm weather leg. The usual ding-dong battle ensued between Windpower and New Balance Gumption with Rick Nankin driving Windpower to victory. The finish presented IRC Class: some fresh problems for skippers and 1st Windpower (Rick Nankin/Phil navigators. The bridge boat was nowhere Gutsche) to be seen and just the mark layer was in 2nd A-L (Robbie van Rooyen) attendance, lying very close to the pin, flying 3rd New Balance Gumption a red/white flag. The bridge boat’s anchor rope (Mark Sadler/Nicholas Mace) had snapped, followed by engine trouble and a Club Class 1: hasty retreat back to the club – leaving the 1st Our Diane (Billy Leisegang) mark layer to finish the fleet, but only after 2nd Touch & Go (David Smith) hastily transferring the recorders (in itself quite 3rd Nandi (Nick Fairley) a feat of seamanship).

Club Class 2: Sunday was a calm day. The fleet 1st Far Med (Vitor Medina) waited off the beach for almost an hour while 2nd Team Escape Eko Energy SA the race committee waited for the breeze to (Rodney Tanner) fill. Eventually the fleet went under starter’s 3rd JML 3 (Theo Yon) orders, but there was too much starboard

SAIL LoCAL RCYC

Results

bias on the line with the entire IRC fleet wanting to hug the committee boat. The race official blew the three hooters, reset the line and started the countdown once more.

The successful Cape Town Sailing Week came to a perfect end, and thanks must go to the D&A group for their support and sponsorship in this massively successful regatta.

A-L at the start.

The fleet runs down to Hout Bay.

384 Herdbuoys ĂŠKapa

www.newbalance.co.za

RAISING THE STAKES Team Shosholoza takes Royal Cape to the America’s Cup.

By Di Meek

R

oyal Cape Yacht Club, represented by Team Shosholoza, is the first yacht club on the African continent to mount a challenge for the America’s Cup – the oldest trophy in international sport and the pinnacle of competitive sailing since 1851.

Founded and led with extraordinary vision and determination by Durban’s Captain Salvatore Sarno, the ground-breaking campaign endorsed RCYC as South Africa’s leading yacht club and positioned it among the top 12 clubs from 10 countries across five continents challenging for the 2007 America’s Cup. Few could imagine the spin-off the campaign would have for the entire country. Only with hindsight would the enormity and courageousness of South Africa’s debut challenge for the thirty-second edition of the America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain, be fully appreciated.

Captain Sarno’s vision for Shosholoza was a representative team that would transcend sport to showcase South Africa’s 10-year-old democracy, its unique human resources, skills and world-class technology. Everything from the name, Shosholoza, to the campaign yacht’s dramatic wave pattern inspired by Ndebele, Zulu and Xhosa beadwork and boldly rendered in the colours of the South African flag – was deliberately designed to evoke Africa.

Team Shosholoza started with a core group of young club sailors, a second-hand America’s Cup class yacht specially imported from Italy and personally bonded by Sarno, and backing from Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

The crew had to learn to sail the huge 82ft high-tech racing machine, renamed Shosholoza RSA 48, and even learn the rules of match racing – the format of the America’s Cup, but a discipline seldom practised locally. After just 45 days of training in Table Bay under the expertise of Paul Standbridge, one of the world’s best with two British

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America’s Cup campaigns behind him, the team made it to the opening event of the thirty-second America’s Cup in Marseille, France. It was the start of 13 qualifying Louis Vuitton “Acts” or regattas contested in match and fleet racing across Europe and culminating in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup – the challenger selection series to decide a winner to race against Cup defenders, the Swiss Team Alinghi, for the America’s Cup itself.

Team Shosholoza didn’t win a race in Marseille but their “can do” attitude attracted T-Systems, a division of Deutsche Telekom, who came onboard as a chief sponsor with a ¤7.5 million injection for the three-year period. It was one of the biggest foreign investments in a South African sports team at the time and a lifeline to Shosholoza – even though it still fell short of other team budgets ranging from ¤40 to well over ¤100-million. America’s Cup campaigns are as much a technological race as a sailing event and are therefore hugely costly affairs. The Deed of Gift also requires the campaign yacht be designed and built in the team’s home country.

Team Shosholoza was one of the smallest teams with 80 people operating in three sections: the Sailing Team (which ultimately also included professional international sailors) and its development wing, the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth; the Design and Build Team; and the Shore Team. Research and development was ongoing as designers, boat builders and sailors worked until the last race to optimise performance. Super-human commitment, strength and fitness were demanded of the crew.

British naval architect Jason Ker led a largely South African Design Team in designing the new yacht Shosholoza RSA 83 – a state-of-theart campaign yacht unveiled for the first time at RCYC in 2005, while New Zealander Tony Evans headed a team of local boat builders to create her in a Somerset West shed.

SaIL ShoShoLoza rcyc

PHOTOGRaPHS MAIN/CArlo borleNghI ACM/2004, ShoSholozA & bMW/Dr peter golDMAN, ShoSholozA/Dr peter golDMAN, tUtU/DI Meek, SAIl pASt/Dr peter golDMAN

Clockwise from left: America’s Cup debut, Louis Vuitton (LV) Act 1 fleet racing, Marseille, France 2004; Team Shosholoza versus America’s BMW Oracle Racing, LV Cup, Valencia, Spain, 2007; Team Shosholoza in full flight; Shosholoza patron, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu with Captain Sarno, Mrs Leah Tutu and the crew aboard Shosholoza RSA 83 in Valencia; Team Shosholoza wows the world at the opening sail past of the LV Cup, Valencia, 2007.

The Shore Team, comprising sailmakers, weather specialists, a fitness trainer, chef, marketing, media and administration personnel, provided 24-hour support to ensure the sailing team made the startline every day and returned to shore a winner.

Shosholoza RSA 83 was the first of the new generation America’s Cup Class Version 5 yachts to be launched, and expectations ran high for her June debut in the Louis Vuitton Acts 4 and 5 in Valencia.

Instead, it was a disastrous period for the team. There was no time for testing the new yacht. The hydraulics failed, the mast was faulty and finally crashed into the sea. Survival entailed simply starting and finishing every race. But a turning point came with a historic first match race win against the Swedish Victory Challenge in August 2005 in the Louis Vuitton Act 6 in Sweden. It was Shosholoza’s first win after 25 starts.

In September’s Louis Vuitton Acts 7 and 8 in Sicily, the team regularly won races and at one point lay third on the leaderboard.

By 2006 the team had worked their way up to seventh overall. Shosholoza’s gutsy, ever-improving performance had captured the imagination of a global television audience of four billion people. They had become the darlings of the (SA citizens and residents only) international media, hailed as the spectator’s favourite, Captain Salvatore Sarno (founder and had earned respect as serious contenders from and managing director) their opponents. But to stay competitive for a top spot Ian Ainslie in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup, their two-year-old Marcello Burricks campaign yacht needed updating.

Solomon Dipeere An eleventh hour sponsorship deal by MSC Moctar Fall Crociere, the cruise line division of MSC, allowed the Nicholas Fuller modification of up to 40 percent of Shosholoza RSA Michael Giles 83’s hull shape, stepping a new mast, building new Joe Heywood racing sails, adding a new keel and appendages. The Sieraj Jacobs “new” Shosholoza RSA 83, unveiled in Valencia just Richard Kohler weeks before racing started, gave the team the chance Marc Lagesse to wrap up their campaign honourably.

Golden Mgedeza After three-and-a-half years of intensive training Geoff Meek (skipper 2004/5) and racing, the novice team surprised the world with Charles Nankin a seventh place in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup – finishShaun Pammenter ing ahead of the French, German, Italian +39 and David Rae China teams. Team Shosholoza had helped change Reinhardt Rauscher international perceptions about South Africa. They had Alex Runciman popularised sailing at home by reflecting transformaMark Sadler (skipper 2006/7) tion and raised the profile of South African sailing and Ashton Sampson boat building abroad.

Davey Smith Awards and accolades included the Golden Sail Johann Spilhaus Award from the yacht club of San Marino, one of the Paul Standbridge world’s oldest democracies, which said Shosholoza Ken Venn revealed a deeply human ethic and social conscience Guido Verhovert that “reflects the traditions of freedom, peace and Camron Wills respect for human rights.” At home Team Shosholoza

Shosholoza Sailing Team

had the support of former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Archbishop Tutu, the team’s patron, told them: “I have had one or two honours in my life but to be associated with you is one of my biggest honours. You are a wonderful example of what our country can do.”

Team Shosholoza was given national status by South Africa’s Parliamentary Sports and Recreation Committee in 2005. They were voted the 2005 Sports Team of the Year. Captain Sarno was awarded South African Sailing Federation colours and the City of Cape Town honoured the team at a special function in 2007. Some sailors were given Celebrity and Sportsman of the Year Awards by their hometowns.

Team Shosholoza was given honourary membership of Royal Cape Yacht Club for the duration of the America’s Cup. In 2007 Captain Sarno submitted a second South African challenge for the thirty-third America’s Cup but an almost three-year dispute between America’s BMW/Oracle Racing Team and the Swiss defender Team Alinghi kept the event on hold. When finally contested in February this year, it was a one-on-one Deed of Gift match between Alinghi and BMW Oracle. Racing spectacular 90ft-multihull yachts, it was won by BMW Oracle.

Details of the thirty-fourth America’s Cup are still to be announced. The question is: will Team Shosholoza be there? w w w. r c y c . c o . z a

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SaIL r o ya L c a p e r S a b r o a d r c y c

Top: Winning Team Sheraton sailing at the China Cup. Bottom: Team Izivunguvungu and the Race Ahead programme in action.

NEW WATERS

Follow the successes of our members sailing among professionals internationally.

By Matthew Thomas

PHOTOGRaPHS teaM sheraton www.ChnCuP.CoM teaM IZIvunGuvunGu dave hudson

T

hroughout the history of Royal Cape Yacht Club, members have proudly flown its burgee at international events and regattas. Not only have teams represented the club, but individual sailors have also participated in single-handed events like the BOC Challenge and the Vendée Globe. It’s extremely common to find RCYC sailors on the top boats as they are known as hard workers who are used to heavy-weather sailing. Plus they’re normally fun to have onboard! Not only have members raced, but many of the boats, like Gwaap and Gumption (formerly Orion Express) in the marina have represented RCYC around the world.

RCYC was the club chosen by the Shosholoza campaign as its club, and for the first time in South African sailing history, a challenge was issued for the thirty-second America’s Cup that was sailed in Valencia.

With the eyes and hearts of local sailors supporting them, Team Shosholoza were the first African team to enter the America’s Cup and were the first and only team with a multi-racial crew. With the America’s Cup over, many of the crew returned to Cape Town and have contributed immensely to the quality of racing at RCYC. With RCYC as the starting point of the first Cape to Rio Race in 1971, many members have competed in this race. Over the years the race has gone to numerous ports on the South American coast and

today is simply know as the South Atlantic Race, which starts in Cape Town (the next race, hosted in 2011 will once again end in Rio de Janeiro). Traditionally hosted every four years, this race has attracted some of the biggest and best racing boats in the world, and in 2008 saw ICAP Leopard and Rambler arrive from the UK to compete in the race.

Over the years, RCYC has also been involved with the then Whitbread Round the World Race and now the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) in many capacities. The clubs’ members have also been active in sailing on board these impressive boats or have been involved in the teams in other ways. Royal Capers involved in the 2008/2009 VOR include: Anthony Spillebeen – shore manager for Team Ericsson Ray van der Linde – shore team for Telefonica Tony Norris – involved in build team for Telefonica based in New Zealand Paul Willcox – shore team for Team Russia Over the past year, there have been a number of owners and crew that have represented RCYC internationally including Felix SchederBieschin and his crew, after an eventful South Atlantic Race, on the Marten 49, Vineta, where they were forced to retire after losing their mast. With their hopes dashed, they built a jury rig and sailed Vineta to Walvis Bay. After securing the boat and having her cradle shipped to Walvis Bay, they loaded Vineta onto a freighter and had her shipped w w w. r c y c . c o . z a

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Vineta proudly represents SA at the start of Cowes Week.

Winning ways back to Cape Town for repairs. They decided to tackle another prestigious race, the Rolex Fastnet Race. Vineta was shipped to Vigo in Spain and then sailed to Hamble where she was made ready. With Cowes Week taking place just before the Rolex Fastnet Race, it was used to prepare for the dash across the Irish Sea. With a downwind start, Vineta led her class out of the Solent under her huge South African flag spinnaker, which made such a great impression that the on-the-water commentator mentioned it in his broadcast. This time, there were no major problems and Vineta finished a very credible fourteenth.

Another great sailor from RCYC is the venerable Dave Hudson.

Together with his son, Roger, he has set up the Race Ahead programme, which trains promising young sailors in modern boats, including Melges 24s and SB3s. Working closely with Team Izivunguvungu, they have coached a group of previously disadvantaged sailors who they have taken to race in the European regattas. After winning Cork Week, they went on be a force to be reckoned with at Cowes Week as well as the SB3 Worlds. Consistent sailing and hard work has seen this two-boat campaign rise to the top of international sailing. With Europe in the clutches of a severe winter, they are currently back in Cape Town and training hard for the next season.

Another event that saw a deluge of RCYC sailors was the China Cup. Sailed in 30 identical Beneteau 40.7s supplied by the event organisers, Royal Cape had two teams represented. Team Sheraton, who won the event, included: helm – Mark Sadler; skipper – Ellion Perch, tactition/downwind trim – Paul Willcox; main sheet trim – Martin Lambrecht; trim – Andy Mitchell; navigator – Robbie Dove; pit – Nicholas Mace; mast – Gary Sindler; bowman – Hein de Jamaer. Team iKapa, skippered by Errol Stern and Dale Kushner, was placed a commendable sixth in this highly competitive regatta. As the first South African entry in the event, Team iKapa were asked to perform at the closing ceremony where they treated fellow competitors to their own rendition 32

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Race Ahead Campaign: SB3 Worlds in Cais Cais, Portugal Roger Hudson and his crew: Spirit of Cape Town – second Dave Hudson and his crew: City of Cape Town – third Alan Keen: Laser Master World Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia – third Roger Hudson: RS200 National Championships, Looe Sailing Club, UK – fifth Graeme Willcox and Tiffany Baring-Gould: 505 Inland Championships, Burton Sailing Club, UK – sixth Graeme Willcox: UK IRC Champs – first in the Ker 46 Tonnerre de Dreshkens. Willcox, along with his brother Paul as main sheet trimmer, helmed Tonnerre to an impressive third at Cowes Week.

Additional achievements for Willcox include eighth position in the Rolex Fastnet Race and first in the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s offshore sailing series.

Mike Bartholomew, along with his son Dave and brother-in-law Rick Nankin, had a very good season on a Mark Mills 40, Tokoloshe, based in the UK. Impressive results for Mike Bartholomew include: first position in the Redfunnel Regatta; second in the UK’s IRC national champs; second position at Cowes Week.

Fellow Cape sailors who deserve a mention include: Bruce Keen: Musto Skiff Europeans, Lake Garda, Italy – sixth Cameron Wills: sailed on Team Russia VOR 2008/9 Jan Dekker: bowman for ABN Amro Volvo 70 VOR 2008/9 – first; bowman for Alinghi – America’s Cup 2010 Jonathan Heathcote and Simon Eatwell: 49er National Championships, Hayling Island, UK – eighth Jonathan Swain: sailed on Telefonica Blue VOR 2008/9 Mike Joubert: sailed on Team Russia VOR 2008/9

PHOTOGRaPH Peter MuMford-Beken of Cowes

Recent international achievements by Royal Capers

PHOTOGRaPHS teaM sheraton www.ChnCuP.CoM raCe ahead dave hudson

Team Sheraton receive the trophy for first place flanked by Team iKapa, the second RCYC/SA team that competed in the China Cup.

of a traditional gum boot dance – a highlight of the closing ceremony.

Not only were RCYC sailors involved in crewed events, but 2010 sees the launch of Team Phesheya. Taken from the Zulu word for “overseas”, this campaign aims to create a winning national team to compete in Class 40 and other offshore racing events with the ultimate objective of winning a round the world race in 2011/12. This adventure is headed up by Nick Leggatt and Phillippa Hutton-Squire. Both of these sailors have completed numerous ocean crossings and Leggat was part of the record-breaking Playstation campaign. Working together with the Izivunguvungu Foundation, Team Phesheya will be taking promising young South African sailors around the world with them in their quest to win. As part of their training programme, Leggatt and Hutton-Squire have entered Phesheya-Racing in the upcoming Double-Handed Shetland Round Britain Race. They are currently in the UK getting their boat ready for this gruelling race where they will be following in the footsteps of two other South African greats, the late Bertie Reed and RCYC commodore, John Martin, who have both previously competed in this race.

SaIL r o ya L c a p e r S a b r o a d r c y c

Race Ahead gives promising young sailors the chance to compete internationally.

C DYNAMICS FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL POWER SOLUTIONS

C Dynamics, Cape Town, South Africa - Tel +27 21 5553232 / Fax +27 21 5553230 - www.c-dynamics.co.za

INTO THE BLUE

RCYC plays its role in uplifting South African youngsters.

By John Martin

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s in any sphere of life, the development of the youth is vital to the success of the sport, or industry. Sailing has its own set of idiosyncrasies and challenges: not all waters are ideally suited to learners; the sport is exceptionally small in numbers when compared to others; and then there’s the cost involved.

Royal Cape Yacht Club, by virtue of its location, does not suit grass-roots training in dinghies, but rather in keelboats from small to large ocean sailing vessels. As an alternative solution, we support children on inland waters and the calmer Simon’s Town area.

Izivunguvungu Sailing School is a development centre where previously disadvantaged children have been given a lifeline by being introduced to sailing at a young age. This initiative was made possible by two important captains of industry, namely: Captain Salvatore Sarno, CEO of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) South Africa, who provided the cash sponsorship; and Admiral Koos Louw of Simon’s Town who, through the chief of the navy, made space and equipment available for this school to develop. Of course no school can survive without top instructors and to this end Olympian Ian Ainsley laid a solid platform for others to build on.

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SAIL Youth deveLopment RCYC

In conjunction with the City of Cape Town, RCYC provides a substantial donation for Izivunguvungu pupils to compete in regattas nationally, as well as providing achievement-driven bursaries for deserving candidates to further their keelboat sailing careers.

RCYC also supports two other youth development initiatives. The club provides Olympian and Springbok Dave Hudson the use of two Melges, owned by Nicholas Mace and John Martin, for his advanced Race Ahead programme, where small boat sailors are taken to international level (including a large number from Izivunguvungu). Then there’s an initiative started by another of RCYC’s members, Andrea Giovanini – himself an accomplished sailor. He starts by training school children in the basics of sailing, coaching them to a level where they are able to race against each other at Zeekoevlei in a single school term.

These students are drawn from schools that accept sailing as one of their sports. RCYC’s contribution is to those scholars’ parents who are financially challenged.

The greatest success story to date lays the standard for the future: in Class 1 of the last South Atlantic Race, RCYC entered Voortrekker, a world-famous 40-year-old yacht, with skippers and crew comprising only Izivunguvungu students and instructors. The yacht was co-skippered

by Marcello Burricks and Kader Williams and Voortrekker finished as the second South African boat home. They then sailed back to South Africa with the same crew. Both skippers were jointly awarded one of the country’s most prestigious yachting awards, the Gordon Burn Wood Trophy. Of this same crew, another three day skippers qualified, one of whom has gone on to earn a living from sailing (in deliveries, sailmaking and instructing). Other students have campaigned and achieved podium status internationally. Skills training in this country is a massive issue and this is just one example of that.

The club has also nurtured its own junior members, particularly Gerry Heggie (Jr) and Robbie van Rooyen who have achieved notable victories, including competing in the South Atlantic Race, fulfilling many deliveries and participating in just about every local offshore event. Both Heggie and Van Rooyen have Yachtmaster Offshore Certificates and are only 24 years old.

With this outstanding foundation now laid, we can only look to the future with great excitement and continue to improve.

PHOTOGRaPHS TREVOR WILKINS

Clockwise from left: ICAP Leopard shadows Voortrekker at the start of the South Atlantic Race; practising in home waters at Cape Point; Izivunguvungu pupils; Wandisile Xayimpi (Wadi) looking for wind at the start of the Lipton Cup; sailing at international level with the Race Ahead programme.

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IMPROVE YOUR IRC RATING

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ubbing down the hull, profiling the keel fin and fairing all the skin fittings seemed like a good idea when you were on the edge of greatness during the summer racing season. The trouble is now the boat’s out of the water and ready to be worked on, there’s more darkness than light and the temperature struggles to make double figures.

Suddenly it’s more difficult to rally your crew for a weekend spent elbow deep in buckets of cloudy cold water as they rub the fingerprints off while chilly streams of water dribble up their sleeves. Not even the bribe of free beer for the weekend seems to do the trick.

But there might be a simpler way to improve your performance next season. How about checking your IRC rating? Take a close look at what you can do to improve your performance without spending weekends smoothing your bottom – although that will always help.

“The easiest way to improve your rating is to check the data you’ve given us,” says the UK’s Rating Office technical director Mike Urwin. “My guess is that more than 50 percent of the IRC fleet worldwide is rated for sail area they don’t actually have.

People spend hours rubbing

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down the bottom of their boat to get a perfect finish, which is all well and good, but often a quicker and more effective way to improve performance is to make sure, for instance, that the black bands are in the right place on the mast and boom.”

“Garbage in, garbage out” – never has an expression been truer than for an IRC certificate.

The UNCL Centre de Calcul in Paris and the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Rating Office, the IRC administrators, deal with over 7 000 certificates from more than 40 countries and see a number of recurrent issues.

The trouble is that many owners and crews do not know how to interpret the data on the certificate or how to assess whether they are throwing away performance needlessly. After all, who, other than designers and sailmakers, really knows what factors like “MUW” and “HHW” mean and whether they are costing you valuable seconds on the water? Is “P” a realistic figure for your rig and does “BO” say more about the state of your crew, or your boat?

Ironically, the two main original criticisms of IRC,

namely the secrecy of the formula and the simplicity of the user-declared input, have actually turned out to be major factors in the success of a rule that started out as a simple means of handicapping cruiser-racers. However, the secretive nature of the rule has led some to believe that there is little they can do to improve their rating. But this is often not the case. You just need to know how to present your boat in its best light.

PHOTOGRAPH RICK TOMLINSON/COWES WEEK

What do the numbers mean on your IRC certificate and what do they tell you about your boat and that of your competition? Here’s how to improve your boat’s performance using little more than a tape measure and a pen.

By Matthew Sheahan Story courtesy of Yachting World

SAIL I R C R At I n g R C YC

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Too high a rating?

Checking that the boat you are racing has the same dimensions as the one you are rated for is at the heart of a good handicap. And while it may sound too simple to be true, Urwin reckons that in a typical IRC handicap fleet, his team could usually spot a good number of boats that are paying an unnecessary price for their handicap just by the way they look on the water.

Another way to crosscheck your data is to take a look at your close competitors. Owners can buy copy certificates via the Rating Office website at £10 each, but there are limits to how many you can get.

However, you can also check the basic data of all IRC certificates online for free by clicking on “race-organisation” and selecting “on-line-tcclistings”. Finally, if you have an Endorsed certificate, owner measurement will remove this status unless any remeasurement is done by a measurer or, in the case of sails, an approved sailmaker. This could be the start of a new lease of life for your boat.

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WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR RATING

Here are four key ways to reduce your rating, all of which stem from the same basic principle – what did you declare to the Rating Office?

Did you present specific data for your boat, or was the data taken from the Rating Office’s database or another source?

RACING UNDER IRC

Tips from your local measurer, Harry Brehm, skipper 8 Seconds

Y

es, we all like to race and, of course, win some races. But how is it possible that some boats are very successful and other boats struggle to sail to their ratings? We all know that the rating is only one factor to race a boat successfully. The other more important factor is the preparation of your boat and of course the crew selection and management of your crew. Bring all the factors together and your racing will go to next level.

Optimise your boat rating It’s up to the boat owner to ensure that the right measurements are used on your certificate. Make sure you have double-checked your hull, rig and sail measurements. There can be mistakes, which, once corrected, could bring your rating up.

Re-measure your sails at least once a year. Most people think sails stretch but sails actually shrink once used. A spinnaker can shrink more than two centimetres on all measurements in the first season. Your main sail or genoa can also shrink up to two centimetres on certain measurements.

There is a fine line in getting your sail size optimised for IRC. A fractional headsail with a larger main sail area usually rates quite well.

Downwind sails are not getting penalised that heavily, so it might pay for you to increase your spinnaker size. Find boats of similar design and see what they rate with, you will find out quite quickly if it’ll work for your boat. Your sailmaker can also help there. You’re allowed to make changes to your rudder and keel, but you should not change the hull or your rating will be penalised.

Prepare your boat It all starts with a smooth, clean hull. Make sure your antifouling is sprayed on (rather than rolled) and get your boat dived once a month, to keep the slime and growth off your hull and foils. Next time your boat is on the hard, have a closer look at your keel and rudder. Here are some pointers you need to check: Are the foils smooth and evenly profiled on both sides? If not, your foils have to be faired in.

Is there a big gap between your rudder and your hull? If the gap is bigger than five millimetres, your rudder will create turbulence, which will also lead to early rudder cavitations. If your rudder still spins out easily after that, you might have to lengthen your rudder.

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Two typical rating certificates, for two very different boats. Above: Ran 2 is a Judel Vrolijk grand-prix racer and Incognito (below) a Bénéteau First 40.7.

SAIL I R C R At I n g R C YC

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Mainsail – is it really that big?

Sails shrink: fact. So when was the last time you checked your mainsail against the black bands on the mast and the boom? If the sail doesn’t reach the bands, you will be paying for more sail area than you’ve actually got. To check the measurement, hoist the mainsail to its normal max position. Move the black bands to suit, then measure “P” and “E”. Don’t be tempted to measure the luff and foot of the mainsail, it’s not the same thing and you will most likely end up with the wrong dimension. “P” and “E” are spar measurements. Also check the mainsail width measurements, MHW, MTW and MUW. MHW is measured from the half height point on the leech (fold the head to the clew and mark the fold) to the nearest point on the luff. MTW and MUW are measured from the threequarter and seven-eighths leech points (keep folding the sail). If they are smaller than those on your certificate, you may be in for a reduction.

Note The defaults for these three values are 22 percent, 38 percent and 65 percent of “E”. They will never be taken as less than 12.5 percent, 25 percent and 50 percent of “E” by the Rating Office, so work this out before you get excited!

Mainsail Seven-eights leech point Three-quarter leech point Half leech point

Upper width (MUW) Three-quarter width (MTW) Half width (MHW)

Measurement of mainsail widths

The same applies to headsails, although there is less chance of overpaying on handicap by accident (except quite often luff length LL), as jibs are usually triangular and don’t have roaches. First, did you tell the Rating Office the dimensions of the sail or have they used standard information? It is always worth remeasuring headsails as they will shrink. And it is particularly important to measure the luff of the sail.

Note HHW will never be less than 50 percent of LP; HTW will never be less than 25 per cent of LP. Some owners choose to re-rate their boats with smaller headsails, a move that will usually reduce the handicap. If you are sure you will be sailing in strong enough breezes that you won’t need your No 1 overlapping headsail, this approach may work out. But be aware that if the breeze goes light and the sea state builds, particularly if your boat is on the heavy side, you may find yourself struggling for power and pace, beyond the credit that your new, lower handicap provides.

3 4

Headsail Headsail top width (HHB) Three-quarter width (MTW) Half width (HHW) Less than 75% of LP Half leech point Luff perpendicular (LP)

Spinnakers

These sails don’t shrink to the same degree as mainsails and headsails, but they do move and change shape. Again, it is worthwhile having the sail remeasured and when it is, make sure it is absolutely dry. A damp sail is a big sail.

Weight and displacement

“Our experience is that a typical production 40-footer can vary in weight by up to a tonne,” says Urwin. “Naturally that’s an extreme, but a 15 percent variation is not uncommon, so it’s well worth getting your boat weighed. If you don’t want to go to the expense of weighing, it’s still worth looking at whether your boat has any extras beyond those listed on the standard specification, or perhaps you’ve added items of your own.”

Extra batteries, heating, hot water, a genset, a charger for your VHF, a set of rope bags in the cockpit and fitting a chartplotter are examples of small items that could add up to a significant weight.

“Tell us with evidence of the weights. We will normally add an allowance to the boat weight.

But please be reasonable – two kilograms is not going to make any difference, 50kg probably will.”

A word of warning here – the Rating Office has a good feel for what items really weigh! Boats are often 100kg heavier on the water than when they first came out of their shrink wrap and if your boat was only weighed when it was new, weighing it a season or two down the line could provide a pleasant surprise on the handicap. Note: if you are having your boat weighed, make sure it is in a fit state for weighing before the measurer turns up. He or she won’t take kindly to having to empty your boat for you and could well charge.

The “Empty Weight”, now termed simply “Boat Weight” from 2010, excludes all the kit that might usually be aboard the boat and that wouldn’t normally be screwed to it. Think of it as turning the boat upside-down and shaking all the loose items out. For example, flares would come out, but any brackets that hold them would stay.

IRC Displacement is a Rating Office-calculated value that represents a figure close to that of the sailing displacement and therefore includes crew and their gear.

Spinnaker Half leech point

Half width (SHW) Greather than 75% of foot

Half luff point

Foot (SF)

PHOTOGRAPH J CORBY

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Headsail

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39

SAIL R C YC I R C R At I n g

Are your through-hull fittings sticking out of the hull? This will act like a hand brake. Grind them down or at least fair them in.

Is your rig set up straight and is the mast bent set up for your main sail? If your boat sails higher on one tack, there’s a good chance that your rig is not set up properly. The mast must be straight, with even tension on upper and lower shrouds on both sides. Some people get a new main sail without checking the existing mast bend, or adjust the mast bend to the new sail. Ask your sailmaker or rigger for some advice.

Do you have all halyards and trim controls accessible from the cockpit? If not, reroute halyards to the cockpit and possibly add cleats.

Your kicker should be accessible from the weather rail on both sides.

Can you adjust your backstay easily? Your backstay is the most important device to adjust forestay tension and mast bent. Backstay tension must be adjusted constantly – it will help your boat to stay in the groove in shifty conditions.

Do you have a non-overlapping jib? If so, it will help to add an inboard hauler for the jib sheet to reduce the sheeting angle of your foresail.

When last did you check your jib car and main traveller? For a proper sail trim, the jib car and main traveller must be adjusted all the time.

Make sure they run smoothly with reduced friction.

Do all your halyards have low friction and can they be cleated properly? Nothing is more frustrating than a perfectly trimmed sail loosing its shape because of a slipping halyard.

Is your boat as light as possible? When your boat gets weighed for IRC it has to be empty. This is the right time to get rid of items you might not need. Go through everything and if you haven’t used it in the last six month, take it off your boat. A lighter boat is always faster.

Selecting and managing your crew Ensure your crew is interacting optimally with each other. Who is capable and willing to fill every position on your boat, is the most important question you have to ask. Yes, we all want to helm – this can be the most enjoyable position if everything’s running smoothly. On the other hand, if the boat is falling off its pace, if you’re lower than the whole fleet or if your boat is broaching, it’ll be hard to find a helmsman who doesn’t raise his voice out of sheer frustration, or even fear. Make sure your helmsman has what it takes to keep things under control when the going gets tough.

The other positions on a boat are equally important. Sail trimmer, pit, mast, foredeck and tactician have to be up to the game level at which you want to play. Only if your crew is interacting properly will you be successful on the race course.

Let’s assume your IRC rating is updated, your boat is prepared properly and your crew is willing, but you’re still not sailing to your rating.

We’re all quick to blame our boat rating again. Be patient, there’s a good chance you’ll improve your boat’s performance over the next couple of months and you’ll sail your boat closer and closer to your given rating.

Want more info?

The new IRC rating website (www.ircrating.org) offers plenty of useful links and information, in particular: Measurement manual: Provides info on how to take measurements.

PDF Portfolio: This downloadable document provides hyperlinks between IRC Rule definitions and the equipment rules of sailing.

For online links, see www.yachtingworld.com/performance-world.

SAIL IRC ROUND-UP RCYC

SMOKE ON THE WATER

The contentious IRC system is alive and well at Royal Cape Yacht Club.

Enter the fray if you dare. By Gordon Kling

PHOTOGRAPHS TREVOR WILKINS

T

wo hot new boats have enlivened the top echelon of racing in the Cape... and poured more fuel on the flames of controversy that have long raged over the IRC rating system.

“We sail far better than Windpower but we can’t beat them,” says New Balance Gumption owner and skipper Nicholas Mace.

His boat dominated the podium until the arrival last year of Windpower, one of the two new hotties based at Royal Cape Yacht Club. Mace fumes at her performance under IRC. He’s not the only one.

The contentious A-L, a Farr 38, is a good example of a boat that is better prepared than her rating. A-L’s crew are absolutely meticulous with preparation and take full advantage of their age allowance on a boat that was designed ahead of its time (it’s a design that is over 30 years old). As a result A-L still keeps up with, and beats, modern boats.

Yet perfection is not an option when it comes to the complexities and, at times some maintain, subjectivity of rating sailboats and monohull yachts according to a handicap system intended to provide a level playing field for serious competitors. To IRC or not to IRC, how-

ever, is no longer the question. Consensus is that the IRC system is superior to its better known predecessors: including IMS and IRR. It is the accepted standard in South Africa and pretty much everywhere else. The latest American IRC handbook notes that in only five years IRC racing in the US has matured from a virtually unknown handicap rule imported from overseas to the rule of choice for serious handicap racing sailors.

The rule takes into account the most significant factors affecting a boat’s speed including type and size of boat, sails, rig, keel and ballast.

It is reviewed each year and Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) welcomes input from users. Considerations are numerous. For example, the prevalence of light air in downwind distance races has reportedly become an issue since IRC ratings are considered by some to have accuracy deficiencies in such conditions.

IRC permits owners to do the necessary measurements themselves for a standard certificate. However, clubs often require endorsed certificates and this entails measurement by appointed measurers.

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41

There are several at RCYC. A measurement manual and everything else you need to know is available at www.rorc.org.

As one would expect, the sub-prime induced global economic slump has hit IRC growth just about everywhere. In the US, for example, there was a 27 percent drop in certification in the eight months from January to August 2009. The story is similar for “mature” fleets in Europe and the UK, although the small, emerging fleet in Japan is proving to be an exception to the slump. IRC registrations in SA grew from 57 in August 2008 to 74 last May. All ratings expired at the end of May, resulting in a drop to 42 last August before picking up to 58 in February this year. The IRC administrator for South Africa, Donald Whitaker, expects the advent of the Vasco, Inhaca, Cape to Rio and Mauritius races to boost numbers further.

Cost and hassle are generally cited as the main reasons for boat owners not going IRC. The former in relation to the cost of yacht racing probably wouldn’t be much of an issue were it not for club handicaps

being virtually free. Expect to pay about R1 600 for the initial validation of a 36ft yacht and about R1 000 a year for revalidation. On the hassle front, it is frankly negligible after the initial certification, which usually means emptying the yacht and weighing, along with a host of measurements.

Concerns at RCYC focus on evident anomalies in the system but also provide some re-assuring outcomes.The owner/skipper of Mafuta (a Bavaria 36), Matthys Lourens, says: “I have to admit that I obtained an IRC rating mostly to double check how Mafuta would rate against an L34 under IRC, as the club handicaps are basically the same. Certain members in the club complained I was cheating as they were of the opinion that Mafuta is much faster than an L34.”

The outcome? Mafuta’s IRC = 0.962; Sensation (L34) 0.963.

“So that proves my innocence!” says Matthys who says IRC sailing is much more enjoyable and tactical. However, until more Class 2 IRC boats (IRC under 1.000) join, Matthys thinks it will be rather lonely at the back as Mafuta will never surf or plane the way the bigger boats do.

The top 8 IRC boats Profiled in alphabetical order Addis in Cape

Boat type: Leisure 42 Size: 42ft Skipper: Harry Brehm

Boat type: A35 Size: 35ft Skipper: Alex Monat

Lobelia

New Balance Gumption

Boat type: IMX40 Size: 40ft Skipper: Gordon Kling/Rob Meek

Boat type: Simonis Fast 42 Size: 42ft Skipper: Mark Sadler/Nicholas Mace

PHOTOGRAPHS TREVOR WILKINS

8 Seconds

42

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The IRC fleet rallying for position on the start line.

SAIL IRC RCYC

He hopes for at least 10 new IRC boats in the class.

Owner/skipper of the immaculately presented Puma Unleashed, Hylton Hale, notes that on average there are about 17 boats competing actively on the club IRC circuit. “If you take an average of 10 crew per boat that’s 170 competitors from Royal Cape,” he says. Hale maintains, and few would disagree, that the latest generation yachts (read: Windpower) have been designed with a large amount of knowledge on how to manipulate things to suit the rating. “This has resulted in some frustrations on the part of owners of older racy yachts that have sparse interiors, great speeds at reaching or off the wind angles, but not good for upwind performance.”

The real concern over money is based on the fact that the more expensive, newer boats appear to have the advantage. Just as boats like Lobelia (IMX 40), which is owned by Gordon Kling and usually skippered

by Springbok Rob Meek, was optimised for the old IMS, builders now look to getting the most out of IRC. Just look at Windpower’s performance!

On the other hand, Corum who is back in the water at RCYC is a classic example of “old” not being out of contention when it comes to IRC. Skipper Tony Strutt reports that she was a top Phillippe Brand IOR

A-L

Corum

Boat type: Farr 38 Size: 38ft Skipper: Rob van Rooyen

Boat type: IOR 45 Size: 45ft Skipper: Jannie Reuvers

Puma Unleashed

Windpower

Boat type: Pacer 42 Size: 42ft Skipper: Hylton Hale

Boat type: Landmark Size: 43ft Skipper: Phil Gutsche/Rick Nankin

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43

Corum passes Tenacity in Table Bay.

“Races should be designed to feature different angles of downwind sailing so boats have an opportunity to use their own particular strength at some point in the event” – Rick Nankin

design built by Beneteau for the French Admiral’s Cup team in collaboration with Chris O’Nial, an international expert in making boats out of composite materials (fibre glass, carbon fibre and Nomex). She was launched in 1987 and featured prominently – the Best French Admiral’s Cupper in ’87 and ’88, and in racing in general in the Med and Fastnet – before being purchased by Andrew Louw in 1989. Jan Reuvers skippered her from then until 1992 with numerous achievements, including first in the Agulhas Race (1990), first in the Double Cape (1990) and first in the Mykonos Race (1991).

Surprisingly, the boat was mothballed in ’95 and spent 13 years languishing in a shed before being given to some of her former sailors.

The original plan was to do a quick repaint, touch up some soft spots and fit a new engine to go sailing. But the renovation project grew to a full-on rebuild. Eventually, only the hull and rudder remained the same.

A new carbon mast (750mm shorter) and carbon boom were installed along with a new interior and keel transverse floor and girders 44

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structure, and a new keel. The mast was moved aft to increase the J measurement, and a new engine and instruments were installed.

A full set of state-of-the-art racing sails were made by Quantum Sails in collaboration with its international design team. All the headsails and the main sail are Quantum Fusion M membrane sails built in their high-tech Cape Town plant. The fibre layout is carbon, Technora and Twaron laminated in a Mylar skin. A basic interior was fitted but they are thinking of adding more interior modules. Du Toit Yacht Design was commissioned to do all the naval architectural designs and modifications. The project lasted about two years but given that this is a 20-year-old grand boat, incredibly the rating has not been much affected. Tony believes it would be in the interests of IRC management to examine their calculations closely in order to encourage more sailors to undertake the conversion of old IOR boats to IRC. Windpower’s skipper, Rick Nankin, says the reason sailors worldwide are using IRC quite extensively is that almost all the rating

SAIL IRC RCYC

heavy as many of them will be production boats. “The interiors have to be well fitted to get maximum rating factors from the IRC rule so Windpower has a beautifully fitted interior, similar to any Beneteau or X-boat. To overcome the weight issue, the designers have to be smart and they put huge emphasis on a slippery hull shape. As a result you can see that the modern boats are quite narrow at the waterline and feature a box-like shape to enhance the stability. As the boat heels, more volume makes the boat stiffer and able to handle more sail. This, together with huge bulbs on a very slender yet forgiving keel shape, provides a platform for an upwind express train,” says Nankin.

Of course there are negatives that are accentuated by the Cape weather. These boats do not get up and plane downwind as most of us Capetonians aspire to in a strong southeaster. Windpower plods along on the heavy air downwind legs, rarely sailing over 12 knots. However, her windward ability and lighter air capability often win back enough time to win races even on the days when the “Cape Doctor” is howling.

Nankin believes races should be designed to feature different angles of downwind sailing so boats have an opportunity to use their own particular strength at some point in the event. This influences results almost more than anything else. For example, a year ago RCYC offered windward-leeward courses 95 percent of the time. This favoured boats like Windpower and Lobelia as they are strong on those points. This Wednesday night season, the choice of course has swung to little running where one has to gybe. That’s a big swing in vision! The lighter, faster boats are now having their day and loving it. Nankin’s recommendation is to mix it up. He feels the good old triangle sausage works well as it gives everyone a chance.

(Pty) Ltd

systems of the past have had major flaws after a few years of operation.

The IOR and IMS were great for a while and then rule-makers clamped down on every loophole that designers and sailors explored until we were left with a crop of boats that had morphed into weird shapes in an effort to beat the rule. Boats became slower and less enjoyable to sail.

Systems became more expensive and owners became exasperated that their new racing boats would be uncompetitive in a year or two.

Windpower’s owner Phil Gutsche notes that IRC depends on the integrity of the boat owner to submit all modifications that could affect performance. His boat was launched in Cape Town in February 2009 and moors at The Water Club marina at Granger Bay. She is a Landmark 43 designed by Mark Mills who is responsible for a host of the top performing boats worldwide. Her builder is Premier Composites, Dubai.

Spars are carbon spars from Southern Spars Cape Town and her sails are by North Sails. “Upwind sails” are the club racing sails – black coloured carbon-aramid panelled sails built in Cape Town – while for serious racing a set of 3DL carbon-aramid sails are used. With their many unique features, the 3DL sails are the same as those used exclusively by the entire America’s Cup and Volvo fleets.

Windpower prefers to race with 14 crew, who are chosen from a revolving squad of 20, says Nankin. “The Landmark 43 is quite typical of many of the modern IRC cruiser-racing boats one sees in the 38 to 45ft range. As much of the racing worldwide is set on windward-leeward courses, in eight to 14 knots of true wind speed, the modern IRC boats are designed to sail very efficiently. The emphasis is on light and medium airs and all round ability together with upwind speed in all conditions.”

Another factor seen in this size of IRC boat is that they are fairly

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SAIL RCYC CLUB HANDICAP RACING

CLASS ACTION

For serious competition and some real drama, look no further than club class racing.

By Dale Kushner and Ray Matthews

Fast-paced action among the Class 1 and 2 fleets.

Class 1, sailing under the club handicap rating system, encompasses all boats with a rating of scratch (1 000) and above. In lay terms, boats such as L34s and larger typically fall into this category. The club handicap class is generally sailed by the “cruiser/racer” yachtsperson.

At the popular Wednesday night racing, up to 30 Class 1 boats (of sizes up to 50ft) race without spinnakers, allowing them to be more competitive if they are short of competent crew. After a season of high rivalry, the top three positions in Wednesday evenings’ Audi Twilight Race Series went to: 1st Benba.co.za Dale Kushner 2nd Maestro Ankie Roux/Paul van Ass 3rd Me2Me Derick Shuttleworth For club racing, Class 1 sails with spinnakers. In addition, the club also uses the club rating system for it’s bigger club races such as the popular pursuit and Robben Island races.

In Class 1 at RCYC, top racing yachtsmen compete alongside those who are still learning to sail. Better results every season reflect the improvements of the crew and boats. The first-time racer can quickly find his place in this fleet and use it as a benchmark to improve his results.

The medium distance events are always very popular. This year Always Well won the Mykonos race, followed by Umoya Omusha, with Lapwing coming in third. The round Robben Island races also prove to

Class 2

Although the diverse fleet of Class 2 boats makes setting realistic cutoff times tricky, this division is well represented at RCYC. E The Audi Twilight Race Series (January to March 2010) Twenty-six boats competed in seven races in the Twilight Series. As always the racing was very competitive and vocal, but there were no surprises when Thinus Groenewald on his RCOD Reaction, closely followed by Vitor Medina on his very quick fixed-prop Muira, Far Med, and Jackie Brand on Impact won the first race. This pattern was to be 46

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be a favourite among RCYC’s Class 1 sailors – AL won the most recent race, with Freedom in second and Naledi in third place.

The Crocs Summer Regatta has a great turn out of Class 1 boats – it’s well timed, so has the potential for an even bigger Class 1 fleet. This season, Flyer took first place, with Sheshisa second and Spectrum third.

It’s refreshing to see boats like the L34, when well sailed, are always in the results. The purpose of club ratings is to include the yachtsmen and women who are not into hardcore racing. Often these are the sailors that are club regulars. Boats like Touch and Go, Me2Me and 8 Seconds have hardly missed a club racing event over the season.

Class 1 continues to grow at RCYC. Perhaps more should partake in the regular club racing on Saturday afternoons – the courses are longish, the atmosphere relaxed. It offers a great day’s sailing in the bay, followed by the camaraderie of the prizegiving afterwards. This is a great opportunity to improve your sailing skills, meet fellow sailors and discuss the day’s sailing. Notably, the boats that sail regularly maintain a crew, improve their performance and ultimately make their sailing a real pleasure.

The new season promises to offer more, so if you aren’t currently competing in the club racing days, or are not a frequent participant, consider putting a regular crew together and committing to sailing all of the club events. It really is a lot of fun.

repeated regularly on the podium for most of the series, with the rest of the fleet battling for the minor places.

Keith Mattison on his Charger 33 has had one of his best series and was always challenging, ultimately edging Impact off the podium to finishing a creditable third overall in the series. Alan Taylor on his J27 Pure Magic did not sail the full series but would have knocked someone off the top rung if he’d sailed more often. It was great to see Russel Volmer in Chen back on the water after a few years off. Rumour has it his boat has

PHOTOGRAPH BRENTON GEACH

Class 1

been stripped out and is ready to take on Far Med. We now have four regular Muiras – with one more they could have their own class.

E Round Robben Island (16 January) Not much can be said of this race for Class 2 except for Peter Bam on his L26 Hors d’ Oeuvre, who came in sixth overall, and Bat Tromp on his Muira Apricot who came eighteenth overall. The rest of our fleet retired in the fickle wind. The difficulty in setting realistic cutoff times in such a diverse fleet was to dog Class 2 again.

E Classic Bay Race (23 January) What a novel idea – for every decade old your boat was, your handicap was reduced by one percent. The race was well supported by Class 2 – 12 of the 18 boats were Class 2s, which is hardly surprising as most of the older boats are in this fleet. For the 30-year-old L26s and L34s, it was time to shine, with Peter Bam beating Rodney Tanner and the rest of the fleet following. The oldest boats of the day were the 52-year-old Maraquita (Dave Elcock), and the 35-year-olds, Impact (Jackie Brand) and The Mighty Lemon Drop (Jannie De Goede).

E Double-handed Race (31 January) Class 2 had eight boats in the fleet of 12. Warlock, an L26 sailed by Ian Slatem, took the honours. Lechyd Da sailed by Stefaan Hundt, took a notable second place – this Muira has serious potential.

E Mykonos Offshore (19 and 20 February) Thirty-one Class 2 boats set off on the Friday morning’s downwind dash.

Most set spinnakers after the windward mark and the fleet split up.

Within a few hours the fleet was spread out widely, but was converging for the gate at Dassen Island. The order set through the gate was maintained to the end, although the second half was faster. With Reaction (Thinus Greonewald) once again showing the fleet how it should be done.

The J27 Pure Magic (Alan Taylor) and the L26 Welsh Witch (Dave Garrad) were placed second and third.

The following morning’s pursuit race was delayed to give the fleet a better crack at getting some wind (which normally increases with the day). The cut-off time was extended from 4pm to 5pm but even so, only three boats finished – Alan Taylor’s J27, Dave Garrard’s L26 and Rodney Tanner’s L26. The final results? Reaction, Pure Magic and Welsh Witch.

E Double-handed Race (27 February) Most of the boats were still at Mykonos so only five boats took part in a strong southeaster – three of them represented Class 2: Touch Wood (Gerry Heggie Jr), Impact (Jackie Brand) and Warlock (Ian Slatem).

E KPMG Day (6 March) This is a fun day on the calendar when the skippers offer their boats to be used to promote sailing, in this case to accounting students. Class 2 fielded 11 of the 22 boats. These events are fantastic as they often turn up some promising, potential new crew.

E Cape Town Sailing Week (end March) Part 1 – Table Bay: The first two days sailed in a westerly off Granger Bay were an excellent test of Class 2’s light wind sailing capabilities. At the end of three races, Rodney Tanner on the L26 Escape was leading the 14 entries. It was good to have visiting yachts, notably Raging Bull (Tom Brown) and Beowolf 3 (Vic Smit), come to Table Bay to race.

Part 2 – Hout Bay: After a clean sweep in Cape Town, Rodney Tanner lost the regatta by one point to Vitor Medina on Far Med. In the medium distance race to Hout Bay, Tanner crossed the line first but was forced to retire on discovering that he had not left Vulcan Rock to port. His crew mistook Vulcan for a whale. This meant that he only needed to come fourth in the last race but in very calm conditions only managed an eighth. Mention must be made of the second last race when the finish boat drifted and made the finish line difficult to decipher. The whole fleet initially scored DNF, but sanity prevailed and the scores were counted. International case 82 supports this decision.

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Destination anywhere From Lamberts Bay to Knysna, cruising in the Western Cape offers sailors some memorable experiences.

By Howard Minnie

East coast cool It’s essential you respect the stretch of ocean up the east coast – especially when the southwester starts to blow. Always seek out local knowledge before preparing a voyage along this coastline. There are good descriptions of ports and anchorages in Tom Morgan’s South African Nautical Almanac, Tony Herrick’s Cruising Connections and the government publications South African Sailing Directions Vol II and Vol III. One of the compensations, especially between April and July, is the start of the sardine run in the cool waters of the Agulhas bank, which 48

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stretches 160 miles southwards from Cape Agulhas. It’s a spectacular sight of sea and air creatures that feed off the shoals, which can stretch over seven kilometres long and one-and-half kilometres wide. In terms of biomass, the sardine run is comparable to the great migration of wildebeest across East Africa’s plains.

If navigated in the UK, the distance between Cape Town and Knysna would have hundreds of anchorages to define a cruise, but here there are far less safe or comfortable spots to duck into when the wind starts to blow. Ideally you should set off to round Cape Point in a westerly or north-westerly. There are many tales of harrowing roundings with crew standing on the foredeck able to hear Bellows Rock but, in the spray and chaotic chop, unsure of their position.

False Bay is a good destination to cruise in winter, providing flat seas with the northwester and two good moorings in Simon’s Town and at the friendly Gordons Bay Yacht Club. After Gordons Bay, there are places to anchor that are well documented in the Almanac and SA Sailing Directions, but generally the next stop would be Mossel Bay and then Knysna. In-between you have Struisbaai, Stilbaai and the Breede River mouth, which can be used when the southwester is blowing but become dangerous in a southeaster.

Entry through the Knysna Heads should only be attempted when

PHOTOGRaPHs aerial shot/trevor wilkins, langebaan/ingrid hale, clifton/hYlton hale

T

he definition of cruising, as taken from the Pocket Oxford Dictionary, is to “travel by sea for pleasure, calling at ports” or “to travel at a relaxed or economical speed”. As the weather seldom allows for either of these, perhaps we should only ever talk about sailing, rather than cruising, in the Western Cape. In Cape Town, most of us are used to setting out on a calm, beautiful morning only to be battling a 30 knot southeaster by midday.

The sea conditions and winds in the Cape are largely determined by the effects of the low- and high-pressure systems moving from west to east. These systems produce the dominant winds of the southeaster in summer and the northwester in winter, with the southwester filling in-between. The winds modify the common southwester swell with its long Atlantic fetch, helping to form winter’s large waves. On the east coast the formidable Agulhas current, which speeds up in winter and produces abnormal waves seaward of the 200m contour, makes for particularly spectacular sailing at times and, on this side of the continent, it’s best to prepare for an exciting ride. Thank goodness for reliable weather forecasts from Windguru (www.windguru.com) and Windfinder (www.windfinder.com).

SaIL cruISIng rcyc

Just another day in Clifton.

Anchoring at Clifton Rule no. 1: Don’t go if a south- or north-westerly wind is blowing.

It’s only paradise in a southeaster.

Rule no. 2: Ensure you have a strong engine for the southeaster on your return trip up Cape Town harbour.

Don’t forget: An onboard braai, well-stocked cooler box, bikini-clad girls and sunblock.

Spectacular Oudepos in the Langebaan lagoon.

conditions are good during daylight, an hour or so before high water.

Lives have been lost at this entrance so seek local knowledge, read Tony Herrick and Tom Morgan, and take no chances if waves are breaking in the entrance. Knysna is a wonderful destination to explore for a few days with moorings at the waterfront and the Knysna Yacht Club.

Day tripping For a fantastic day cruise from RCYC, head to Clifton, which is within easy sailing distance and provides good shelter in a southeaster. Caution with the southeaster does however need to be maintained. A friend, who had just bought his boat, had little sailing experience and an even less experienced crew went down to Clifton for the day. Enjoying his day so much, he ignored the telltale clouds over the Twelve Apostles. He left his return until too late to avoid some serious breeze. Because he hadn’t done this trip before, he sailed out of the calm bay with full sails across the line of wind. He then tried to anchor in Granger Bay – another good bolt hole from the southeaster – but his anchor dragged and he ran his batteries down trying to get his engines started. What should have been a fabulous day on the water turned into a potentially dangerous situation. The point of listening to local knowledge cannot be over emphasised when sailing in Cape waters.

Cruising Langebaan safe anchorages: Oudepos, Kraal Bay (for shallow draft boats, maximum two metres) and the lee shore of Schaapeiland. You’ll need a permit from the West Coast National Park.

Contact: +27 22 772 2144/5 Walk-on moorings: Club Mykonos (facilities available: showers, restaurants, water, diesel) Contact: Anchen Stemmet +27 22 707 7600

West coast wonder The closest you get to cruising in the Cape is if you head up the West Coast. There’s actually something called the West Coast Cruise, which happens annually after Christmas and attracts a sizeable fleet. If you prefer to do it on your own, choose a southerly wind and head for Dassen Island, 35 miles from Cape Town. It’s an idyllic place to spend some time, especially in crayfish season. House Bay provides the perfect anchorage (even in a southeaster gale) but should be left as soon as the wind shifts to the north-west. It’s a popular spot and is a good halfway stop on the way to Langebaan. w w w. r c y c . c o . z a

49

SaIL rcyc cruISIng

From here, if you’re returning to Cape Town, it’s better to do it when the wind shifts to the north- or south-west. Many sailors have interesting stories of how they got back in a howling southeaster – most of them vowing never to repeat the experience (although they’ve probably done it many times). This is simply the nature of Cape cruising. If you see cloud over the Franschhoek Mountains, “the Table” (Table Mountain) is still clear and you are about half way home, by the time you get to Table Bay the “cloth” will be on the mountain and you’ll be battling your way back to the club. Know that the weather forecaster at the airport is generally reliable regarding the wind, sometimes even telling you what time the wind direction will change.

Going further up the West Coast is best done in summer where most of the anchorages up to Lamberts Bay are protected from the southeaster and the sea is relatively flat. These can become dangerous when the northwester blows. Typically, you would then turn around and go to Port Owen, Saldanha, Club Mykonos or back to Cape Town.

Langebaan is well suited to cruising, providing flat sailing even if the wind is blowing. And there are plenty of great places to spend the night.

Kraal Bay requires you to be tide conscious, unless you draw very little, but is a really beautiful, calm location to spend a couple of days. Then there’s Oudepos, reputed to be the first Southern African trading post of the Dutch East India Company; and Rietbaai behind Skaapeiland, which is unique as there are seldom more than one or two other boats at a time.

This means the sea- and birdlife is abundant (in fact, from Dassen Island to Lamberts Bay the birds are always impressive). Thousands of gannets, cormorants, petrels, seagulls and even pelicans make for spectacular scenes both visually and vocally. The colours of the sea and the contrasting sand and rock coastline bleached by the harshness so typical

of the West Coast makes this a special place to visit. If you’re looking for something more social, you can also find moorings at Club Mykonos with its typical Greek atmosphere. It provides easy access to water, fuel and a hot shower before you head further up the coast. Or head for Saldanha Bay to find a decent anchorage in most conditions.

The South African Nautical Almanac gives a good description of the journey northwards and, because this part of the coast is full of dangers, it’s particularly important to have reliable charts for careful navigation. Paternoster Bay is a memorable stop and a cautious arrival is advised. But once you’ve anchored, it’s worth going ashore to eat at some of the excellent local eateries. If you prefer to relax on your boat, fishermen will row out to you with offers of crayfish and fish. With the sun setting, a layer of cray on the braai and a bottle of chilled Chardonnay, there’s very little else you could wish for.

Further north are the important fishing areas of Stompneus Bay, Slipper Bay and Sandy Point Harbour – all three providing places to anchor away from the southeaster, although it’s advisable to stay clear of the fishing boat activity. Then it’s on to Port Owen on the Berg River where you’ll find a welcoming club for restocking before going to more remote places like Elands Bay with its famous surf spots. Then finally onto Lamberts Bay, which is a busy fishing harbour and is normally the last South African port of call for the trip across the Atlantic.

Now having done this in southerly winds, which will have given you the best anchorages on the way up the coast, you now have to beat your way back to Cape Town. Or you could take it easy and go in a big circle past Saint Helena. It’s a longer way home but it is downwind – that’s C M Ystory CM for MY another CY CMY day.

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1 SAIL SOCIAL SCENE RCYC

SEEN AT SEA Royal Capers know how to kick back and relax on and off the water.

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4

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8 PHOTOGRAPHS TREVOR WILKINS, KIRSTEN VEENSTRA, RICHARD CROCKETT, TONY NORRIS

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10 12

11 13

1. Mighty Jannie on Mighty Lemon Drop. 2. Ray Alexander’s Picasso.

3. Water bombs on board Diel at the opening cruise. 4. Team Izivunguvungu. 5. Left to right: RCYC general manager Marcus Reuter, Jeanne van Rooyen-Martin, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Deidre Mace, Commodore John Martin.

6. Aladdin racing. 7. A-L’s crew with crayfish on Dassen Island cruise. 8. Rhett Goldswain and crew aboard Thunderchild.

9. Ankie Roux and team on Maestro at Mykonos Bay Race.

10. Mike Peper’s Storm.

11. Thunderchild cruisers at Clifton. 12. Team New Balance Gumption, winners Audi Summer twilight series, IRC Class.

13. Chris Joubert checks the rig on Puma Unleashed.

W W W. R C Y C . C O . Z A

51

THE COMMITTEE Meet the people steering the club

John Martin Commodore

Rear commodore outside house

My focus… As commodore, my objective is to maintain the high standards and the good standing of Royal Cape Yacht Club, both locally and internationally. I also aim to encourage youth development and international keelboat sailing.

The highlight of my sailing career… Winning the first leg of the BOC Single-handed Race for RCYC in Cape Town in 1986.

I would never leave shore without… The traditional farewell surprise pack from my wife. [Note: neither the commodore nor his wife would divulge what is in this pack, except to say that it is always a personal and traditional surprise!]

My focus… To ensure that the club members’ interests are constantly considered and that the focus remains firmly on sailing.

The highlight of my sailing career… Difficult question to answer – but perhaps it was spending eight days at sea and then finding the Walvis Bay lighthouse was exactly where I thought it was!

I would never leave shore without… Diesel.

I may have a sailing yacht, but it’s most inconvenient to run out of diesel.

Dale Kushner

52

Gary Sindler

General: Discipline

General

My focus… I would like to see a club of like-minded people, building good camaraderie and making it a great place to frequent.

The club must be fair to all, uphold its constitution and ensure professionalism at all times to live up to our international reputation of one of the top yacht clubs in the world.

At the same time we need to look after the interests of all our sailors, including those that simply enjoy the pleasure of sailing, not necessarily racing.

The highlight of my sailing career…

Competing in the South Star Race, a shorthanded race from Hout Bay to St Helena Island.

I would never leave shore without… I am serious about my sailing and the safety side and therefore I’m not comfortable unless I’m well prepared to go offshore, whether it’s a trip in the bay or sailing across the Atlantic.

My focus… To get the youth socialising and racing at the club. This has been partially achieved by including them as part of our regular crew for various races and regattas.

The highlight of my sailing career… Winning the J22 Worlds for the second time with Mark Sadler in Durban (and winning for our sponsor Ellian Perch who’s been supporting us for a number of years).

I would never leave shore without… My collection of Gill Gear, which includes the new lightweight Kevlar boots.

W W W. R C Y C . C O . Z A

Tony Blackwell

Harry Brehm General: Safety at sea My focus… That the club will stay what it is: a sailing cub. All our intentions should be focused on getting our members on the water as often as possible. For racing, cruising or just for fun – it doesn’t matter as long as people use their boats on a regular basis and make use of the club facilities. Another goal is to integrate younger sailors in to our club.

The highlight of my sailing career… When I won my first windsurfing competition in 1982. The first time is always the best!

I would never leave shore without… My Leatherman, something always needs to be fixed when you’re sailing.

SAIL THE CLUB RCYC

Vitor Medina

Mike Peper

Rear commodore inside house

Rear commodore sailing

Honorary treasurer

My focus… To create an environment where all club members enjoy coming to their club.

It’s a simple back-to-basics attitude where the focus is on friendship and the common denominator of the wonderful pastime and sport called sailing.

The highlight of my sailing career… To campaign my Muira, Far Med, in the 1996 Cape to Rio. My three best friends and I set off on an incredible adventure where we experienced sailing and nature beyond our wildest imagination.

I would never leave shore without… A bottle of Captain Morgan rum. There’s nothing nicer than a sundowner with your crew to chill and discuss the progress of your voyage. (The rule is only one drink per day though, much to the disappointment of my crew.)

My focus… To give the sailors of the club quality sailing and to encourage junior sailing.

The highlight of my sailing career… After being out of international competition myself for years (“only coaching Ian Ainslie at the Olympics”), I went to the Finn Masters Championships in France and finished second out of 160 boats.

I would never leave shore without… My tactic compass and a crew member with better eyesight than me to constantly call the heading. (If I start a regatta well, I tend to not want to break the good luck and always keep one item of clothing I was wearing for the following day. I hope I am remembered as the chap who won the regatta and not the chap that smells!)

My focus… To ensure RCYC enhances its status, at every level, as the southern African yacht club of choice when international yachties and race organisers plan major sailing events or choose stopover destinations.

The highlight of my sailing career…

Participating in the 2007 Cowes Week Regatta. Or maybe it’s that brief moment of ecstasy and freedom you experience between selling one boat and buying the next!

I would never leave shore without… A pair of socks given to me by my daughters – one green (starboard) and the other red (port).

Just before you bellow at a crew member to bear away to port – you can surreptitiously check your feet for confirmation of the direction! Of course this only works if you are facing forward.

Hylton Hale General

PHOTOGRAPHS TREVOR WILKINS

Greg Davis

My focus… I am very passionate about sailing, not only as a sport, but all the disciplines and camaraderie it brings out in people. This has encouraged me to get more involved in the organisation of our sailing circuit, ensuring its success. I want to make the sport attractive to youngsters, bringing in the “cool” factor, and growing the numbers of active young sailors.

The task is challenging because we must continue to cater for the needs of our traditional sailors too.

The highlight of my sailing career… Making the top 10 at the Hobie Tiger World Championships, mixing it up with Olympic sailors such as Mitch Booth, Darren Bundock and Caroline Bouwer.

I would never leave shore without… My cellphone, and once I’m out of range, I would take great glee in chucking it into the ocean.

Kirsten Veenstra General: Communications/Membership My focus…To market RCYC – if we can make sure we run top-class sailing, have a top-class facility, and host top-class events, people will want to sail at RCYC. The highlight of my sailing career… The main ones are my L26 partner Judy Provoyeur and my 2007 and 2009 ladies’ Lipton Cup Campaigns, Cowes Week in 2007 and Regattes Royal in St Tropez in 2007.

I would never leave shore without… My cameras! A happy snap Olympus, which fits in a pocket, and a Canon 1000D with a serious zoom lens. You get great pics while sailing past slower yachts on distance races, and there’s always lots of action at marks.

Mark Sadler General My focus…To learn how the processes work in the club so that in the future I am well-equipped to make the right contribution to the club in the right way. Often my wealth of sailing experience helps with some of the sailing-related issues.

The highlight of my sailing career… The America’s Cup, Louis Vuitton victory against Prada.

I would never leave shore without… The sailing instructions – even with them it’s possible to get the course wrong.

W W W. R C Y C . C O . Z A

53

The Engine Room It’s all about service at Royal Cape Yacht Club

By Marcus Reuter, general manager

YT

WE ARE AGENTS FOR: DEAN CATS, ELAN YACHTS AND ADMIRAL CATS

INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

• Chris: 083 444 3630 • Mike: 073 220 1553

www.cape.iyb.co.za

100m Past Royal Cape Yacht Club • P O Box 608, Paarden Eiland 7420 Tel: (021) 447 4185 • Fax: (021) 447 2753 • E-mail: iybcape@iafrica.com

www.cape.iyb.co.za

SAIl the club RcYc

A

s it would be iniquitous to highlight the successful endeavours of any one staff member over another, I can only thank everyone for their efforts in redefining their respective levels of service towards Royal Cape Yacht Club boat owners, members and guests. We have focused on getting the basics right, and from there we’ve built more robust frameworks to provide greater levels of service.

Although we faced many challenges this year, none has been more daunting than the club’s decision to wholly take over the complex restaurant and galley operations from our previous service providers. We are extremely proud of the food and beverage team, through who’s efforts the patrons have enjoyed the much improved levels of cleanliness, service and food presentation – not to mention taste!

On the hard and moorage front, the marina manager and his team continue to ensure that the moorings provide vessel owners with safe moorage. Having said this, it must be pointed out that guaranteeing fair moorage will become more challenging as a result of the increasing requirement for routine and corrective maintenance (which the framed chain and block mooring system demand). However, the marina manager remains attentive to these realities and has an energetic team under his direction. The hard/maintenance area remains as frenetic as ever, with an overall marked increase in the total tonnage of vessels manoeuvred by the crane. This is a direct result of the club’s focus in ensuring all vessels are race or cruising ready, efficiently utilising maximum berthage at RCYC. Lastly, the administration staff: teamwork and an enduring positive outlook have strengthened our service levels. Newly introduced electronic and IT systems alsoAM mean more TA Ad 210x148 4/16/10 10:55 Page 1 efficient and focused attention within the various sub-departments.

Decked out

Are you taking full advantage of everything the club has to offer?

The bar and restaurants Royal Cape Yacht Club offers tasty local cuisine at very affordable prices (members get discounted prices). The wine list offers a great selection for all palates, from house to boutique wines.

The Galley offers a private dining area – an area tucked away from the hustle of the club – while the more casual Terrace Restaurant and deck are open to the comings and goings of a typical clubhouse. The restaurant trades seven days a week. It’s open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, but only trades until 6pm on a Sunday.

The constantly changing menu is well balanced and caters for a wide variety of choices, with Chef Marco providing delectable daily specials, as well as Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening specials.

Members flock to enjoy the recently introduced Sunday roast too.

The yacht club has two main bars: the traditional men’s bar is a smoking bar and is decorated with fascinating memorabilia from yesteryear. The ladies bar is situated on the waterside of the club and overlooks the marina for a tranquil setting. The bars trade until 11pm but have a reputation of stretching time when the club really (and regularly) gets in to full swing!

With live entertainment every Friday night – ranging from one-man to six-piece bands, including the clubs house band “The Rockers” on the last Friday of every month, members are certain to enjoy a festive time.

For more information, contact the food and beverage manager at riaan@rcyc.co.za or 021 C M Y CM MY CY 421 CMY 1354.

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Security Visitors and yacht owners can enjoy the confidence of the club’s 24/7 security team who are vigilant and will gladly assist in any securityrelated query. In addition, the club provides ample secure parking for both members and visitors.

Contact the club manager on gm@rcyc.co.za or 021 421 1354.

Moorings RCYC provides 400 block and chain moorings to both members and visitors. All moorings are fitted with a fresh water supply, lighting and 220V electrical supply. Vessels in excess of LOA of 65’ or draft of 3m need to advise the club prior to arrival. Book in advance.

Contact the marina manager on marina@rcyc.co.za.

Boat repairs and chandlery The club offers an 18-tonne lift capability, complimented by a hard area that accommodates both long- and short-term repair areas. A chandlery is conveniently positioned within the hard/lay-up area and offers both equipment sales and contractual maintenance assistance.

In addition to the crane facilities, a 40-tonne slipway is available to larger vessels if required.

For all bookings please contact the marina manager on marina@rcyc.co.za or 021 421 1354.

Ship chandlery (Action Yachting) can be contacted on actyot@iafrica.com or 021 419 4835.

Laundry A range of industrial washing and drying machines are available for members and visiting guests at a nominal fee. If you’d prefer, the club can also arrange a professional laundry.

Library A 106-year-old yacht club certainly is able to boast a well-stocked library of reference and sailing-related fictional titles. If you’d like access to the library, please ask at the club reception.

Jed

SAIl the club RcYc

Internet and administration The RCYC offers a 24-hour wireless internet facility throughout the clubhouse (coverage in the marina is limited). Staff will be happy to assist with any administrative requirement.

Function and venue hire

RCYC boasts a range of function venues for hire to members and non-members. The venues are appropriate for everything from small, intimate parties to large-scale events. The club has a variety of cocktail, set and buffet menus but unique menus can also be created to suite any taste and budget.

The Chartroom is situated on the second storey of the yacht club and, from its balcony, offers a wonderful view of the yacht basin and the surrounding harbour. The venue is ideal for smaller conferences and meetings for 20 to 50 people.

The Visitor’s Lounge is situated next to the chartroom and is suitable for small cocktail parties, accommodating up to 50 people. This venue has a small bar area and two balconies with great views. By simply sliding back the concertina doors between the Chartroom and the Visitor’s Lounge, the club can create a function space for up to 90 guests (60 guests, if a small dance area is required; 80 guests if the function is a sit-down dinner). The upstairs bar makes it a totally private venue.

The Main Hall boasts the impressive trophy cabinet, the pride of RCYC’s sailing achievements. delect Ad 148x210 5/19/10 1:43 PM Page 1 The venue is perfect for conferences (cinema-style seating for 150 guests). The terrace can also be

cleared for dancing, which has made this a choice option for many weddings and parties for up to 120 guests.

The Regatta Centre has been left as a “shell” so that it can cater for a wide variety of functions ranging from exhibitions, auctions, workshops and more daring events. The venue can accommodate 400 guests for a large party (or 250 guests seated at tables). The venue boasts glass sliding doors that open up onto the waters edge.

The Galley is a private dining area tucked away from the hustle of the club. It has large glass sliding doors leading on to the deck and an amazing view of the yachts. The Galley can accommodate 50 guests for a private breakfast, lunch or dinner.

For further info or bookings, contact the functions co-ordinator on brigette@rcyc.co.za or 021 421 1354.

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Future’s so bright

R

oyal Cape Yacht Club’s current 30-year lease with Portnet expires on 31 December 2023. Although RCYC has the right of first refusal for a further 20 years, it’s subject to Portnet not requiring the use of the premises, and the terms, conditions and rental being agreed upon between the parties. Unfortunately, Portnet has indicated that this 20-year option will not be available to RCYC for the following reasons: • Planned port expansion to meet predicted economic growth.

• Compliance with International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), which requires strictly controlled and screened personnel access only.

• Planned conversion to ship repair and petrochemical operations, as per the 10-year plan of the National Provincial Administration (NPA), with zero provision for leisure craft activities.

Even if the above points could be overcome, Portnet’s policy of maximising returns on its assets (particularly to “elitist” organisations) would increase our rental from R475 000 to R20-million per annum – resulting in annual membership fees of about R18 000 (at today’s prices).

The Oceana Power Boat Club (OPBC) situated in the Victoria and Alfred (V&A) at Granger Bay has an even more tenuous hold on its club premises, with no lease and just a 30-day notice period. What this means is that Cape Town is inevitably moving towards a situation where its leisure-craft users will be denied access to Table Bay. So, that’s the bad news. What are the pros?

Firstly, our current lease is rock solid and lasts for another thirteen-and-a-half years. Given the target dates for the NPA’s plan, construction would need to commence within the next five to six years.

Our current lease therefore gives us some leverage – provided we act sooner rather than later.

Secondly, RCYC and OPBC have agreed to work together with the aim of securing both land and water tenure to create a single facility that would cater to the boating needs of all Capetonians and visitors to Cape Town. In other words, this is an initiative for Capetonians, not just

58

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RCYC. High-ranking officials in both the city and the province have expressed dismay that the “Tavern of the Seas” is being diluted. They approve of the alliance between RCYC and OPBC, and have undertaken to support our cause.

Finally, RCYC’s current site is situated in an industrial area, cannot accommodate visiting fleets or large yachts, and the premises and marinas need considerable refurbishment. This is an opportunity to start afresh and build a world-class facility that we can be proud of and will attract new members. Under-utilised land and water areas are available in the V&A to accommodate the proposed facility.

In consideration of the club’s future, RCYC’s Planning Committee is focusing on the following priorities: • Long-term lease (or freehold) on both land and water • Land and water facilities in close proximity • Clubhouse and offices must be made available for social and administrative aspects • Protected marina to accommodate home, visitors and racing fleets • Slipways and crane to facilitate the launching of dry storage vessels • Storage space for boats and trailers • Large function venue for boat shows and similar events The numerous “nice-to-have” facilities, including parking and yacht repair areas, will be pursued if feasible, but not at the risk of failing to achieve the priority objectives listed above.

Looking to the future, the plan is to curtail all capital spending at the current premises (RCYC will spend on maintenance only). We’ll negotiate long-term land and water rights with the V&A and Portnet at reasonable rental. We aim to forge closer links with OPBC, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape province, and hope to seek financial assistance from the City of Cape Town, provincial government and Portnet for relocation. We’ll also be rolling out a media awareness campaign to Capetonians.

The future of Royal Cape Yacht Club is in our hands. We must stand together and act now!

PHOTOGRPAHS trevor wilkins & google earth

So you’ve heard talk that the club’s moving? Enough with the speculation, here are the facts about the relocation of RCYC.

By Nicholas Mace

SaIL THE cLUB rcyc

Future layout 142 Containers 43

Break bulk/MPT

19

Liquid bulk

6

Dry bulk

36

Ship repair

4

Fishing

47

Com. logistics

5

Maritime commercial

9

Open space

42

TNPA other

353 Total hectares

The V&A: a real possibility Water areas shown in blue are the equivalent size to the current small craft basin, while possible clubhouse positions are shown in green.

w w w. r c y c . c o . z a

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RCYC RaCing CalendaR 2010/2011 DAY

Main regattas – Western Cape circuit

Offshore events

Club championships RCYC rating/IRC

Match Racing

Short-handed series

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

1

3 Audi Twilight Series

1 Audi Twilight Series

4

2

MON

1

TUE

2

WED THU

1

2

FRI

2

3 Mauritius/Durban Race

1

5

3

SAT

3 Club Winter Series A1 4 MSC Week

1

2 Lion Of Africa Ladies Day 3

6 Bay Race

SUN

4 Club Winter Series B3 & IRC Cans 6 5

7

4 Flag Officer’s Team Race 5

MON

5 MSC Week

2

6

4

8

6

TUE

6 MSC Week

3

7

5

9

7

WED

7 MSC Week

4

THU

8 MSC Week

5

FRI

9 MSC Week

6

SAT

10 MSC Week

7

SUN

11 Fifa Soccer World Cup – Final 12

MON

60

Fun PR events

8

8 Mossel Bay Race MBYC 9 Mossel Bay Race MBYC 10 Mossel Bay Race MBYC 11 Mossel Bay Race MBYC 12

6 Audi Twilight Series

10 Audi Twilight Series

8 Audi Twilight Series

7

11

9

8

12

10

9 Opening Cruise

13 Dassen Island Cruise

11

10

14

12

9

13

11

15

13

TUE

13

10

14

12

16

14

WED

14

11

15

13 Audi Twilight Series

17 Audi Twilight Series

THU

15

12

16

14

18

15 Crocs Summer Twilight Race 16 Crocs Summer

FRI

16

13

17

15

19

17

SAT

17 Club Winter Series A2

14 SAS L26 Provincials

18

16 Round Robben Island

20 Double Cape

18 Crocs Summer

SUN

18

15 SAS L26 Provincials

17

21 Double Cape

19 Crocs Summer

MON

19

16

19 Cape Point Challenge FBYC 20

18

22

20

TUE

20

17

21

19

23

21

WED

21

18

22

20 Audi Twilight Series

24 Audi Twilight Series

22

THU

22

19

23

21

25

23

FRI

23

20

24 Spring Regatta FBYC

22

26

24

SAT

24 Club Winter Series A3

21 Lipton Cup

25 Spring Regatta FBYC

25

22 Lipton Cup

26 Spring Regatta FBYC

27 Lexis Nexis Legal Eagles 28

25

SUN MON

26

23 Lipton Cup

27

23 Short-handed to HBYC 1 24 Short-handed from HBYC 2 25

29

TUE

27

24 Lipton Cup

28

26

30

WED

28

25 Lipton Cup

29

27 Audi Twilight Series

THU

29

26 Lipton Cup

30

28

FRI

30

27 Lipton Cup

29

SAT

31 Club Winter Series B1

28 Club Winter Series B2

30 Match Racing (J22s)

SUN

29

31 Match Racing

MON

30

TUE

31

w w w. r c y c . c o . z a

26 27 RCYC Langebaan Cruise 28 RCYC Langebaan Cruise 29 RCYC Langebaan Cruise 30 RCYC Langebaan Cruise 31

SaIL caLendar rcyc

DAY

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

PHOTOGRAPH Trevor wilkins

MON TUE

1

1

WED

2 Audi Twilight Series

2 Audi Twilight Series

1

THU

3

3

2

FRI

4

4

1

3

5 Double-handed Racing 5 6

2 Senior’s Race 3

1

4 IRC Cans Series 3 & Club Autumn 1 5

SAT

1 New Year’s Day

SUN

2

5 Double-handed Racing 4 6

MON

3

7

7

4

2

6

TUE

4

8

8

5

3

7

WED

5

9 Audi Twilight Series

9 Audi Twilight Series

6

4

8

THU

6

10

10

7

5

9

FRI

7

11

11

8

6

10

SAT

8

12

12 KPMG Race Day

9 Esprit de Corps

11 Portugal Day Bay Race

SUN

9

13 Rotary Club’s Racing

10

12

MON

10

14

13 Pick n Pay Argus Cycle Tour 14

7 IRC Cans Series 2 & Club Autumn 1 8

11

9

13

TUE

11

15

15

12

10

14

WED

12 Audi Twilight Series

16 Audi Twilight Series

16

13

11

15

THU

13

17

17

14

12

16

FRI

14

18 Mykonos Offshore

18

15

13

17

SAT

15 Cape to Rio Start 1

19 Mykonos Offshore

19 CTSW Hout Bay

14 Sanlam IP Challenge

18

SUN

16

20

20 CTSW Hout Bay

16 IRC Cans Series 1 & Club Autumn 1 17

15

19

MON

17

21

21 CTSW Hout Bay

18

16

20

TUE

18

22

22

19

17

21

WED

19 Audi Twilight Series

23

20

18

22

THU

20

23 Audi Twilight Series & Ladies Helm 24

24

21

19

23

FRI

21

25

25

20

24

SAT

22 Cape to Rio Start 2

26

26 CTSW Table Bay

SUN

23

27

27 CTSW Table Bay

21 Double-handed Racing 7 22

25 IRC Cans Series 4 & Club Autumn 1 26

MON

24

28

28

23

27

TUE

25

29

22 SAS WC Dinghy Saldanha Bay 23 SAS WC Dinghy Saldanha Bay 24 SAS WC Dinghy Saldanha Bay 25 SAS WC Dinghy Saldanha Bay 26

24

28

WED

26 Audi Twilight Series

30

27

25

29

THU

27

31

28

26

30

FRI

28

29

27

SAT

30 Double-handed Racing 6

28 Simon’s Town Dinghy

SUN

29 Double-handed Racing 3 30

MON

31

TUES

29 Simon’s Town Dinghy 30 31

This calendar is available to download from www.rcyc.com. w w w. r c y c . c o . z a

61

RCYC

APPlICATION FOR mEmbERSHIP I would like to join the Royal Cape Yacht Club.

Personal details Surname

First name

ID or passport number Nationality

Date of birth

Email address Cellphone number Home telephone number

Work telephone number

Residential address

Postal address

Membership type

Requested

Ordinary Absentee local Absentee foreign Family Junior: 16 years and older Cadet: up to 18 years Intermediate: 18 to 28 years

Annually*

Monthly debit order*

R3 320 R1 540 R1 232 R660 R660 R235 R1 635

R310 R150 R120 R65 R65 R25 R160

*The above fees will increase from early July 2010. Please see www.rcyc.co.za for revised fees.

Thank you for completing this form. Royal Cape Yacht Club will contact you for more details.

Please sign the constitution section below and have the proposer and seconder section completed.

Royal Cape Yacht Club constitution I hereby confirm that I have read, understood and agree to abide by those rules and regulations contained within the Royal Cape Yacht Club constitution and bylaws (available at www.rcyc.co.za).

Signature of candidate 62

w w w. r c y c . c o . z a

Declaration by proposer and seconder We, proposer and seconder of the above candidate, declare that he/she has been personally known to us socially for _____ years and _____ years respectively, and that in our opinion he/she is a fit and proper person to become a member of the club.

Full name of proposer Signature of proposer membership number

Date

Full name of seconder Signature of seconder membership number

Date Royal Cape Yacht Club, PO box 772, Cape Town, 8000 Tel: 021 421 1354 Fax: 021 421 6028 Email: info@rcyc.co.za | www.rcyc.co.za

SAIL RCYC FROM THE STERN

OVERBOARD

Fascinating facts on the history of the RCYC and sailing in the Cape HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

EXPENSIVE SPORT

RCYC celebrated The yacht club introduced a one-design class to the fleet to stimulate racing in 1911. The 14ft sailing dinghies were known as turning

105

Redwings

WATER SAFETY

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

and could be purchased by club members for £40 on the condition that on resale the club had first refusal.

on 7 April this year. In 1905, everyone who owned a boat in Cape Town – a grand total of nine – founded the original Table Bay Yacht Club.

1939 saw the RCYC move from a room in the Clock Tower back to the Victoria basin.

This is the same year members enlist for war.

In 1948, The Cariad was the first South African yacht to circumnavigate the world. At 103ft, she was too large to get into the RCYC basin and had to moor in the Duncan Dock. Alan Flitton, who owned and skippered her at the time, claimed a glass of fine Champagne was the best cure for seasickness.

lighthouse HOME SWEET HOME keepers The present clubhouse was opened in 1950. on the route were enlisted to notify RCYC every time they spotted a yacht. Sailors had to use lamps to report their positions to the lighthouses.

It was added to when the local yachting boom – started by the first transatlantic race from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro in 1971 – took off and changed RCYC from a small membership of around 300 to the present figure of over 1 950. The first home of RCYC, when it was still called Table Bay Yacht Club in 1905, was a waterside boatshed at the foot of Loop Street.

ROYAL STANDING

CHAMPION’S CUP

In 1914,

The Lipton Cup holds three bottles of Champagne. Traditionally the whole assemblage sips from the contents of the cup! Rick Nankin holds the record of sailing on the winning boat 11 times. Chris King is the most successful helmsman, having won seven Lipton Cups.

Commodore H Warrington Smyth successfully obtained the Royal Charter for the club, whereby King George V approved the use of the title “Royal” in the name the Royal Cape Yacht Club.

64

W W W. R C Y C . C O . Z A

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF TREVOR WILKINS WITH THANKS TO THE CAPE ODYSSEY (NO 47, VOL 5, ISSUE 2) AND COLIN FARLAM

South Africa joined the UK, US and Australia as a country that held offshore racing for ocean-going yachts when RCYC introduced a race from Simon’s Town to Mossel Bay in 1955. At the time, radios for short-range communications were not accessible for small craft so the three

FIRST ROUND THE WORLD