Three Days of Spirited Racing, Along with Plenty of Great Entertainment at the False Bay Yacht Club, and Another Successful Intasure Spring Regatta Was in the Bag

THE SPRING FLING Three days of spirited racing, along with plenty of great entertainment at the False Bay Yacht Club, and another successful Intasure Spring Regatta was in the bag. By Anthony Wentworth

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he False Bay Yacht Club’s Intasure protective of the Blue Flag status of our Spring Regatta 2018 was held over marina, and this initiative is a natural T three days, from 22 to 24 September, progression to preserve the environment we and incorporated the SAS Miura National enjoy. Running a clean regatta has no real Championships. The regatta was once again cost implications; it’s just a shift in mindset. sponsored by Intasure, together with Buco, We intend eliminating single-use plastic Cape Medical Response and DHL. There waste in any form, from straws and water were 50 entries from False Bay, Royal Cape, bottles to food packaging. To this end, Hout Bay, Zeekoevlei, Defence and Gordon’s competitors were provided with reusable Bay yacht clubs, split into Cruising and water bottles and filtered water was Racing Divisions. Cruising Division sailed available for refill purposes. In addition, one coastal race per day and Racing Division clearly marked recycle bins were placed sailed a combination of windward/leeward around the club. round-the-buoys races and longer coastal races. SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER The regatta became more about just the Saturday’s racing was scheduled to start at sailing. Following in the footsteps of many 11am and, under the able guidance of race yacht clubs abroad, False Bay Yacht Club officer ‘Spilly’ Spilhaus, the Cruising (FBYC) joined the race to restore ocean Division went off on time in an excellent health by implementing their Sailors for the moderate southeasterly breeze to sail a Sea Clean Regattas programme, which was course with a long beat from the start/finish rolled out at the Intasure Spring Regatta. off Glencairn to a buoy off Miller’s Point, The initiative is a first for South African then around Whittle Rock buoy in the yacht clubs and aims to completely abolish middle of False Bay, downwind to a buoy in the use of single-use plastics and to Fish Hoek bay, another beat around Castor encourage recycling during the regatta. Buoy near Roman Rock Lighthouse and As commodore and spokesperson for downwind to the finish. FBYC, we have been very proud and Racing Division boats first sailed one windward/leeward race, after which they also sailed a longer coastal race, with Divisions 1 and 2 sailing the same course as the Cruising Division, while Division 3 and the Miuras sailed a slightly shorter course, leaving out Whittle Rock. Maker’s Mark, the FBYC Beneteau First 40 sailing in the Cruising Division, unfortunately struck a rock and had to be hurriedly lifted out of the water after starting

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the long spinnaker reach from Miller’s Point The various divisions were dual-scored to the buoy off Seal Island. (Hopefully the on both the ORC and TCF handicap systems whole fleet will make Spring Regatta part of and the scoring was tight at the top. Overall their racing circuit next year, as the sailing winners were as follows: to take on water through a broken skin conditions in False Bay are perfect for this • Cruising Division TCF: Six Pack – Chris fitting. The Beneteau 7.5 Always Well, sailed exciting new class.) Jones, RCYC by the Royal Cape Yacht Club Academy team, It was a truly glorious day’s racing and • Racing Division 1 TCF: Windpower – Phil was flooded due to a keel trunk cover coming the tired sailors came ashore to a festive Gutsche/Rick Nankin, RCYC adrift. Skipper Sibu Sizatu ensured boat and scene on the lawns of FBYC, with DJ • Racing Division 2 TCF: Avatar – Ant crew made it ashore safely. Beaumont playing into the early hours of Wentworth/Allan Lawrence, FBYC Mishaps aside, the day saw tight and Sunday morning. • Racing Division 3 TCF: DHL Blue Tango 2 competitive racing across the fleet, followed – Ewert Groenewald, FBYC by the Van der Mentals blues band featuring MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER • Miura Nationals TCF: Far Med – Vitor Grant Clack playing in the evening, With lighter winds forecast for Heritage Medina, RCYC accompanied by plenty of refreshments. Day, the Racing Division boats sailed three • Cruising Division ORC: Six Pack – Chris windward/leeward races, which worked out Jones, RCYC SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER perfectly with the breeze gradually fading • Racing Division A ORC: Hollard Jacana With the start an hour earlier and the away in the final race of the day. Scratch – Patrick Holloway, RCYC forecast similar to day one, the scene was set boat Nitro, with her powered winches, had • Racing Division B ORC: for a full day’s racing with the Racing been forced to retire from the regatta with CuAl6PO44OH8.4H20 – Lance Burger, Division sailing two windward/leeward engine failure, which was a great pity as it ZVYC races and a coastal race. The two Cape 31s resulted in her subsequent withdrawal from • Racing Division C ORC: DHL Blue Tango 2 Ski and Turquoise were in their element on the Mossel Bay Race as well. – Ewert Groenewald, FBYC • Miura Nationals ORC: Far Med – Vitor Medina, RCYC The prize-giving was held under the stretch tents at the newly brick-paved area in front of the clubhouse and was very well attended, with sailors, families and friends having sampled the hospitality, perfect weather and fantastic sailing conditions of Spring Regatta at FBYC. For the full results, visit fbycspringre-

gatta.co.za/category/results-2018/ Nic Bothma PHOTOGRAPHY:

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