Reports
:: 505 Nationals, ZLYC, Richards Bay, 16-19 June 2011 :: (295 Reads)
Posted by
warwick
on Saturday, June 25, 2011 - 12:45 PM
Race Report
Day 1 – 3 Races, Wind SE 15-29 knots, Swell 3.5-4m.
The wind was predicted to howl on the first day, and the prediction was not far wrong. Those who were lucky enough to sail at ZLYC forgot their distractions the moment we sailed out of the protection of the harbour breakwater, into the swells and coastal breeze of Richards Bay. The swell was really big, especially for those not used to sailing in the open Indian Ocean, and near the leeward end of the course, there was a secondary reflected swell off the breakwater to contend with. In the wave trough boats were underpowered, crews in, off the wire, at the top of the wave, mostly overpowered, crew and skipper flat out, dumping to stay level. Racing got off to a brisk start, with the previous Champions, Thomas & Peter Funke wasted no time and stamped their authority on the regatta with their first win, from Albrecht and Dietmar Holm, with Kyle Klaas and Robert von Gruenewaldt in third. Alexander and Warwick were unlucky to have a brand new sidestay pull out of the crimped end just before the first race, forcing them to return to the shore for repairs, missing the first race. The wind built during the afternoon and racing was tight throughout the fleet with positions changing regularly. Thomas & Peter, were constantly being challenged by Alexander & Warwick as well as Kyle Klaas and Robert von Gruenewaldt. Further down the fleet, it was great to see Bronwen Klaas sailing again with Kobus Holtzhausen and they were constantly in a battle with Albrecht and Dietmar Holm as well as Gregg Hurter and Ian Hogg sailing in Gregg’s new boat “Graue Maus” (Grey Mouse). Between these groups Hans Rogotzki and Alan Haylett initially showed their skill and caught up with the leading group as the conditions got heavier. The Durban pairing of Jeremy Kriek and Patrick Harris who were sailing in the second Waterrat boat were just ahead of the flying Capetonian, Grant Ballantyne with his crew Jacques, in his beautifully maintained boat “Aquarius”, a boat in which he has been sailing regularly for the last 40 years. The 505 class want to express their thanks to Grant for making the long trip up from the Cape. Dirk van der Fecht and Gavin Breckle in their FD were so eager to sail offshore again that they had arranged to sail with the 505’s agreeing to keep out of the way if any epic battles ensued, and were seen around the middle of the pack enjoying the building conditions. The Funke brothers dominated the second race with the Hams in second and Kyle/Robert in third. Just after the third race had started in a comfortable 15-20 knots the breeze kicked in and the racing started to get exciting. Crews were rapidly trying to depower as the breeze got stronger. The Funkes were leading comfortably with the Hams in second place closely followed by Kyle/Robert and Hans/Alan. Then Kyle and Robert had difficulty with a gybe and capsized letting Hans/Alan through to seriously challenge the Hams who were battling to depower enough to keep the boat flat. Several capsizes throughout the fleet saw a number of boats return to the harbour including Hans and Alan who capitalised on conditions which suited them, but then broke a rudder and had to retire. Unfortunately gear failure also caused a broken mast on the second Waterrat of Jeremy and Patrick, who were luckily found at the edge of the shipping channel by the rescue boat just in time to avoid a ship entering the harbour. This raises the question that we should all in future think of carrying some sort of signalling device when sailing in these conditions, in case of the loss of a mast which in this instance made the boat all but invisible against the large swells, spray and reflected sunlight.
Day 2 – 4 Races, Wind SW 4-7 knots then NE 5-10 knots, Swell 4-5m.
Much lighter winds and large swell from the day before were going to prove challenging, how challenging we would only find out later!
We got in one early race with the wind strength steadily declining. Kyle and Robert dominated this one being the light wind specialists and ran away with the race win, just reading the conditions well and working every ounce of power out of the dying wind. The second race was started with the hope of completing it before the wind died out completely and with Alexander and Warwick in a slender lead at the top mark, Rob Samways our race officer decided that his flags were hanging and the race could not continue.
The fleet bobbed around for what seemed like hours in the large swells but with nothing to fill the sails every passing swell flapped the sails back and forth creating a racket which would drive even the most sane person crazy. Heaving stomachs soon added to the discomfort and one by one boats retired to the harbour to find some steady ground to rest on. There were only about 5 boats remaining, looking somewhat unsteady on their legs, when the wind eventually turned to NE and started increasing in pressure enough to quieten the flapping sails. From here things seemed to get worse for some and better for others. The wind strength increased making the conditions just bearable from the seasickness point of view and the Funke brothers continued to dominate the 2nd and third races of the day with Alexander and Warwick suffering a torn spinnaker, rendering them unable to defend their 2nd place from Kyle/Robert with Hans & Alan constantly challenging for third.
Then gradually those on shore made their way out to the racing area again accompanied by Dirk van der Fecht and Gavin Breckle now sailing on the pink 505 “Impulse” borrowed from Luke Wagner for the day, and we had 10 boats on the water. The third race was similar with the wind building steadily and the fleet coming alive to the increasingly favourable conditions. In the third race Hans & Alan were able to chalk up their 3rd placing behind the Funkes and Kyle/Robert, with this the only race so far with 10 finishers. The Hams, who had torn the top of their new spinnaker during the 2nd race of the day, and torn it completely during the third race received their replacement spinnaker from a friendly rescue duck during the break between races and the 4th race of the day was started with the wind strength around 15 knots, ideal conditions for the 505, with a surfable swell adding to the enjoyment factor on the downwind legs. Alex and Warwick won a hard fought victory from Thomas and Peter Funke with Kyle and Robert solidly in 3rd. Albrecht and Dietmar Holm were narrowly ahead of Gregg Hurter /Ian Hogg after a tense battle which saw them both get the better of Bronwen and Kobus. Unfortunately several capsizes took boats out of the competition with Hans/Alan, as well as Patrick/Jeremy returning to harbour without completing the course and Dirk/Gavin having to return to the harbour after battling to handling the somewhat lighter and more lively 505 than their rock solid FD, in the building conditions. Better luck next time boys!
Day 3 – 3 Races, Wind NE to NW 6-12 knots, Swell 2.5-2.5m.
Coming into the last day the Funke brothers were in a commanding 8 point lead with second placed Kyle & Robert on 14 only separated from the third placed Hams by one point. The conditions were predicted to be between 7 and 10 knots from the NW and the fleet launched punctually to get as many races offshore as possible before the agreed 12h00 cut off time. It is a pity that there is nearly always a debate about bringing the cut off time, specified in the NOR and SI, forward to allow more travelling time. After most of the fleet travelled all this way down to the coast to get in some offshore sailing, the reduction in cut off time from 14h30 to 12h00 is hardly significant given the 8 hour journey time back to Gauteng, or the 17 hour journey back to Cape Town.
Three extremely hard fought races were held in variable wind conditions and much reduced swell than the previous two days and these turned out to be the best sailing conditions of the whole weekend. The guys who stayed on shore missed out on some good sailing. The first race was started with the boats leaping off the start line and the Ham family team electing to split from the fleet which went left, and go up the right side of the course. This seemed to pay, with them enjoying a slender lead on the downwind leg before battling it out with the Funkes and Holms up the second beat. The first reach was very broad with the second being much tighter but not unmanageable in the lighter conditions. The race officer shortened course as the wind was steadily swinging around to the NW and the Hams claimed their second victory from the Funke brothers and Bronwen/Kobus with Albrecht/Dietmar just pipping Kyle /Robert at the finish in 5th. Ti de Jong took the helm with Hans Rogotzki on the wire and finished in 7th, after Alan complained of a back injury. We hope you recover and are back soon Alan.
The second race saw the wind drop off to the point where almost everyone was sitting inside the boat with the occasional stretch on the trapeze when a gust hit at the top of a swell. Hans was sailing with a young replacement crew Ti de Jager, who in the second race was making his way up through the fleet as he got to know the feel of the boat. The constant wind shifts meant that almost everyone called the laylines wrong and places changed regularly at the top mark followed by widely varying strategies on the downwind legs to further jumble the positions at the leeward mark. Getting into the rhythm of the swells was critical to making the most out of these marginal conditions, where boat handling as well as boat speed were tested to the utmost. In the end the Alex & Warwick were able to stay just out of reach of the chasing Funke brothers and take another first. Further down the fleet the Holms had not seen or heard the shorten course signals and were sailing on past the finish boat oblivious, before they realised their mistake and reached off down to the finish to pip Gregg Hurter/Ian Hogg finishing just ahead of Kyle/Robert in 5th place with Hans/Ti in 6th followed by Bronwen Klaas/Kobus Holtzhausen in 7th.
With the cut off time approaching the final race of the regatta was started and three boats were neck and neck beside each other on the beat, Kyle and Robert seemed to have superior speed off the line with the Funkes and Hams able to climb higher. Each lap brought the competitors together at the mark roundings and positions changed regularly with tactical sailing the order of the day, both on the upwind and downwind legs. Alexander and Warwick made it a hat trick for the day with three bullets but this was not enough to prevent the Funke brothers, Thomas and Peter from claiming another national title, a deserved one for their excellent teamwork and preparation for the event. They are worthy National 505 Champions for 2011.
The event was only made possible by the generous sponsorships from the following:
Dave at BP Randhart – Petrol for the bridge and rescue boats,
Rob at Supa Sails – Sponsored jib for the lucky draw ( Won by Robert von Gruenewaldt)
Seaport Supply – Sponsored prizes (Several Main, Jib and Spinnaker Sheets and multiple pairs of gloves) Won by deserving members of the fleet.
Alan from Canon – Digital SX 20 Camera for the 505 raffle (Won by Alex Ham)
As well as the help of Len Heard/Rob Samways, Bridge and rescue crews, SAS duck crew, Helpers on shore including Nadia who handled all entries and raffle, Dorette for the golf shirts, towels and jackets as well as Enid for the photos and Lothar for help on the bridge. Without all of your efforts this event would not have been possible. This was a GREAT Nationals. The 505 class say THANK YOU!
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