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 :: 505 BP Trophy 2011/12 :: (171 Reads)

Posted by Thomas on Thursday, September 29, 2011 - 07:12 PM

Former 505 champion, Ewald Sternagel made his long awaited return to the 505 class. He did however describe the experience it as being similar to walking on an iced lake or a bar of soap. This just proves the challenge that comes along with 505 sailing and the skill required to become a competitive team. The 2011/12 BP trophy got under way on 24 September 2011. Aeolians kindly agreed to host the event and together with the Dabchick fleet, there was a lot of sailing activity on the water. The wind forecast for Saturday was good as one of the winter’s last cold fronts, made its way over the country. The racing, under the strict governance of Brian Sutherland, got off to a prompt start with a good breeze blowing out of the East. 2 races were completed before lunch and the race for first place, in both contests, was between long time rivals, Kyle Klaas/Robert von Gruenewaldt and Thomas/Peter Funke. The Funke brothers managed to pull off 2 first places with Klaas and von Gruenewaldt not far behind in second. The Durban entry of Luke Wagner and Jean Marc, showed a significant improvement from their last visit to the Highveld, while the experience of Albrecht and Dietmar Holm can never be discounted. The wind continued and after lunch the switches proved extremely challenging for all teams. Team Holm, showed their speed and accuracy in these conditions and excelled by leading the fleet on a couple of occasions. They could not hold on to their lead and finished second in both races, closely behind Klaas/von Gruenewaldt. Unfortunately team Holm was OCS in race 4, which meant that team Ham moved from third to second in that race. The Funkes were third which meant that at the end of day one, Klaas/von Gruenewaldt led the series, with the Funkes 2 points behind in second and team Holm in third. The forecast for Sunday was very little to no wind, which meant that another race would have to be completed to secure the use of the discard.

Sunday dawned with a slight breeze and an early start by the race officer meant that he would try to use the early breeze to get the racing done. Only one race could be completed on Sunday in drifter conditions, which meant that the discard was going to decide the event. The race started off in relatively good breeze and the entire fleet rounded the top mark in close proximity. Light wind specialists, Klaas/von Gruenewaldt managed to round the bottom mark first followed closely by the Funkes, Holms and Wagner/Marc. On the second beat the fleet split tactics. The Funkes decided to opt for the left hand side of the course, while Klaas/von Gruenewaldt and Wagner/Marc kept right. The wind died away completely before a new gust approached and with their luck, it filled in from the right and favoured the Funkes, who rounded the triangle in first. Klaas/von Gruenewaldt managed to round second followed by Wagner/Marc in third. The race officer decided that it was better to get a race in and shortened the course at the end of the triangle as it became clear that a steady breeze would be wishful thinking. As the top end of the fleet approached the finish, the latter half started catching up and it was not before long that a titanic battle emerged. Sternagel and crew came from behind to overtake team Holtzhausen and Holm and finish fourth, a well deserved finish.
Final results were as follows:
1. Thomas/Peter Funke
2. Kyle Klaas/Robert von Gruenewaldt
3. Luke Wagner/Jean Marc

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