Royal Natal Yacht Club Opening Cruise DBN Harbour 16Sept.

Durban sailors dusted off their gear eagerly ahead of the 2012/2013 summer sailing season, taking part in the joint Opening Cruise hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club in glorious spring weather in the Durban Harbour yesterday (Sunday).

The Commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Richard Crockett was joined by Point Yacht Clubs’ Commodore, Trevor Donald; they stood alongside fellow dignitaries, the Speaker of the eThekwini Municipality, Logie Naidoo and the NSRI Station Commander, Clifford Ireland all standing to attention taking the salute.

In admiration of their recent victory at the 2012 Lipton Challenge Cup the Curry Cup of sailing, heroes in the Durban sailing community, skipper Ricky Robinson, and his crew Brennan Robinson, Jof Heathcote, Sean Van Rensburg, William Crockett and team manager Gregg Dobson were guests of honour during the opening ceremony. The young team dethroned False Bay Yacht Club’s Andre Giovanni and returned the cup to warmer waters after it was last here in 1984 and last won by the Royal Natal Yacht Club 39 years ago.

An array of yachts all participated in the traditional sail past; the procession was led by the Honorary Commodore, Willy Vandeverre on the yacht Kimaya, beautifully dressed for the occasion. The flotilla followed in a single line with the NSRI, club safety vessels and the recently elected Rear Commodores from adjoining clubs concluding the ceremonies.

In passing, the 45 yachts greeted the VIPs on board the main yacht with three cheers raising their hats, the salutation was heartily returned.

28 boats remained after the formalities to stretch their legs in a social race where the yachts competed in a light easterly chasing around a triangular course set in the harbour. The race was started on mass and was led from the start by Nigel Miln on Skitzo.

The Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Honorary Commodore, Willy Vandeverre and crew on Kimaya salutes the Commodores from adjoining yacht clubs, Richard Crockett from RNYC and Trevor Donald from PYC in the 2012/2012 summer sailing season’s Opening Cruise ceremony held in the Durban Harbour yesterday (Sunday).

Positions across the line

1 Skitzo (Nigel Miln), 2 Choose Life High Performance Sailing Incognito (Byron Watt), 3 Ladybird (Andrew Dolloway), 4 Bellatrix (Gregg Hurter), 5 Flying Spaghetti Monster (Mike Pammenter), 6 Bandit (Sean Jones), 7 Prodigy (Chris Frost), 8 Choose Life High Performance Sailing Element (Jay De Engel), 9 Stoked (Struan Campbell), 10 Therapy (Gavin Wadsworth)

For anyone who would like to get involved in sailing, contact Gayle on 031 301 5425 to book a spot on a yacht in the upcoming Garmin Wednesday Twilight Sailing.

Photos by Sophie Thompson

Slicing through the water, Ladybird gets a bit of airtime as she dashes up to the finish line in the Opening Cruise hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club in the Durban Harbour yesterday (Sunday).

The Bluff crew sailing on Liquid Blue competed in the Opening Cruise hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club in the Durban Harbour on Sunday.

Umhlanga’s Chris Frost takes the inside line rounding the weather mark sailing on his yacht Prodigy in the Opening Cruise hosted by Royal Natal Yacht Club in the Durban Harbour on Sunday.

Leading the Opening Cruise hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Nigel Miln sailing on Skitzo rounds the weather mark in the Durban Harbour yesterday (Sunday).

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