Sizzling sailing at Knysna Regatta
Knysna Yacht Club hosted its annual Interclub Regatta during the weekend of 7 to 9 February.
It attracted a good fleet of 57 entries – 27 boats in the fast dinghy category, 24 in the slower dinghy category and six Hobie 16s in the catamaran fleet.
The boats came from as far as Durban and Port Elizabeth, to join the local entrants from Mossel Bay, George and Knysna.
On Saturday, racing got underway in a brisk southerly wind. The incoming tide made things difficult for the sailors, who had to sail into the wind against the current of water flowing in from the Knysna Heads. Three courses were set, with the speedy Hobies doing a longer course. Four races were completed on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, in view of the low tide, the traditional long-haul race was set, in a brisk westerly wind. From the start-off at the Thesen Island jetty, there was a short beat into the westerly wind to a turning mark, then an exciting reach to the next mark set just inside the Heads. The return leg to the finish at Knysna Yacht Cub was another planing reach. Thereafter, a “round the buoys” race was set in a fading wind, resulting in several being unable to finish. A planned seventh race was not started, as the sailors were not keen to try to sail in the very light, fickle wind that remained. In the catamaran fleet, the winner once again was the indomitable Blaine Dodds, sailing with Cameron Hills. In second place were more familiar Hobie names – William and Lucinda Edwards.
In the fast dinghy fleet, the overall winner was the Redhouse Yacht Club entrants Tim and Adam Jones, who sailed a Sonnet. Second place went to David Laing and Anthony Alant on Fireball, with third place going to Sigi Bailes on a Laser Radial.
In the slower dinghy fleet, overall winner was Knysna Yacht Club’s Luca Lutolf, sailing a Tera Sport. Second place was taken by Mossel Bay’s Jowayden Jacobus and Devon Kannemeyer on an RS Feva, with George Lakes YC’s Kyle Koeries (Tera Pro) in third place.
For the interclub results, Redhouse Yacht Club was announced as the winner of the fast dinghy category, George Lakes Yacht Club won the slower dinghy category and Knysna Yacht Club was the winner of the catamaran category.
The Knysna Yacht Club catamaran sailors were at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the regatta. Mike Jacobs (KYC vice commodore) presented the trophy to Cameron Hills and Blaine Dodds, and Lucinda & William Edwards were second.
Some of the fast fleet dinghies waiting for the start of a race during the KYC Interclub Regatta.
Redhouse Yacht Club was the winning club for the senior fleet’s interclub competition.
The start of a race for the slower fleet.
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News