SAILING NEWS - The first races for the Millenium and Toppies trophies at George Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) took place on Sunday.

In addition, this event was also the GLYC Bart's Bash race.

The Bart's Bash is a worldwide set of races, in memory of Andrew "Bart" Simpson, an Olympic sailor who lost his life in a sailing accident.

The first event in 2014 was also recognised as a world record for the largest sailing event worldwide by Guinness World Records. Yacht clubs all around the world participate and their results are all collated to produce the global set of results.

Due to an unfavourable wind on Sunday, only one of the two triangular courses could be completed. The junior fleet comprised four Optimists, while the senior fleet had 11 boats racing.

Hans Delport, on a Dart, had insufficient power in the light conditions to get up to speed and couldn't break clear of the fleet. Initial leaders were the Fireball of David Laing and Anthony Alant and the Laser of Henry Paine.

Then these two went astray, missing the new leeward mark until it was too late, allowing Evelyn Osborne to be the first finisher.

Next to finish was the Delport Dart, followed by Maurits Lammers (Laser), Matthew de Villiers (Dabchick) and Henry Paine (Laser).

In the senior fleet the race winner against class handicap was Matthew de Villiers, ahead of Evelyn Osborne and Maurits Lammers.

Kyle Koeries used his experience to get a good lead in front of the other Optimists, finishing four minutes ahead of JP Buys. Tristan Boshoff was a further three minutes astern.

Anyone interested in sailing is welcome to come to this club on a Sunday (at about 12:00) to see our boats and be taken out on the water for a short sail.

For more information about George Lakes Yacht Club, see its website, www.glyc.org.za.

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