SAILING NEWS - George Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) once again participated in the worldwide sailing event, the Bart's Bash, now into its fourth year.
This is held to commemorate Andrew "Bart" Simpson who lost his life while training for the Americas Cup in 2014.
The first event in 2014 was also recognised as a world record for the largest sailing event worldwide by Guinness World Records.
GLYC nominated the first race of the day as the Bart's Bash Race, but this race and the others on the day also counted in the senior fleet for the Millennium Trophy and the junior fleet for the Toppies Trophy. A total of 17 boats were sailing.
There were three Optimists in the junior fleet. Conrad Holm was able to take the lead in the first race, ahead of Kyle Koeries, with Tristan Boshoff just behind. In the second race, it was Koeries taking the race win, just ahead of Holm and Boshoff.
In race one, for the senior fleet, David and Mandy Laing with their Fireball were able to establish a lead, with the Laser of James Hellstrom in close pursuit. In the light conditions the Lasers had the advantage, with Hellstrom eventually the race winner. Malcolm Osborne (Laser) and Robyn Hellstrom (Laser Radial) were contending for third place on the water, before the former was able to pull ahead, but not enough to beat the Radial's handicap advantage.
For the race, James Hellstrom took the race win, with Robyn Helllstrom in second place and Osborne third.
The Fireball of Georgou Divaris and Ferdinand Holm joined race two. They were able to take the initial lead, getting around the course in slightly better wind.
The Laing Fireball found some wind holes and was passed by James Hellstrom, who was able to stay close enough to the leading Fireball to once again take the race win.
Divaris and Holm were second on handicap. Third place went to the Sonnet of Dave Jones, who was able to maintain good boat speed in the light conditions.
With the wind fading to nothing, a planned third race could not be held and the fleet drifted back to the club shore.
For more information about George Lakes Yacht Club, see its website, www.glyc.org.za, or like its Facebook page, GLYC.
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