GEORGE SAILING NEWS - George Lakes Yacht Club hosted the GP14 class national championships as part of its annual New Year Regatta at the end of December.
The GP14 class mustered ten boats, with entrants from Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as the local fleet.
A light south-westerly wind blew on the first two days, permitting four races to be completed on each day. The best wind of the regatta arrived on the last day with a moderate southeaster blowing. Three races were completed in these more challenging conditions.
With the GP14s starting first in each race, Tom Barry and Kirstie Gehrung had the initial lead in the first race before being overtaken by Anthony Parker / Dudley Isaac and Malcolm Osborne / Brent Gray. They fell back during the race with Parker taking the first race win, ahead of Osborne, with Pat Mitchell in third place. In the second race Morgan Evans had the initial lead, but he too fell back during the race. Osborne took this race win, ahead of Alan Keen and Parker.
Parker then proceeded to rack up a series of race wins, only slipping in race six when a centre board problem slowed him down. Alan Keen took that race.
With the championship nailed down by Parker / Isaac the minor placings were contested by Amber de Decker / Matthew de Villiers, Alan Keen and Pat Mitchell.
De Decker did not do so well in the fresher wind on the last day and Keen and Mitchell ended with tied points for second place. Sailing's tiebreak system gave second place to the team of Alan and Millicent Keen, with Pat and Jenny Mitchell pushed down to third place.
The Optimist of Conrad Holm dominated in the junior fleet during the New Year Regatta junior fleet, with seven first places. Kyle Koeries and Thomas Lawa got a race win apiece on the first day and Sean Vonk, on a Tera Sport, had one on the last day. Thomas Lawa was second overall with Kyle Koeries in third place.
The senior fleet was headed by the Fireball of Georgou Divaris and Ferdinand Holm. At the front of this fleet they had competition at times from Christiaan and Dietmar Holm. However, on handicap, the Holm team did not fare so well.
In the lighter wind it was the Finn of Leon Ferreira that was doing well, getting some first and second places. Then, on the last day, it was the Dabchick sailed by Max Hall that secured three second places ahead of the Holms.
Leon Ferreira sailed his Finn into second place at the George Lakes Yacht Club New Year Regatta.
Dudley Isaac (left) and Anthony Parker with the GP14 Silver Rosebowl trophy after winning the national GP14 championship in December.
Divaris / Holm were the winners of the senior fleet ahead of Leon Ferreira and the Holms.
George Lakes Yacht Club thanks its sponsors, Sothebys International Realty George and Raubenheimers Attorneys, for their support and helping to ensure the success of the event.
Seven boats were in action at the club competition last Sunday. The Dart 18 of Hans Delport was the line honours winner of both races, ahead of the Fireball sailed by David and Rory Laing. Henry Paine won race one as per class ratings. Henry wins the Bell / Langvlei trophy. Race winner of race two and the Israelson trophy was Malcolm Osborne (Laser).
For more information about George Lakes Yacht Club, see its website, www.glyc.org.za.
Spinnaker reach. The Fireball of Georgou Divaris and Ferdinand Holm (left) with Morgan Evans and Lavaughn Smit (centre) and Evelyn Osborne and Nelia Dannhauser (right). Photos: Charles Norman and Andrew de Villiers
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