GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - George Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) could again host its annual regatta in its normal two-day format this year, after Covid regulations restricted it to a single day last year.
There were 36 boats competing, comprising a big contingent from Mossel Bay Sailing Club, several from Knysna Yacht Club and individual entries from Redhouse Yacht Club and Stellenbosch University Yacht Club.
GLYC acknowledges with thanks its sponsors, Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty (George) and Raubenheimers Attorneys for contributing greatly to the success of the event.
Racing commenced on Saturday in a light south-westerly breeze and three races could be completed. On Sunday, the wind had switched to the south-east and built up in strength during the day. Three more races were completed, in increasingly difficult conditions.
The fleet was divided into two fleets - the faster (27 boats) and the slower (nine boats). In the fast fleet, up front were the Finns - Knysna's David Shilton, Brett Gething and Dudley Isaac against GLYC's Georgou Divaris and Paul Thomson, with the GLYC Fireballs of David Laing / Anthony Alant and Conrad & Ferdinand Holm in the mix.
After day one, the Finns were ruling in this fleet, with David Shilton in the lead, ahead of Gorgou Divaris and Dudley Isaac. On day two, while the Finns were still ahead, some other classes started to be more competitive on class handicap in the stronger wind. MBSC's Khanye Mafuta and Oliver Holden got it together in race five to score a race win on their 29er. Then in race six, the Laser 4.7s came into the picture, with GLYC's Kyle Koeries winning, ahead of Ashley Layland and the Dabchick of Luke de Villiers in third place.
The overall winner for the fast fleet was David Shilton, ahead of Georgou Divaris and Dudley Isaac.
In the slower fleet, MBSC had five boats sailing, two from KYC and one each from GLYC and RYC. Covid restrictions have prevented the recruitment of children from schools to come into the sport, severely depleting numbers.
In this fleet, generally first to finish was the MBSC Topaz, sailed by Jowayden Jacobus, ahead of the RS Feva, sailed by Ashley Lomati and the RS Tera Pro sailed by Luca Lutolf (KYC). However, scored on class ratings, it was the Optimist of KYC's Ayden Gething that scored most of the race wins.
At the prize-giving, Jowayden Jacobus was announced the winner, but after a scoring error was pointed out and corrected, the overall win went to Ayden Gething, with Jowayden Jacobus in second place and Luca Lutolf in third place.
For the inter-club trophies, scored on the basis of the top three per club, Mossel Bay Sailing Club was the winner of the slow fleet. On the basis of the top five boats per club, George Lakes Yacht was the winner of the fast fleet trophy.
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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