Southwesterly favours the sailors

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - With a flat calm on Sunday morning, conditions for racing for the sailors of George Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) did not look too promising, however, the forecast was for a good wind in the afternoon, so the fleet proceeded to rig in anticipation.

Fortunately, this time the forecast proved to be accurate. The first race was started in a light southwesterly, but this breeze picked up during the race.

As is usual with this direction, it produces gusts and lulls.

Conditions were good for the sailing, thus all three scheduled races could be completed. There were 10 boats in the senior fleet and six Optimists in the junior fleet.

Hans Delport was sailing his new Dart 18 for the first time and was able to get ahead of the fleet in all three races.

Similarly, the Fireball of David Laing and Jacques Swart was ahead of the Lasers, but could not get far enough ahead to feature on handicap-corrected times.

The Lasers were headed by Henry Paine, who mastered the conditions to win all three races in this fleet.

Consistently in second place was Charles Norman, but he was closely pursued by the Dabchick of Matthew de Villiers.

In the Optimists, Sean Vonk was the winner of all three races, but he had strong competition from Conrad Holm, except in race two, when Conrad had a capsize, allowing Kyle America and Thomas Lawa to get through.

Jordyn Soldyn on the beat on her Dabchick.

There is no racing at GLYC this coming weekend, to allow our sailors to compete at the Mossel Bay interclub regatta. The 1st Knysna Sea Scouts will, however, be at the club over the weekend for their annual sailing camp.

* More info: www.glyc.org.za / Facebook/GLYC