Whatshot

2026
2025
November
2024
June
April
2023
March
2022
2021
2020
March
February
2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2014
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2013
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2012
December
November
October
September
August
July

Vasco da Gama Tune Up Race

Vasco da Gama Tune Up Race

Date: 2014-04-11
A small fleet braved the blustery conditions on Saturday afternoon in 40knot winds as they competed in the Commodore's Cup.

The long distance race started on Saturday afternoon as a tune up race ahead of the Vasco da Gama International Yacht Race hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club.

Starting with the wind at their tails, the sailors had a pleasant run up to Ballito where they turned around a virtual mark that was set off Zimbali Coastal Estate. Two of the yachts even braved flying their spinnakers in the heavy weather as they went through the start, with the yacht Flyer spending 10minutes battling a near broach as the wind overpowered their yacht. Once they had their sail under control, they powered up the coast heading north.

After turning offshore of Ballito, the yachts then sailed into the weather heading back home, with waves pounding on their bows. The wind died down a couple of hours after the sun had set but the sea conditions were still lumpy with white horses evident everywhere.

The purpose of the race was to get some valuable night hours under their belt ahead of the Vasco da Gama. The tune up race was a 15nautical mile there-and-back race that finished between the two breakwaters at the entrance to the harbour.

The Rear Commodore, Rob Samways stated, "Hectic! What a race! Only one weather forecasting site was predicting the wind that we had. Most weather predictions were of 10 - 16 knots, but the site that got it right forecasted 25 gusting 30 knots"

Continuing, Samways said, "The sea state was lumpy and with waves of around 4m. Therapy and Flyer hoisted spinnakers out of the start with Flyer almost immediately experiencing a spectacular broach. Therapy raced away with her spinnaker up, but at just over a nautical mile out of the start also broached in the confused seas lifting the stern out and throwing her around. Zap chose not to risk flying the kite and decided to broad reach out to sea. Therapy and Flyer gave up risking spinnakers with Therapy poling out her blade downwind. Surf speeds of 13- 15 knots were achieved on the way to Tongaat. All the competitors rounded the mark off Tongaat at between 18:00 and 18:25 with a long and wet beat back home of around 4 hours ahead."

At the midnight prize giving, the Commodore, Graham Rose racing on Zap was awarded honours on corrected time with his magnificent closing-the-deal finish. The next overnight race will take place on Saturday 3 May.

For more info visit the Royal Natal Yacht Club's website https://www.rnyc.org.za or like the Facebook page Vasco da Gama 2014 Cap: A minute before the start, the yacht Flyer zig-zags as they head to the start of the Royal Natal Yacht Club's Commodore's Cup that took place on Saturday afternoon. The small fleet competed in the first overnight race leading up to the Vasco da Gama International Yacht Race. Pic by Sophie Thompson.