Some timeous and thought provoking words from a brave man, Dave Claxton, not afraid to question and propose a new way of thinking:

At the outset let it be known that this is not about 'sour grapes'. This is about sailing.

I have been watching quietly from the sidelines for some time, hesitant to speak out for all the wrong reasons, but now, as I see things how the cards are falling, I figure its time for someone to say something.

The bottom line. After years of successful races, and a very successful 2008 event which rode on the coat tails of RNYC's 150th anniversary, the 2009 Vasco is in danger of regressing. The publication of the Notice of Race (with errors) only 6 short weeks before the start of the race, and the all too late distribution of associated documentation is appalling. It is appalling for so many reasons:

* The race has to compete on its own strengths against other Southern African ocean races. As a result of poor marketing, the event has lost a lot of the positive impetus the 2008 race afforded the current organizers.

* All sailing events compete for sailors 'leave days'. Boat owners can afford time off from work, employees can't, and this applies to 90% of the crew involved in such a race. They have to make choices, and plan their sailing calendars well in advance. Events which receive early good, solid marketing and 'hype' and show signs of excellent planning will always get the nod ahead of the rest. The Western Cape have upped their game considerably in the past 2 years and still the KZN sailors live in this cuckoo land where they believe their own events will attract out of towners simply by staging them.

* Recently, again especially in the Western Cape, boat owners and clubs have become far more proactive insofar as trying to source meaningful sponsors. The responsibility of looking after a sponsor is immense and hard work. A sponsor looks for meaningful exposure - meaningful means more than having their name on a decal on the side of a boat. Meaningful means more than exposure to just the competitors in an event. It means newspaper, TV and magazine coverage, where the sponsors name is used, again and again. Free tickets to the prize giving just don't cut it. Especially today. The Owner of a boat which has managed to secure sponsorship has a responsibility to enter races which will serve the interests of the sponsor.

* The cost of moving a boat around the country to compete in various events is undeniably high. The cost of participating in the Vasco is considerable. For the very competitive boats, which are by the way the boats you want there, the possibility of blowing out a couple of spinnakers in the race is exceptionally high. Two Spinnakers on a 35 to 45ft yacht will set an owner back many tens of thousands of rands. The owner of such a boat takes his sailing very, very seriously, and will only risk his sailing budget on an event which promises an excellent field of entry, and excellent organization. Any sign of there being a poor quality fleet or poor organization and this owner makes the obvious choice - to sail in another event.

* The failure of the 2009 organizing committee to use the positive momentum generated by the 2008 event, is perhaps its biggest downfall. Last year many visiting crew went home and spread the good word about the Vasco da Gama and there was an expectation of great things to come in 2009 as a natural follow-on.

* The financial downturn will have a detrimental effect on sailing. Less travelling to regattas and races in other regions will be just one of the effects. If the sailing community found difficulty in securing sponsorships in the past - stand by because it's going to get a whole lot tougher.

It seems, as an outsider, that PYC has concentrated on its flagship regatta, the MSC Regatta, at the expense of the Vasco. The stop-start nature of this Vasco, for example the information first distributed by the initial organizing committee, which was thankfully re-distributed recently after a make-over, and the seeming hurried changes and additions in manpower to the 'organizing committee', does it no favours. It brings me to my next statement, which is that Yacht Clubs are generally incapable of taking on too many events in one season. I appreciate how difficult it is for the vast majority of yacht clubs to grow their membership, host smashing regattas, develop the sport along all fronts, and survive economically. What tends to happen is that a small core of willing members get hammered event after event acting as volunteers for the betterment of their club. And there's nothing wrong with that except that it happens all too often, resulting in this people becoming fed up with it, and frankly exhausted. It's not the fault of the clubs, it's simply the way things are - and it's so wrong. If had R5 for every time I heard someone on a club committee say to me ' but that's how it's been done for years', I would be able to sponsor my own race. Yes, it WAS done like that in the good old days, days when the fleets were 10 times the size they are today, and when the club membership was far more involved, more dynamic, and there was a larger percentage of willing bodies to call on for duties. Times have changed. Fewer members, fewer active members, fewer resources mean that Clubs have to start thinking out of the box.

Cycling, Golf, Canoeing, Running, Flying and motor-racing are some sports who have embraced this outlook. Their members participate in their own events rather than organize them, whilst their clubs still retain ownership of the event. Why can't sailing be like this? I venture to suggest that the reason is a four letter word. EGOS. Harsh words but I think they are true enough.

If we look at a club like PYC, simply because they are hosting the Vasco da Gama race for the next 3 years, I reckon they are ideally placed to embrace a new vision. They have an immense amount of expertise and goodwill within their membership. It's not as fresh as it was 10 or 15 years ago, but it is there. Out of all the big clubs in South Africa, it is PYC which has strength in its women. I have noticed over the years that when the PYC wives get involved, things move along very nicely. If the PYC could look at itself and make the decision to admit its weaknesses and its strengths, and change structures accordingly, it could be a powerhouse in the sport. Guys and Girls of PYC, you have the means to contract professional event organizers, give them a brief, and oversee them organizing successful events in your name, and bringing Sponsors to the events to boot! Happy Sailors, Happy Club.

The situation the Vasco is facing today is the exact reason why the Sailing KZN Executive committee, in 2006/7 took the decision to offer the Vasco to the club which tendered the best Bid in terms of the pure interests of the event and sailing. We all know where that ended up, and its best treated as water under the bridge, but I cant help but think that the Vasco would be so much better off today had it been allowed to go through. Whilst this is never going to happen, I do believe that the next logical step is for it and some other key events, to be handed over to a professional organizing entity. There are people in South Africa with the skills to see this succeed to the benefit of the 'hosting Clubs', and the sport in general.

I bear the current Vasco organizing committee no malice. I sincerely hope for their sake and the Sponsors and partner Club in Maputo, but more for the event itself , that 2009 is a hugely successful event. If I have left anyone feeling as though I have attacked them personally - you would be wrong. I am attacking the system. It needs an overhaul.

And please, don't look to SAS to come and tell you how, they too suffer the exact same structure faults as the clubs do.

Come on you sailors, its time we look forward and became proactive in our Sport.

For what its worth,

Dave Claxton

The oil spill in the harbour and tank farm woes has been getting quite a lot of coverage in the press and online lately.

A number of these articles have been collated on the MyPE web site.

From MyPE:

The Oil Tank Farm within the harbour has always been lurking under the radar but I cannot stand idly by anymore and watch the degradation of the harbour area and decimation of assets worth millions of rands. Over the past few years the state of the harbour and lack of environmental concern has slowly pushed many of the businesses and clubs into a downward spiral. Face facts; "Would you spend good money on a recreational craft, only to be forced to have it cleaned a minimum of three times per week and watch whilst a surface water borne grinding paste of oil and manganese ore destroys your craft?"

The full article: Spend Millions, Watch it get Covered in Oil and Grime

The Class Results for ABYC Week 2009:

1. Class 1 (51 Kilobytes PDF)
2. Class 2 (38 Kilobytes PDF)
3. Class 3 (52 kilobytes PDF)
4. Pacer 27 (45 kilobytes PDF)

Related: ABYC Week 2009 Report

The Algoa Bay Yacht Club held it's annual premium regatta over the long weekend of 30 April to 3 May 2009. At the same time the Pacer 27 class held it's Eastern Cape Provincial Regatta.

Four classes were entered; Pacer 27 (one design), Class 1 (for boats over 0.9 handicap using a spinnaker), Class 2 (for boats below 0.9 handicap using a spinnaker) and Class 3 (No Spinnaker). Race officer, Brian Reynolds looked to have his hands full with four seperate starts and finishes and three courses.

Start Line of Class 1 - ABYC Week 2009 With a total of 27 entries, down on the 42 of last year, the decision was made to combine the starts of Class 2, Class 1, and the Pacer Class - a total of nine yachts. Class 3 with 18 entrants sailed longer courses on Day one with a seperate finish line.

Four Pacer 27's travelled down to Port Elizabeth; from Dennysville Aquatic Club - Music (Rob De Vlieg and Guy Nottingham), Unruly (Nike Wilson and Iain Gibson), From False Bay Yacht Club - Felix the Cat (Anthony Wentworth) and from East London sailing under the ABYC Flag - Unmatched (Graham Wentworth).

In Class 3, Frans Loots sailed in from Cape St Francis on his trimaran, Banjo.

In the combined Class 1 fleet entrants were sailing for Line Honours, PHRF* and Class Honours for the Pacer 27's. Class 3 sailed for Line Honours and first on PHRF.

Algoa Bay always dishes up mild to moderate with a touch of wild wind for Algoa Bay Week and this year was no exception.

On Thursday 30 April the fleet waited until 11:30 a.m. for the west wind to kick up to a pleasant 12 knots. Class 1 sailed two races of 70 minutes each with the wind kicking to the South. The Class 3 race was a debacle with portions of the fleet missing the Offset Shark Rock Pier Bouy and other racers 'arguing' with shipping close to the Channel Marker. Many retirements and the potential for 9 protests against other class members and the bridge alike led to a gentleman's agreement to wipe the slate clean and scrap the first race for Class 3.

The PHRF results in Class 1 for Race 1: Felix the Cat (Anthony Wentworth), KMG Met (Justin Onvlee), Unruly (Mike Wilson / Ian Gibson)

The PHRF results in Class 1 for Race 2: KMG Met (Justin Onvlee), Felix the Cat (Anthony Wentworth), Challenger (Jim Foot).

Class 2 consisted of only one boat, Duette (Sean Wiseman) which sailed extremely well against it's 'competition' and was a dead certainty for Line, Class and PHRF Honours.

Class 3 ABYC Week Friday's wind prediction was once again spot on with the first race starting at 10:51 a.m. in a westerly of 14 knots. The course for the day was a triangle which certainly favoured the Pacer 27 class who took first place on handicap in two of the three races sailed. Class 3 sailed the same course. The second reach was a bit tight and made for interesting sailing as the yachts sailed past and amongst the Chokka Fleet that had anchored in the bay.

The youngest helmsman in the fleet, Jesse Martin (11) sailing on Le Chevalier (Ronnie Baer) opened the day's scoring with a first place in Class 3. Jesse has been sailing for 12 months and his normal ride is an Optimist Sailing Dinghy.

In the second race for Class 3 Banjo (Frans Loots) managed a first place over the line and on handicap followed by Seralon and Le Chevalier.

In Class II Duette continued their assault on the bullets unchecked.

At the end of Friday's sailing Principal Race Officer, Brian Reynolds, had five races in the bag for Class I, II and the Pacers and three in the bag for Class III.

The fleet returned home to legendary hospitality and subsidised meals from the Chartroom. Holding the flag high and hosting daily 'fines' meetings were the hard working Duette sailing and shore crews. Amazing how quickly a couple of quarts can disappear within a half an hour!

Saturday once again dished up a westerly which started at 14 knots and increased steadily to 25 at times. ABYC Commodore Ian Littlejohn was the new mark layer ably assisted by Chad Jackson (or was it the other way around) and, in deference to their age Brian Reynolds again set a windward leeward course.

With significantly more wind it was interesting to see the coastal based Pacer 27's begin dominating the day's racing in the last two races of the three races sailed.

The starts for these races were far more competitive with Duette sprouting more confidence and jousting for a front row start with the Pacers and Class I boats. KMG Met were OCS (on Course Side) in Race 7 and redeemed themselves with two firsts on handicap in the subsequent two races.

Class 3 once again sailed the same course and the day was given over to the bigger boats with Take Six (Doug Stannard) scoring two firsts on Handicap.

Sunday was as predicted - warm, swirly cats paws of breeze and not a chance of sailing. The committee boat, kindly loaned to ABYC by the SAPS Water Wing, motored out to look for wind and eventually decided to can the days racing at 12:30 p.m.

Prizes were awarded for Line Honours in Each Class, PHRF in Class 1, 2 and 3, Pacer 27 Line Honours and the winners were:

• Class 1 PHRF: KMG Met (Justin Onvlee, Andrew Ward, Rob Pressley, Sakhumzi Tyutyu, Steve Arnold, Sarah Arnold)
• Class 1 Line Honours: Felix the Cat (Anthony Wentworth, Allan Lawrence, Daniel Lawrence, Mathew Wentworth, Jenny Paarman, Sean Leslie, William Edwards)
• Class 2 Line Honours and PHRF: Duette (Sean Wiseman, Dion Milson, Alan Straton)
• Class 3 PHRF: Take Six (Doug Stannard, PJ Murray, Keith Barnes, Matt Gill)
• Class 3 Line Honours: Banjo (Frans, Jamie, Tanya and Francis Loots)
• Pacer 27 East Cape Champion: Felix the Cat (Anthony Wentworth)

My personal highlight: Actually getting to sail with a great bunch of guys on Duette and helping them achieve certain personal stated goals.

My personal lowlight: Watching helplessly as a Class 3 boat with literally hundreds of square kilometres of ocean around it, bore down on the SAPS's Fish Eagle and proceeded to crunch into the side. When last I checked the only time that one is in "Irons" is when you are trying to beat and not on a reach!

ABYC Regatta Highlight: Seeing how a few sponsors can make a great regatta - thank you one and all for the money time and committment to ABYC Week 2009.

* PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a handicapping system used in yacht racing. It allows dissimilar classes of yacht to be raced against each other. The aim is to cancel out the inherent advantages and disadvantages of each class of boats, so that results reflect crew skill rather than equipment superiority.

PHRF is used mainly for larger sailboats of 7 meters and above.

The handicap number assigned to a class of yachts is based on the yacht's speed relative to a theoretical yacht with a rating of 0. A yacht's handicap, or rating, is the number of seconds per nautical mile traveled that the theoretical yacht should be in front of or behind that theoretical yacht. Most boats have a positive PHRF rating, but some very fast boats have a negative PHRF rating. Results are adjusted for handicap by the race committee after all competitors have finished.

Images: ABYC Week 2009.

Why this Seminar will benefit members of SAS and affiliated Clubs and Classes.

Concept:

The Seminar will be conducted as a Discussion Workshop and following the lines of the ISAF International Race Officers seminar.

Goal:

Ensure a good understanding of Race Management

Improvement of the understanding of Race management techniques on a National level and thus give you the skills to play a meaningful role in this field

To give you the proven experience and qualifications to run Racing on a National level and provide you with the knowledge to successfully pass the National Race Officers qualifying exam which is the first step in becoming an accredited National Race Officer

Method:

By participating in the discussion session and reaching consensus on the adaptation of Race management techniques for the particular event.

The use of Case Studies based on actual occurrences will enable you to better understand the techniques required.

A comprehensive set of notes, Questions, Appeal Cases and Case Studies will be provided to all participants. A set of documents comprising answers and actual Appeal Case decisions will also be provided. These will be useful as reference works and in Race Management.

It is recommended that all participants bring along an Exam Pad to take notes and a SAS Rule Book.

Participants are also encouraged to raise their own cases for discussion. Beginners also welcome. Please bring some money for a light lunch on Sunday

National Race Officers Seminar

Venue: ZVYC

Date: 6th and 7th June 2009

Times:
Day 1 - 1400 to 1730, Seminar
Day 2 - 0900 to 1300, Seminar; 1300 to 1400, Lunch; 1400 to 1500, Exam (totally optional)

Presenter: Di Hutton-Squire
WC Race Officers Association, SAS WC Exco
Cell: 082 826 0973

Please reply to Wendy at SAS (saswc[at]sailing.org.za) and please indicate if beginner and if lunch is required.
Telephone (Int +27) 021-671 8669 Fax (Int +27) 021-674 6343

The importance of having communication with family or friends when at sea was once again highlighted recently.

Earlier this month the Mossel Bay Harbour Master contacted the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town about a phone call that he had received from the wife of the skipper regarding an incident off the coast of Madagascar.

The skipper of the yacht had contacted his wife via his SatPhone informing her that his yacht, the Erica, had run aground off the west coast of Madagascar. He was on a life raft with the EPIRB onboard.

The MRCC Cape Town attempted to inform the MRCC Madagascar, however due to language difficulties and equipment failure in Madagascar they could not be contacted. The MRCC contacted the South African embassy in Madagascar who gave them contact details of someone at the Nossi Be yacht club who would be able to assist them in their search and rescue mission. Fortunately there were yachts in the area that immediately headed towards the life raft.

At the same time the South African Embassy staff assisted in mobilizing the Madagascar SAR authorities which dispatched a coastguard vessel to assist the yacht crew. The crew was rescued off the yacht's life-raft which had been tied to a mangrove tree. They were met by the South African embassy staff in Nossi Be, Madagascar.

The Waterfont Stomp to be held on the 9th of May will feature a Jimi Hendrix Tribute by Jack Rabbit Slims. The "Jack Rabbit Slims" formed just two months ago when good friends Rob Thompson (Guitar/Vocals), Bradley Chamen (Bass) and Tim Robinson (Drums/Vocals) decided to start a band and bring a different style of music to the Port Elizabeth music scene. The band is heavily influenced by bands like The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Dan Patlansky Trio, Stevie Ray Vaughn and John Mayer, with Tim bringing his jazz background influence in as well.

Also on the bill will be the Tomboys, The Hazy Shades, The Brink Botha Band, Ian 'Limey' Tenlett and Jurie Smit.

According to organisers the new security rules introduced by the National Port Authority will not inconvenience Waterfront Stomp guests. You can send your name, ID number and motor vehicle registration to info[at]waterfrontstomp.co.za, sms to 0825677404 or fax to 0866953125. This information will be given to the port security which will speed up your entry into the harbour.

The breathalyser tests are only applicable to workers coming into the harbour under the influence of alcohol.

As usual you can bring in your own snacks or make use of the provided braai fires downstairs.

For more information call Anton on 0825677404 or Cliffy on 0828811155.

The 50th Jubilee Committee are looking for sponsors for the ABYC Yearbook.

Julie Murray from A&S Print has provided a form for you to fill in when taking advertising. See below.

I have done a spreadsheet with all the available advertising spaces.

If you can post it on the web and ask people to email me their requests to: julie[at]asprint.co.za

I will need the advert in jpeg format at least 600 dpi or email me a pdf, word document etc.

I will then send confirmation and a proof either by fax or email whichever is preferable.

Get those orders in and DOWNLOAD the FORM.

The late Dave Jackson's Astove 30, Wattoo, will be auctioned on the ABYC Marina on 18 May 2009 from 11:00 a.m. Prospective buyers will be able to view Wattoo on the 7th, 11th and 14th of May between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 midday on the Algoa Bay Yacht Club Marina.

Specifications

Overall length: 9.40metres
Beam: 3.05 metres
Draft: 1.6 metres
Displacement: 3500 kg
Date built: 1994
Date launched: 1998
Construction: GRP
Rig: Fractionally rigged sloop

Fittings and equipment

Sails: Full suit in good condition
Winches: Lewmar all round
Steering: Tiller
Engine: 20hp Yanmar diesel driving a 2-blade folding propeller
Batteries: 12 volt system
Fuel & water tanks: Stainless steel
Galley: Gas stainless steel cooker with grill, Stainless steel sink
Accomodation: Sleeps six

* To be auctioned separately: 3 x extra sails, mooring and Raymarine navigator unit

Terms: R10 000 refundable registration fee. Strictly Bank Guaranteed Cheques. No Cash.

Update from Dawne:

The reserve price for Wattoo is R240 000. The extra sails should preferably be sold with the boat because they are made for an Astove like Wattoo. The sails are quite new and in good condition, so we said we would like R5000 for each of the 3. The mooring does not have to get sold, and therefore won't be sold for less than R40 000. (The whole package could go for R295 000).

The South African registered yacht Sea Jade left St Helena Island on 4 April with one crewmember on board. It was bound for either Walvis Bay or Cape Town, depending on the weather. When the yacht was 3 days overdue for its arrival at Walvis Bay, concerned family members reported it to the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town.

The MRCC Cape Town broadcast a Safety Net message for all shipping in the area to keep a look out for the Sea Jade.

On Wednesday the 29 April the vessel Amalia observed the Sea Jade adrift at sea 450 miles South of St Helena Island. There were no signs of life onboard.

There was no response to calls on VHF or ships whistle. Due to bad weather the Amalia could not launch a lifeboat to investigate. The MRCC Cape Town instructed the Amalia to stay on the scene until the weather improved and it was safe to board the yacht.

The Captain of the Amalia reported that they had been within 5 meters of the yacht and three attempts had been made to board had been unsuccessful due to worsening weather conditions.

The Captain abandoned further attempts to board the yacht. The crew had thrown objects against the yacht in order to provoke a response but there had been no reaction or any signs of life on the vessel.
Both vessels were rolling heavily, making any attempts to make physical contact extremely difficult and hazardous to the crew.

The Master of the AMALIA requested permission to proceed with their voyage and was released on Friday as the weather conditions was making any attempts to board the yacht extremely hazardous for the crew..

The MRCC Cape Town requested another vessel that was in the area, the bulk carrier Friendly Seas, to proceed to the yacht in the hope that the weather conditions would improve thereby allowing the boarding of the vessel to take place and allow for a search of the yacht. The Friendly Seas arrived at 9.30am on Saturday 2nd MAY.The crew managed to board the yacht and after an extensive search could not find any signs of life onboard. The vessel was released to continue on its voyage and the required navigational warnings were issued.

The family was informed of the situation and they are making arrangements to recover the yacht.