The Results from the Noordhoek Race that took place on Sunday 18 October 2009 in a fresh westerly:

1. Chinook; Bill Lee - 2:59:26
2. Tikalox II; Rob Smith - 3:03:06
3. Jouster; Richard Rath - 3:09:17
4. Proteus; Chris Cox - 3:14:18
5. Sea Mole; A. Hautman - 3:22:20
6. Wattoo; John - 3:24:55
7. Malgas; Petro Bocci - 3:43:00
8. Struan; Derek Bouwer - 3:29:45
9. Lady; Harry Lamprecht - 3:47:23
10. Umbaleki; Johan Herselman - 3:48:27
11. Take Six; Doug Stannard - DNF

There was one other entrant that didn't quite make it out of the harbour and elected to navigate the teak reef. I promised Sean that I wouldn't mention the boat's name, though.

As part of the maintenance on the ABYC site I monitor mentions of ABYC using a number of tools and have noticed a number of Port Elizabeth based web sites mentioning ABYC as a resource or asset to Port Elizabeth's bid to become the watersport capital.

Two such Port Elizabeth web sites that linked back to ABYC today, are:

Budget Accommodation and
Willow Cottage.

The Double handed St Croix Race took place from ABYC on 4 October. The course was a Harbour start taking St Croix to Starboard to a finish off the break water. A light South Westerly breeze saw 10 boats on the start line. Valiant got us away at 10:00 and in the light 9 knot wind the fleet doddled out of the harbour.

Once out both Chinook and Tikalox II stuck up their kites and disappeared towards St Croix, "Madgas" followed suit but suffered from halyard problems with the kite not going all the way up and was soon snuffed. Employing different tactics Struan and Wattoo headed straight for the Island wing on wing, while Malgas head towards the beach. Valliant with their orange and red reacher sailed up through the middle of the fleet. Unfortunately a 300 foot monster in the shape of "MSC Catalina", the first paying commercial vessel to enter Nqgura, played havoc with both Chinook and Tikalox II's tactics, with a few blasts and deviations in course for the leaders.

After 3 hours of down wind sailing Struan rounded St Croix behind Chinook, Tikalox II, Valiant and Wattoo. Just about everyone tacked inshore, only tacking across because a great big Harbour called Nqgura got in the way!

After another 4 hours of beating we crossed the finish line off the harbour entrance. Gringo got in amongst the whale and played a little, only finishing at 19:00. By which time some serious brown frothy things where being quaffed on the deck, a good days sailing and a good time had by all.

A Double handed race sees only two sailors per boat - the skipper and his mate.

Provisional Results: 1st - Tikalox II, 2nd - Chinook, 3rd - Wattoo, 4th - Malgas, 5th - Struan, 6th - Proteus, 7th Valiant, 8th - Skybird and 9th - Gringo.

ABYC October's Sailing Regattas: 11th October - Open weekend (Public Welcome), 18th October - Medium distance race and 31 October - First of the round the cans racing for this sailing season.

Source: Derek Bouwer

Extract from Scuttlebutt from a letter written by Derek Wilkes:

The decline in sailing numbers seems to be world wide phenomena felt by all clubs. Here are a few personal insights into the reasons from a South African perspective:

1. The increasing number of new dinghies on the market dilutes the already dwindling numbers as the sailor spread themselves across all the differing classes.
2. The rock stars jump from class to class to win the different local class champs, which disheartens budding sailors within those classes.
3. The media concentrate on only the "Big Boat" which gives the impression of a very expensive sport.
4. We have too many boat owners and not enough yachties.
5. Prospective boat owners fall in love with the "mystique of sailing" and then buy boats beyond their experience.
6. The Boat owners, due to lack of experience, look for "qualified crew" to compliment their short comings, as they are not competent to show the new crew the ropes nor are they willing to learn together.
7. When qualified crew is hard to come by they lean back and say I cannot find crew.
8. Their expensive boats become floating status symbols at best or floating unkept caravans at worse.
9. Sailing is seen as recreational past time and not as a dedicated sport "so why bother reading the rules".
10. In racing boat owners look for a handicap that takes into account their short coming, rather than looking at the boat's handicap and sailing to that - win or lose.

On the positive side, it is extremely easy to sail, and to find crew is equally as easy. When you hear someone say, "I'd love to go sailing", invite them. We have a few rules on by boat:

1. If we (Owner, skipper and crew) like you we'll invite you again!
2. If you don't like us then don't say "yes" the second time we ask you!
3. The crew is involved in the running and maintenance of the boat, sailing is not only putting up sails and moving through the water, but everything else from motors to servicing ropes. This is the "mystique of sailing"
4. Then we sail, sail, sail, sail and sail some more, and the strange thing about sailing is, the more you sail the more you and your crew learn. Funny we have had the same crew for three years now

Kind Regards
Derek Wilkes