Team: Kerry Bonnage, Wayne Watkins, Daryl Garner, Jason Schaefer and Delyn Price
Support: Shiel and Brenon

Tuesday: We all met at ABYC at 14:00 and left for Durban. Big thanks to John Price for lending us his Chrysler Voyager and trailer. After a nice easy drive we arrived at Point Yacht club at 01:30 am. "Camp City" was already full of tents but the waterfront site was still open. By 03:00 4 tents were erected, a shot of well deserved ob's and off to bed.

Wednesday: Everyone up early and off to do the shopping. Shiel cooked breakfast for everyone. Off to see our charted L26 "Sail Africa". "Sail Africa" is Durban's Youth Sailing Development Program set up by Craig Miller which owns three L26's. We had the better of the three but still nowhere near the condition of our "AON Challenger". We set the boat up as best we could and took delivery of our new Lipton sails. The tune up race showed that we where off the pace and lacked height so a lot of on the water tuning was . We cut the race short and headed back to port. The rest of the afternoon was spent tuning rigs, servicing winches and changing systems.

Thursday: Race day 1 Race one Wind 0-5 W-NW :Another good breakfast by Shiel and lunch packs prepared as well. Early to the boat to clean and prepare for the very light conditions. On the course by 10:00 ( racing started daily at 11:00) to get our readings and sail trim ready for the prevailing conditions. Nothing, not a breath anywhere on the course. After 4 hours of bobbing, swimming and the usual no wind antics a hint of breeze filled in.

Got a good start toward the pin but got stuck in the train. We tacked as soon as we could but ended up 7th at the top mark. Passed two boats downwind but that's where we stayed (Shortened race due to wind). Very tricky sailing in very light airs. Top speed for the day was 3.5 down wind and only managed 2.8 up wind. Again low on height but good speed relative to top 5 of fleet.

Friday: Race Day 2 Race two and three Wind 0-8 W-SW. Another excellent breakfast by Shiel and Brennon. Early to the boat again with some rig changes and on the course by 10:00. Very tricky conditions. We knew the big shift was coming but did not know when. Went offshore looking for the shift but it did not come, rounded in 9th . Got two back on the run with some great teamwork then back onto the beat. Again went out looking for the shift and found it. Picked up 4 places at the top mark right behind the leaders. Tried twice to get around the mark to no avail the third time we just sailed around and over the mark. With no wind and lots of current it was a nightmare. We did our penalty turns put up the bag and sailed to the finish. Word of warning..... watch the outgoing tide of the harbour it increases the current by 50 %.

We ended third.

Race 3: The wind dropped off again. We crawled round the course changing places on every tack. Clearly no-one knew where to go, the fleet was spread out all over the course. Speeds of two knots were a mission. Found lots of holes finished 7th. Rig settings were not right..

Saturday: Race day 3: Race four Wind 0-5 W . Played with the rig again and got onto the course early. Very light breeze, played the bobbing game again until 14:00. We got a very good start in clean air with good boat speed but were forced to tack by MSC who were sailing a lot higher than us. Rounded in fourth after a fantastic beat, duelling with Cheetah and MSC to the top mark.

Held off several attacks from the rear whilst attacking MSC. Finished fourth.

Sunday: Race Day 4 Race five and six Wind 15-25 SW- S. The breeze was up this was going to be our day. Early on the course again. Put up our new no 2 for the first time.

Made some adjustment and the race started on time. With much better height and good speed we were jostling between 2nd and 3rd all the way to the top mark being covered by Fusion (Andrew Heathcote had to beat us in both races today to claim 4th overall) all the way. Rounded in 3rd and down to the bottom mark we went. Andrew pushed us off the course allowing two boats under us. After a few choice words we both gybed for the mark. We split tacks with them and beat them to the top mark but could not catch the other two. We finished 5th.

Race 6: Great start on the committee boat and tacked immediately. Under stood the lay line by a boat length up to the top mark. Craig Millar (PYC Lipton Team) just got through us on port. His eyes could not believe that one of his sailing school boats was right behind his "Rolls Royce" Rounding in second we had a great game of attack and defend on the run. At the bottom mark we where forced to give water to a cruising boat rounding the same mark. This let MSC in and a lot higher than we where. We sailed under and then over this 40 footer to the lay line trying to catch up to MSC. Rounded the top mark in 3rd about 5 boat lengths behind MSC. Fantastic hoist, hard work and a textbook gybe got us with in a boat length at the finish (3 seconds).

We finished 3rd. Fusion (Andrew Heathcoat) lost their main halyard during the last race..... JUSTICE.

In all a great regatta, fantastic team building scenario, great big fleet experience and a good confidence builder to take to WP L26 provincials and then Lipton. We have some wrinkles to iron out but we are definitely on the right path. My thanks to my team , Wayne, Delyn and Jason. Darryl for helping us out and being a great rail motivator. Sheil and Brenon for supporting us both on land and on the water.

To the members of ABYC you missed another great regatta, well hosted by PYC, you can't beat Durban this time of year. Lets see at least one other entry from ABYC next year.

Thanks to all.

Kerry Bonnage.