The ABYC Summer Dinghy Regatta will be sailed on the weekend of the 27th, 28th March 2010 out of the ABYC Yacht club.

NOTICE OF RACE

1. ORGANISING AUTHORITY

The Algoa Bay Yacht Club

2. RULES

2.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in the RacingRules of Sailing (RRS) 2009/2012.
2.2 Boats participating in this regatta shall conform to the Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS),their respective Class this Notice of Race, and
the Sailing Instructions.

3. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

3.1 In accordance with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Regulation 19 (Eligibility Code), all competitors (helmspersons and all other crew) shall be members in good standing of a Yacht Club affiliated to and in good standing with SA Sailing or their Member National Authority in the case of non-South Africans. The Yacht Club name and membership details shall be stated on the entry form or crew list. Current valid South African Sailing Membership Cards or similar proof of MNA Membership in cases of non-South Africans shall be presented at Registration.
3.2 The regatta is open to all Classes
3.3 Eligible boats may enter on Saturday before racing from 9am until half an hour before the first race at ABYC.
3.4 Entry Fee; R10 per person

4. CLASSIFICATION

The ISAF Sailor Classification Code, Regulation 22 shall apply.

5. SCHEDULE

Saturday: Registration from 9am. First race will not start before 11.00am.
Sunday: 1st race will not start before 10.00am
Results will be read out after last race at A.B.Y.C

6. NUMBER OF RACES

Saturday - possibly 4
Sunday - no more than 4
4 races will constitute a regatta.

7. MEASUREMENTS

Each boat shall produce a valid measurement / rating certificate. In addition spot measurements may be taken at any stage during the regatta.

8. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Sailing Instructions will be available from the Regatta Secretary on completion of registration formalities.

9. VENUE

Racing will take place in Algoa Bay weather dependant, otherwise in the harbour.

10. COURSES

The Courses will be posted on the notice board.

11. PENALTY SYSTEM

For all catamaran classes Rule 44.1 is changed so that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced by the One-Turn Penalty.

12. SCORING

12.1 The Low Point System of Appendix A4.1 will apply.
12.2 Four races are required to be completed to constitute a series.
12.3 (a) When fewer than 5 races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores.
(b) When from 5 to 9 races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.

13. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. Neither the Organizing Authority nor it's officials or other persons associated with the organization of the event will accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta

14. INSURANCE

Each participating boat is encouraged to be insured with a valid third party liability insurance recommended to have a minimum cover of R1,000,000-00 per event or the equivalent. Should insurance not be carried, the offending party must be prepared to pay for damages incurred

15. SAFETY

There will be support boats to assist the sailors. Life jackets must be worn at all times.

16. FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information please contact David Moorcroft on 0833710152 or Jason Schaeffer on 0791806348 or Andrew Bosworth on 0836378000

Sunday, 22 February was scheduled for a fun race to St Croix Island and back.

With a 50 knot Westerly blowing there were only three yachts that ventured out to the harbour start line; Warrior, Con Brio and Oddysea.

The yachts seemed to take an inordinately long time deciding on sail configuration and we could just imagine the conversations;
Skipper; "Three reefs in the main"
Gung Ho Crewmember; "One Reef and we will just play the main!" (Yea right - play the main on a 62 footer, are you out of your mind!)

Eventually Warrior decided on sailing on the jib alone, Oddysea and Con Brio set out with three reefs and a handkerchief for a jib. All three steamed out with spray flying, and we settled down to enjoy our Chartroom Restaurant breakfasts - an American for the Longhair and a Dutch for myself. Even in the howling wind we were still able to sit on the deck and enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

Well, our food didn't even get time to go cold and we saw Warrior returning to the harbour, followed closely by Oddysea and Con Brio. Obviously they all decided that it would be far greater fun to sail the Teak Reef back at the ABYC Bar than be pounded in 50 knot winds and 3 metre swells. Wise men these sailors, wise men!

Or, they could have been racing back to The Chartroom for the Marlin Steak Lunch on offer?

No matter - with all the boats back on moorings safe and sound I am sure that the visitors had a good store of war stories to tell about their 30 minutes in the wild seas of Algoa Bay.

This Sunday, 21 February will see ABYC race off to St Croix and back.

The skippers briefing is at 9:00 a.m. and the start is scheduled for 10:oo a.m.

On Saturday 6 March the Radio Controlled racers will be staging a mini regatta and a course will be laid for the dinghies to race on.

On the evening of 6 March I believe that the Stomp will be making a return to ABYC.

On 7 March you are invited to a Fun Race (On your yacht duffus, not in the pub!).
Skippers at 10:00 a.m. and start at 11:00 a.m.

Prepare yourselves for the Easter Weekend as the 505's will be racing and young Kerry will be organising a course for the cruisers as well.

Regular (as in sailing!) old Wednesday Salts will remember the Pinnacle Micro Wednesday Evening sailing events with great fondness as they always provide many willing bodies wanting to bob on the briny, loads of giggles and some spectacular partying. The computer networks around Port Elizabeth have been known to slow down and run on fumes on the following Thursday as a result of the assorted geeks and geekettes celebrating Hump Day with a vengance.

The annual Pinnacle Micro Wednesday Sailing event hits ABYC once again on 17 February. Pinnacle clients wishing to sail will arrive at the club at 17h00. The chickens will arrive from 18h00

What a pity Cooking is not back in the water. We remember taking some 'Pinnacle Poppies' out in a stiff breeze which knocked us over onto our side dragging our guests along for a bit of 'half submerged swimming'. Only one came back for more, the rest scuttled off to get changed into dry clothes never to be seen again - What FUN!

Eats and drinks are being provided for invited guests and sailors along with live music and a mystery prize.

In the past Pinnacle have brought in excess of 100 guests to what has become a much anticipated event.

So, this is a clarion call to all boat owners to make themselves and their boats available on 17 February.

Sailing at Algoa Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) had gone into recession thanks to the October Storm damage to the marina. But you can't keep a good thing down for long.

Sunday the 7th February saw 12 ABYC keel boats and 3 dinghies muster on the start line for the first official race since the marina disaster.

Once the shipping movement was complete the race committee started the reverse pursuit race (all start together and sail out on a set course, after a set time all turn around and sail to the finish. Your speed or lack thereof is your handicap).

The start of the race showed the lack of practice as the first boat was 15 seconds late and the last just over 3 minutes late (they were fined 1 carry pack of beers for the late start) The wind was the predicted SE 8 knots, the course St Croix Island. The fleet left the harbour in a stately procession, what a great sight, all heading out to sea. The conditions changed very slightly as the wind swung slightly into the South South East still between 5-8 knots. Exactly one hour after the start the sailing commodore gave the radio instruction to "turn and come back home".

For all those having lunch in the restaurant they had more than their fair share of the wonderful ambience the ABYC Restaurant offers. 14 yachts sailed to the finish line right at the entrance to the moorings and all within 10 minutes. Some boats were "dicing" to the finish. It was quite spectacular to have 3 boats finish seconds apart on a 50 meter long finish line.

First home were the old men of the sea on Maricia, followed by Spirit of Gardiol, then together Con Brio, and the 470 Dinghy 222 and Fuzzy Bosworth on an Xtra, They were followed by Talisker, High Spirit, Whisper, Jouster, Aon, Bonita, Sea Mole, La Chevalier. Odessy did not cross the line as they were concerned about the constraints the line posed on such big boat (they would have been third). A very big thank you goes to Odessy for hosting the students from Rhodes University Sailing Club for the week end.

The prize giving was held on the balcony, the prizes being sponsored beers. Amid much mirth and hilarity beers were awarded and confiscated (due to late start) and couple of booby prizes were awarded.

The consensus was that it was a great fun event, all got to the pub together and most of all it was great to be sailing again. It was such a great day that Aquabrat didn't finish the race, they went on sailing (they said it was too good out in the bay).

Philip Stunden