Exciting sailing at interclub competition

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Mossel Bay Sailing Club (MBSC) hosted its annual interclub competition this month.

The fleet was made up of Toppers, ILCAs, RS Q'BAs, RS Teras, a Mirror, a Pico and a 505.

The Mirror, raced by Daniel Kruger and Louis de Kock of George Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC), joined for the purpose of practising for the World Sailing Championships in Durban later this year.

Besides MBSC and GLYC, the interclub competition attracted members of Knysna Yacht Club (KYC), making up a fleet of 29 boats in total.

The fleet with a lower handicap sailed a longer course than the slower boats.

On Saturday, 8 March, the wind was light and three races were sailed.

The light wind tested the sailors' skill, and the racing was nail-bitingly exciting, according to Mossel Bay Sailing Club commodore Elfie Holden.

The finish was placed close to shore for spectator purposes.

Holden said this proved to be a winner as the club drew spectators wanting to know more about sailing.

The end of the day saw the fast fleet leaders in a three-way tie between KYC's Ken Reynolds and Luca Lutolf and MBSC's Christian Cilliers.

The wind on Sunday, 9 March, was stronger than the day before, and another three races were sailed in 12 to 16 knots.

This gave the crew of the 505, KYC's Tayo and Drew Scott, a chance to shine, with two first places.

Unfortunately it was too little too late and they finished in fifth place overall.

Reynolds, from KYC, walked away as the fast fleet winner, with Lutolf one point behind him.

Cilliers, of MBSC, finished third, one point ahead of GLYC's David Laing.

The higher handicap fleet was dominated by Lulonke Lenks (MBSC) on his ILCA4, with five first places.

Neo Fredericks (MBSC), on his Topper 4.2, showed in his results that he enjoyed the heavier wind.

Qhayiya Nieklaas (MBSC) finished third, with the Mirror's Kruger and De Kock (both GLYC) coming fourth.

Knysna Yacht Club walked away with the honours as the fast fleet winners and MBSC won the higher handicap club championship the second time in a row.

In January MBSC walked away with the same honours at the Knysna Yacht Club interclub competition.

Mossel Bay Yacht Club commodore Elfie Holden (front) with the higher handicap fleet of (front, left) Neo Fredericks, (back) Louis de Kock, Daniel Kruger, Somoleze Gqanqu, Asakhile Mpumela, Qhayiya Nieklaas and Lulonke Lenks.