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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Inclement weather postponed the start of the Mossel Bay Race (MBR).
A howling south-easter lashed the Mother City to such an extent that race organisers pushed the start, originally planned for Thursday 30 September, to today, Friday 1 October.
PHOTO GALLERY: MOSSEL BAY RACE
Race officer Wilhelm Schutz of Mossel Bay Sailing Club is positive, however, that participants in this year’s MBR have what it takes to navigate the most trying of conditions with aplomb. “The crews’ skills will be tested on all levels until they’ve rounded Cape Agulhas. But we expect more moderate conditions for the balance of the race and the first boats should arrive in Mossel Bay by late Saturday morning.”
He says a few withdrawals were necessitated due to last-minute technical problems, but this did nothing to take away from the general buzz of anticipation before the yachts pulled anchor off Simonstown. “The majority of our 13 original entries managed to set off this morning and we believe the guys will have an absolutely fantastic race.”
Some of the crew lists read like the royalty of Cape yachting. But when considering that the race was founded by intrepid sailors Ted Kuttel and Dale Kushner back in the mid-1950s, the puzzle falls into place: Edward “Teddy” Kuttel is the brother of the late Peter “Padda” Kuttel, who competed in two Whitbread Round the World Races, as well as two Cape2Rios.
Watch a video below.
Ted continues to race actively out of Cape Town, as he has been doing for decades alongside Padda and his sons, Francois and Adrian Kuttel – the latter being part of the crew of Atlanta, together with experienced yachtsman Gerry Hegie, Alex von Nes and Theo Yon.
Anthony Wentworth of race initiators False Bay Yacht Club (supported by Mossel Bay Sailing Club) expects them to do well. “For MBR 2021, Atlanta is named Sentinel Ocean Explorer, and flying the colours of the Sentinel Ocean Alliance. The boat is brand new, modern and well prepared, and with the crew’s years of shared experience, it is one of the favourites to win.”
Jeremy Bagshaw of Serendipity said his crew looked forward to the MBR each year: “Mossel Bay is so hospitable - a treasured destination where we always have lots of fun.”
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