Mossel Bay Race starts today

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The inaugural Mossel Bay Race (MBR) took place in 1955, its route steering intrepid previous-century sailors from Simon's Town to Mossel Bay.

This year's event follows that same itinerary, with yachts setting off today, Friday 1 October.

Initiated by False Bay Yacht Club (FBYC) in collaboration with Mossel Bay Sailing Club, MBR forms part of the Mossel Bay's Great Escape tourism campaign with its manifold offerings, events and marketing opportunities.

The race came into being when well-known yachtsman Ted Kuttel and Dale Kushner were discussing their concern over the lack of offshore sailing events in the Western Cape. They soon started the ball rolling with a fresh event, along what both considered a workable course.

Taking sailors past the continent's southernmost tip, contending with currents and potentially challenging conditions, participants also had to prepare for the eventuality of strong south-easterly winds. Kuttel and Kushner shook on it, and then made it happen.

The event is branded the MBR and intended to take place annually – with its founders still playing a role in this historic oceanic occasion.

After setting off at 09:00, sailors will navigate the 210 nautical mile course to Mossel Bay in the shortest possible time. The first yacht usually arrives the day after the start, with the rest of the craft coming in over the next 24 hours.

The race committee's intention is to allow boats to be delivered back over the weekend, so a prize giving is planned for the following Friday evening at FBYC.

One of the organisers, Wilhelm von Schutz, of Mossel Bay Sailing Club, says: "Our appreciation goes to to patron Ted Kuttel, whose vision that the race be reintroduced was a strong motivating factor, not to mention his assistance in many other areas."