In the Cape, you take your chances with the weather, too early and you may have a freezing offshore North Westerly wind gusting to 30knots at times. Leave it too late and you can have a raging cold Southeaster which at least drives you onshore. As the Kalk Bay fishermen say the North Wester can kill you but the Southeaster will give you a good hiding. Only 10 months after our last Hobie 16 Nationals in Plettenberg Bay (34 boats) organizers Ryan Hayward’s and Kayla Jordaan’s timing was impeccable giving us lightish easterly winds and sunny skies. Only on the last day, Saturday, of the three-day regatta was the wind a bit light. Generous sponsorship organized by Ryan, from SUNSAIL and FUSED Composite Design enabled the Nationals to take place – a big thank you to both.
It has been a while since Hobies have had a regatta in Mossel Bay. The Mossel Bay Yacht Club has gone through lots of trials and tribulations but is now functioning extremely well thanks to all the hard work by Elfie and Rob Holden and their holistic Skippers Foundation which not only teaches local residents to sail but insists on schoolwork as a very important priority. We hope to see some graduates sailing Hobies in the future.
These Nationals were also Race Officer Belinda Hayward (what would we do without the Haywards) baptism as a National Race Officer overseen by Andrew Finn from Knysna. Belinda passed with flying colours with no general recalls only some individual recalls and one abandoned start after a wind switch. Well done, Belinda. 11 Races out of 12 sailed. Starts were after noon each day with a courteous wait for those who struggled to get to the start in the light conditions.
It was notable that most people held the same position in the fleet from Day 1 to Day 3. Paul and Kalea Lagesse headed the field on all three days with the gap growing from one point to a final 10 points on day three. It was remarkable to watch Paul (from behind) go into overdrive during a race and make up places with some incredible moves. The fleet quickly learned that you had to go inshore after the start to get to A mark in the top 10 but Paul developed a tactic of not going all the way in to shore, tacking early and scything through the chaps ahead at the A mark. Hein De Jamaer and Adam Knox had a big lead in race 10 and Paul charged past him to have a comfortable lead at the windward mark never to be headed. Douglas Edwards and Chiara Ross also managed to defend second place every day. Douglas saying it was great to sail with Chiara as being a skipper in her own right she was able to give vital input all the time although in race eight Douglas went from 1st to 4th on the line with Paul coming through to 2nd from 6th ! Douglas had a regatta long duel with Dad and Mom William and Lucinda both ending on 25 points. I have reports of a minor ‘domestic’ at one of the gate marks which enabled Duncan and Gabriela Ross to slip through. One person who slipped down the order was former World Champion Blaine Dodds sailing with daughter Roxanne, slipping from 3rd on the first day to 5th. With Douglas beating Dad William and Blaine only an unusual 5th perhaps a changing of the guard moment. Duncan and Gabriela maintained fourth place throughout the regatta with two.
Hein de Jamaer and Adam Knox were also a consistent 6th on each day, likewise Richard Ayres and Sarah Arnold maintained a solid 7th overall each day. With the modern scoring system, it is very hard to move up the order unless one gets a few results in the top three. Organizer supreme Ryan Hayward and Kayla Jordaan stayed a steady 8th try as they may to move up the order. Gordon Guthrie and Rob Skinner are to be congratulated on getting three other boats from Hermanus Yacht club to participate. We have seen Roger and Dawn Sherri on the water before at the provincial Champs, so it was good to see sons Rhys and Robin Sherri competing too. Rhys I would put a new set of sails on your Christmas present list though. Reg Perkins and Ash Hartman swopped places with Gregory Weeks and Grant Hewitt on day three both perhaps a little handicapped in the light conditions.
Rob Selig took advantage of the local training programme and had local lad Owami Nesani crewing for him to a steady 11th place. From Knysna the standout act was (first lady skipper) Judith Herald and Jessica Seath who bucked the trend and rose one place each day to end up 13th overall. They were followed by experienced Knysna sailors Drew and Tayo Scott with (second lady skipper) Jordyn Soldin and Lee Gibbs from Cape Town in 15th place. Neal Delport & Anna Delport completed the quartet of Hermanus sailors. It was a delight to have Bjorn and Nicola (nee Obree) from Knysna sailing with us again and trying to beat Dad Mark & Mum Sarah Obree who ended up ahead in 12th place. I think Uncle Rob Obree had the harder job looking after three lively girls while his parents, sister and brother-in-law enjoyed the sailing. Altogether a delightful regatta, just a pity no Hobie Sailors from the Northern region or KZN were able to attend. Well done and thanks to Ryan and Kayla.
