The Great Circle Race takes place from 28 to 29 January 2017. The race will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2017- 2020.
Competitors are required to enter with the Race Convenor by Thursday 26 January 2017, 16h30. Notices to competitors will be emailed to skippers and posted on the official notice board located at the ABYC Clubhouse.
Start Time: Friday 6 March 2015 at 22:00. Starting sequence will commence at 21:55.
Notice of Entry: Each skipper must write their vessels name on the white board prior to race or make sure the race officer records it.
Start Line: Harbour Start. This will be between the Starboard & Port Lateral mark of the good sheds and ore quay.
Finish Line: Hobie Beach Pier (To cross the extended centre line within 100 meters).
Course: Harbour Start -> St. Croix to SB -> North Patch to SB -> Bird Island to SB -> East Reef to SB -> Doddington & West Rock to SB -> Bell Buoy to SB -> Hobie Pier finish.
Skippers: Skippers meeting at 21:00.
Any changes to Start/Finish or course will be announced at 21:00 at the skipper briefing.
The race is subject to weather conditions.
Skippers holding only a Day Skippers Ticket to please liaise with Eugene Lombard.
Yachts are strongly advise to carry Life-rafts. Compulsory Cat C Safety Rating.
Please check Club Notice Board for any changes.
A 00:05 start gun on Saturday morning 18 January 2014 heralded the start for an enthusiatic and determined fleet racing around Bird Island on the Great Circle Race.
By all accounts the sailing was excellent and tactical as John Tudehope reports:
Swopping the St.Francis Race with the Great Circle Race turned out to be a great success.
Eight boats were at the start line for the 00h05 start on Saturday off the Container Wharf and a moderate South West enabled the faster more competive boats to hoist spinnakers early.
The wind dropped off considerably as the sun rose and the first of the fleet rounded Bird Island around mid morning when the wind shifted to a moderate South East with occasional lulls and the run home relied on tactics and correct sail settings.
On board Lady who, by 09h00, was just past Sundays River, the two grizzled seamen on-board took advantage of the sleeping younger crewman and, after mental calculations, decided to turn back for port with the excuse that the sleeping crewman was not looking well.
Fling, facing a potential mutiny on-board and the concern that the previous night’s dinner from the one sea-sick crewman would not wash off the side of the hull, also turned for home.
Inyoni on the other hand returned back to moorings on Sunday morning 01h30, showing off their fishing catch.
Somewhere out on the race track was Headway who where just enjoying the sail.
With brand new sails Malgas has to be congratulated for an excellent performance (if she carries on like this the end of season prize giving will be very short and sweet).
2014 Bird Island Race Results:
| Rank | Boat | Class | HelmName | TCF | Finish | Elapsed | Corrected | BCR | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malgas | L34 | Tony Bailes | 0.95 | 14:53:15 | 14:48:15 | 14:03:50 | 0.95 | 1.00 |
| 2 | Sewen | RCOD | Hennie Haasbroek | 0.89 | 16:29:07 | 16:24:07 | 14:35:52 | 0.857 | 2.00 |
| 3 | Jelly Baby | J27 | Sean Wiseman | 0.947 | 15:38:00 | 15:33:00 | 14:43:33 | 0.904 | 3.00 |
| 4 | Tikalox II | Muira | Rob Smith | 0.89 | 17:24:32 | 17:19:32 | 15:25:11 | 0.812 | 4.00 |
| 5 | Struan | Stadt 34 | Andrew Blain | 0.897 | 17:30:47 | 17:25:47 | 15:38:04 | 0.807 | 5.00 |
| 6 | Lady | Astove (Cruising) | Harry Lamprecht | 0.860 | DNF | 9.00 | |||
| 6 | Fling | Sadler 26 | Morgan Griffiths | 0.800 | DNF | 9.00 | |||
| 6 | Inyoni | Muira | Alan van Heerden | 0.89 | DNF | 9.00 |
| Rank | Boat | Class | HelmName | TCF | R1 | Total | Nett |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sewen | RCOD | Hennie Haasbroek | 0.89 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 2nd | Struan | Stadt 34 | Andrew Blain | 0.897 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| 3rd | Tikalox II | Muira | Rob Smith | 0.89 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| 4th | Watoo | Astove 31 | John Tudehope | 0.875 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
