Algoa Bay Yacht Club

ABYC - Port Elizabeth's Friendly Sailing Club

Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama Ocean Race 2018 Announcement & Dates

It is with great pleasure that I can advise you on behalf of the Royal Natal Yacht Club and the Algoa Bay Yacht Club, that the 2018 Vasco da Gama Ocean Race, a 400 nautical mile race from Durban to Port Elizabeth, will start on Thursday 26 April 2018.

After the success of the past 3 races to Port Elizabeth, it is hoped that a record fleet will make the start line in 2018.

The RNYC now take control of this race for the next 3 years and have committed themselves to the race being run between Durban & Port Elizabeth.

The race course South has struck a chord with South African yachties as they can now compete without having to be concerned about foreign clearance as the race is ‘wholly South African’.

The course is a challenging one, as one has the fast south flowing Agulhas Current to consider, and sometimes strong South Westerly winds. The core of the Agulhas current can flow up to 5 knots at times, giving those who find it a distinct advantage. But, as the Agulhas current moves quite quickly inshore and seaward again, to find it and stay in its core is a challenge every keen navigator relishes. And that is not the only challenge. Navigators will have to choose between a seaward course with the possibility of current, and an inshore course that could bring strong land breezes at night. 

It has also made it attractive to Cape sailors, as by the time they finish in Port Elizabeth they are already half-way home. Cape sailors have taken the major honours in the past 3 races, so they may well be back again to maintain their dominance.

The Algoa Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) is simply a superb place to finish as their hospitality and warm welcome is infectious and conducive to a great party after a gruelling ocean race.

“Our members thoroughly enjoy hosting the Vasco Race finishers and being part of this historic event” said Alan Straton, Commodore of ABYC. “We could also have 4 or more ABYC boats competing next year”.

The official Race documents as listed below are available for download HERE

or from the Race Secretary, Gill Campbell, HERE 

1. Notice of Race

2. Entry Form

3. Schedule 1 – Safety Equipment & Scrutineering Check List

4. Schedule 2 – Trophy List 2018

5. Boat information sheet

6. Crew List

7. Deadline dates & info

 

1. Notice of Race. There are some changes to classes for the 2018 race, with the ORC handicapping system being used in the place of IRC. This change is due to the fact that ORC is gaining momentum in this country, and to get a certificate is now a lot easier and cheaper than previously.

The PHRF and Rally Classes continue as previously.

 

2. Entry Form. The entry form is an Excel Spreadsheet which we request all entrants to complete and submit as a file. Entrants are requested to complete the Excel Spreadsheet electronically and e-mail that together with a scanned copy of the original signed entry form and their proof of payment to the Race Secretary.

 

3. Schedule 1 – Safety Equipment & Scrutineering Check List. With Safety always a major concern, this document is included up-front so that entrants have ALL the information they require without any last-minute surprises.

 

4. Schedule 2 – Trophy List 2018. This race has a handsome array of fine trophies available to winners in the various divisions, and which have been won by some legends of offshore sailing in this country. Medals will be awarded to the crew of all boats recorded as finishers.

 

5. Boat Information Sheet. Some of the information previously requested on the entry form has been included in this spreadsheet. Plus there is additional info requested, all simply to let race organisers have additional information on your boat for safety and handicapping purposes. Please complete the form electronically and mail it to the Race Secretary together with your entry form – and supply a colour pic of the boat and a separate one of the skipper.

 

6. Crew List. This has been fine-tuned further and is also supplied as an Excel file. It must be completed electronically and copies of ID documents to be supplied electronically as well.

 

7. Deadline Dates & Information. This handy form simply gives competitors a schedule of critical dates and times by when information is required by the organisers.

 

Points of Interest

Rally Class. This class is aimed at permitting cruising type boats to compete safely and make the finish in good time to enjoy the festivities the Algoa Bay Yacht Club provides. The Rally Fleet may motor for 8 hours in every 24 from the start, and have unrestricted use of autopilots.

Multihulls. This is one of the few races which permits multihulls to compete in either a racing or cruising division. So, if you are a multihull owner, please give some serious thought to entering and being part of this classic ocean race.

The 2018 Race Tracking – Sponsored by GIMCO. An aspect of the race that simply blows people away is the incredibly accurate ‘race trackers’ which allows loved ones and followers at home to keep tabs on the race, almost in real time, with just 15 minutes between updates. The tracking service is supplied by YB Tracking and sponsored by Gutsche Investment & Management Services (GIMCO) who have committed their sponsorship again for 2018 due to the huge following the race received, and the positive feedback.

Request for Early Entries. There is an earnest request from the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Richard Crockett. “It always helps to receive entries early for a race of this nature as each entry helps build interest. The earlier we receive entries the quicker the momentum picks up and the more interest we receive. So, please submit your entries early”.

So please don’t delay and enter NOW!

RNYC Website. All the Official Race Documents are on the RNYC web page, plus additional information on the oldest Yacht Club in Africa. Get them HERE

 

Facebook. The organisers will be using Facebook as the key platform for disseminating information. This is the link HERE 

 

Should you require anything further or have any queries please let us have them and the Race Committee will address them immediately.

Key Race personnel are:

Jimmy Melville        Race Officer             jimmy@cyclinc.co.za

Gill Campbell          Race Secretary         gillcam@telkomsa.net

Manuel Souza         RNYC Club Liaison    mfsousa@iafrica.com

John Tudehope       ABYC Liaison            john@gatewaypm.co.za

Kind regards

Richard Crockett (sailing@iafrica.com)

Chairman – Organising Committee

Live Tracker – Vasco da Gama 2016

Two yachts from ABYC are taking part in the 2016 Vasco Da Gama Ocean Race from Durban to Port Elizabeth – Nemesis and Wallbanger.

The start is at 12:30 on Saturday 23 April and once again GIMCO have sponsored trackers to allow you to follow the action as we charge down the coast with the promise of ABYC’s anytime breakfasts sponsored by Humerail SPAR and Stuart Ritchie.

Follow the action and come down to the club to welcome the sailors as they come into the bay.

YB Tracking Page.

Official Vasco entries to date

The Vasco da Gama Durban to Port Elizabeth Ocean Race has received the 5th official entry – a Charger 33 from Cape Town. The 6th is expected very soon.

The entries so far:

  1. Rob van Rooyen: Al Mount Gay Rum, Farr 38
  2. Pierre Roussouw: Ithaca Hartley, Tahitian ketch
  3. Vernon Goss: Bellissama, Hanse 400
  4. Tony & Sigi Bailes Nemesis, Fast 42
  5. Bernard Farmer: Shadowfax, Charger 33

We know of three ABYC yachts sitting on the fence. Taking part in the Vasco J, P and M is an unreal experience guys!

Vasco da Gama Ocean Race 2016

Vasco Da Gama 2016

The date for the start of the 2016 Vasco da Gama Ocean Race has been announced.

The race will start on Saturday 23 April 2016.

Official Race Documents:

  1. Vasco 2016 NOR
  2. Vasco 2016 Entry Form
  3. Vasco 2016 Schedule 1 – Safety Equipment
  4. Vasco 2016 Schedule 2 Trophy List

Entry Form
In an attempt to make the entry process more simple, there are fewer onerous requirements on the Entry Form, as all the documents previously required to accompany the entry form have been excluded, with the exception of the ‘proof of payment of the entry fee’.

Safety Recommendations
With Safety always a major concern, there are two recommendations made for the race next year regarding Storm Sails.

Rally Class
In an effort to increase the size of the Rally Fleet and create more interest, the organisers have not only increased the amount of motoring time from 6 hours in every 24 hours from the start, to 8 hours, but have added the unrestricted use of autopilots for Rally class competitors.

Interesting Info from the 2015 Race
An aspect of the race that simply blew people away this year was the incredibly accurate ‘race trackers’ which allowed loved ones and followers at home to keep tabs on the race, almost in real time, with just 15 minutes between updates. It was as exciting for the followers as it was for the competitors. The tracking service was supplied by YB Tracking and sponsored by Gutsche Investment & Management Services (GIMCO) who have committed their sponsorship again for 2016 due to the huge following the race received, and the positive feedback.

Interestingly, the YB Tracking app for mobile devices was downloaded by over 800 people – a number which staggered the tracking suppliers as this was higher than for some key European races they are involved in. The race was followed in 31 different countries and had just under 5000 followers at its peak.

The Vasco da Gama Race 2015 Facebook page was supported by 900 unique followers.

Coastal ocean racing has waned in popularity in this country in recent years although the Vasco da Gama Ocean race is one of the few races which has received annual support. Plus it is a race which has always blooded new offshore sailors. Proof of this comes in the form of statistics from this year’s race where there were 120 competing crew, with 60 being ‘vasco virgins’ competing in the race for the first time. Of those 60 ‘virgins’ 49 finished the race.

More importantly there were 39 crew under the age of 25 in the race, with 25 of those finishing. The youngest under 25 crew to finish was Cape sailor Jason Gray who received the Choose Life Trophy. He was a crewman on the winning boat AL Mount Gay Rum skippered by Rob van Rooyen.

The above all augers well for the future of the race.

Algoa Bay Yacht Club
Algoa Bay proved to be exceptional hosts, and having learnt a lot this year, will add much more to the welcome competitors receive next year. Early indications are that there may well be 4 ABYC entries in 2016.

IRC National Champs
The IRC Class has announced its intention to have the IRC National Champs in Algoa Bay next year immediately after the Vasco da Gama race. So ABYC will be a busy place at the end of April 2016. The dates of the IRC Nationals are provisionally from Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May.

Request for Early Entries
There is an earnest request from Chairman of the Organising Committee, Richard Crockett. “It always helps to receive entries early for a race of this nature as each entry helps build interest. The earlier we receive entries the quicker the momentum picks up and the more interest we receive. So, please submit your entries early”.

So far half the fleet from this year have indicated that they will compete in 2016.

So please don’t delay and enter NOW!

Should you require anything further or have any queries please let Richard Crockett have them and the Race Committee will address them immediately.

Information on the Vasco da Gama Race may be obtained from Lucy at the Point Yacht Club: Telephone – 031 301 4787 / email – sailing@pyc.co.za

Information on the IRC Nationals from Hylton Hale: email – hylton.hale@afrimat.co.za

Images from the 2015 Vasco da Gama

Philip, John and Alan
Philip Scheepers, John Tudehope and Alan Straton with the Dave Cox Memorial Trophy for first boat over the line in the PHRF Class. Not in Picture – Sean Wiseman.

The 2015 Vasco Da Gama Ocean Race hosted by Point and Algoa Bay Yacht Clubs set off from Durban at 12h00 on Saturday 25 April, destination: Port Elizabeth.

17 boats started and 8 boats retired in the gruelling 400 Nautical Mile trip down South Africa’s East Coast.

On arrival in Port Elizabeth, Africa’s friendliest yacht club – ABYC – treated each competitior to breakfast, no matter what time they arrived.

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Results:

IRC Division:

  1. Al Mount Gay – RCYC
  2. Gumption – RCYC
  3. Nemesis – ABYC
  4. Alacrity – ZYC
  5. Majimoto – PYC
  6. Rocket – DAC

PHRF Division:

  1. Star Spirit – FSYC
  2. Wallbanger – ABYC

Multihull Fleet:

  1. Nomad – ZYC

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