Algoa Bay Yacht Club

ABYC - Port Elizabeth's Friendly Sailing Club

john tudehope

At the Vasco da Gama finish in Port Elizabeth

Wallbanger Vasco da Gama Finish
After a gruelling trip down the East Coast of South Africa from Durban to Port Elizabeth THIS is what an elated crew on John Tudehope’s Simonis 35, Wallbanger, looks like. Not in picture – 4th crew member, Alan Straton

The smallest boat that travelled the shortest distance with the smallest crew of four in the fleet of 17 yachts did very well returning to home port on Tuesday 28 April 2015 with no breakages after an ‘eventful’ trip which included two spectacular spinnaker runs of over 7 hours each, huge seas and winds of over 40 knots, barepole surfing, whale and dolphin sightings, minimum sleep and much more ………..

Wallbanger finished in 3 days 4 hours 48 minutes and 47 seconds in the PHRF fleet which had two retires out of the 8 retires in total. But Free State Yacht Club entrant, Star Spirit, took first place on handicap with an elapsed time of 3 days 4 hours 50 minutes and 14 seconds – a mere a mere 7 minutes and 36 seconds but a great victory for the guys from the Gariep Dam.

Line Honours went to Gumption (2 days 6 hours 58 minutes and 25 seconds), followed by AL Mount Gay Rum and in third was ABYC’s second entrant, Nemesis, sailed by Tony and Sigi Bailes.

Tony and Sigi Bailes PYC
Tony and Sigi Bailes before setting off from Durban’s Point Yacht Club on their ‘sleigh ride of note’ to Port Elizabeth

Open letter to the owner of Jellybaby

Dear Sir

Pursuit Race 1

Thank you for letting us sail your boat in the above race. The race results do not give a true reflection of our sail. Bearing in mind that we sailed short-hand,never-the-less we had a fantastic sail. A great beat to the rounding mark (Bell buoy), and vow the spinnaker release and setting was perfect for the run home – you would have been awe struck.

Whilst you have strong sheets and halyards, they are somewhat thin, you could have made sure there was sailing gloves on-board as the smell of burning skin permeated the cockpit regularly.

Given our handicap we were “eating” into the fleet and closing fast on the 3 in front of us, we were confident we could take this race. Tikalox 2 and Spirite of Sprite made tactical errors by sailing too deep, which meant we had the opportunity to cut in front of them. Our plan, given our tight line, was to gibe when we reached the break water and sail on a broad reach to the finish line with the bag up. Unfortunately in executing the manoeuvre the spinnaker had a mind of itself and thought it was on a roller-furler system and wrapped around the forestay. This resulted in us having to head into the wind and talk the spinnaker to free herself, costing us valuable race time and position – you may need to speak to this sail.

Our troubles weren’t over yet, and hence this letter to you.

After crossing the finish line, and in attempt to keep-out of the race officer’s way, under foresail, we sailed inside of the marina breakwater back to moorings. Big mistake. A mooring line (part of a vacant “Trot”) happened to be in our path. Imagine our humiliation when we hooked it. This resulted in me having to get my “Gucci” sailing boots full of water as well as getting wet to my arm-pits.

Anyway we averted having Jellybaby taking up new moorings, as you would have had to ask John Lockhead to row you out to visit your boat!

All in all we had a good day on the water

Many Thanks

Wanna-be Volvo Ocean racer