Sitting down at the ABYC members table these past few weeks could have been construed as hazardous to your health as talk at the table mainly centred around the upcoming East vs West Radio Control Sailing showdown that (finally) took place from the Fairy Knowe Hotel and was run under the auspices of the Garden Route Radio Sailing Club (GRRSC).
The Fairy Knowe Hotel was selected as an ideal venue situated on the banks of the Touw River in the Wilderness National Park Lake District and as a halfway neutral point for the ensuing sail off. I also heard rumours that the accommodation was good and extremely reasonable.
The regatta had 22 skippers sailing R36′s, 10 from the East and 12 from the West, fighting for the best points of each race to ensure their team had glory in winning the trophy. A case of frosty cold Fanta Browns was the actual motivation methinks!
The fleet system was used and a total of 15 races (30 heats) was sailed over two days in vastly different weather conditions. Day 1 had all the skippers on their C rigs battling against the uncontrollable gusts. And day 2 brought calmer winds, sometimes not quite enough, and a lot of sunshine.
The results between Day 1 and Day 2 did not change much with the exception of Eddie Fuller from the West jumping from 5th position on day 1 to 2nd overall and Jim Foot from the East climbing from 8th on day 1 to 4th overall.
The Most Improved Trophy, given to the skipper who not only improves the most but also displays good tactical sailing skills, ambition and good boat settings was awarded to Jim Foot.
Anthea Fuller pulled out all the stops and showed the boys that they were not going to intimidate her. Putting two A fleet 1st and one 2nd in her pocket she came in 3rd overall.
GRRSC extended their thanks to all the competitors and all who contributed to a successful regatta. A special note of thanks went to Gavin Gilmer of Tracker for a generous sponsorship, which saw each competitor taking home a prize for their efforts.
The eventual overall winner of the regatta was the East on 128 points and the West on 175 points.
Sailing regattas are scored on a low points system with one point for a first place and so on, to determine the eventual winner.
Overall Team Results:
- East – 128 points
- West – 175 points
Overall Individual results:
- Barry Loubscher – West: 34
- Eddie Fuller – West: 62
- Anthea Fuller – West: 68
- Jim Foot – East: 71
- Nic Bornman – East: 76
- Andrew Bornman – East: 77
- Eugene Lombard – East: 86
- John McKerchar – East: 95
- Mike Streton – East: 108
- George Winter – West: 114
- Steven Bryden – East: 123
- Clem Vroom – West: 158
- Albert van Kersen – West: 170
- Gavin Gilmer – East: 203
- Rodney Idris – East: 204
- Brian – West: 217
- Llewellyn Thomas – West: 219
- Dave Bilsbury – East: 240
- Jim Wright – West: 260
- Wally Maritz – West: 261
- Fanie Roux – West: 264
- Terry – West: 279
From an article written (mostly) by Teresa Van Kersen writing for the South African Radio Sailing Authority.
Related: Radio Control Sailing on the Boardwalk Lake
R36 Radio Controlled Sailing Yachts battle it out in the East vs West Showdown, Image: Rodney Idris
