SENIORS' RACE 2009

Sponsors   &   Race report

1st Overall   Ancient Mariner Trophy   Windpower   Gerhard Koper 1st 90 plus   JC Louw Binacle   Carousel   Hein Schipper 1st 80 - 90   Phil Nankin Octant Trophy   Ariel   Sherriff Saville 1st 70 - 80   Hermon Mory Cup   Spilhaus III   Teddy Kuttel 1st 60 - 70   The Grypon Trophy   Lobelia   Gordon Kling RCYC One-Design Mug   Ariel   Sherriff Saville

1 Windpower Gerhard Koper 60-69 2 Lobelia Gordon Kling 60-69 3 Pure Magic Ron Keytel 60-69 4 Lets Go Duncan Johnson 60-69 5 Spilhaus III Teddy Kuttel 70-79 6 Vodoo Wayne Hennings 60-69 7 After You Bill O' Reilly 70-79 8 Gumption Dave Abromowitz 60-69 9 Eight Seconds Grant Ballantyne 70-79 10 Maestro Ankie Roux 60-69 11 Tally Ho John Waller 60-69 12 Majimoto II Paul Mare 60-69 13 Impact John Conner 70-79 14 Ariel Sherriff Saville 80-89 15 Hill Billy Ian Meggy 60-69 16 Thunderchild Vince Goldswain 70-79 17 Touch & Go Geoff Myburgh 80-89 18 African Renaisence Linsay Birch 60-69 19 Me2Me Derick Shutteworth 60-69 20 Paragon Clive Fledermann 60-69 21 Reaction Jrermy Johson 60-69 22 Aurora Mel Hawtrey 60-69 23 Thunderchild II Rod Davis 70-79 24 Pallucci Syd Kaye 60-69 25 Solitaire William Combrink 70-79 26 Celine IV Volker Vierhaus 60-69 27 Amigo G Barrett ? 28 Bundi J Loots ? 29 Nauti Bouy Theo vd Hoek 60-69 30 Julie III Robin Green 70-79 31 Suidoos II Mel Stephens 70-79 32 Diel Bernard Diebold 60-69 33 FTI Flyer Keith Mattison 60-69 34 Nautiash Pieter Groenhof 60-69 35 Libra Willy Schutten 80-89 36 Indaba John Levin 60-69 37 Ambre Brian Bradfield 80-89 38 JML Ivor Ossberg 70-79 39 Morgenster Ken vd Waldt 70-79 40 Toy Hermon Mory 60-69 41 Carousel Hein Schipper 90-99 42 Chantecler Joe de Kock 70-79 43 Goblet Charles Paice 80-89 44 Orca Tunney Kirk 70-79 45 Apricot Bat Tromp 70-79 46 Storm Petr Muzik 70-79 47 Ava Ken Botwood 60-69 48 Spirit Mike Phillips 70-79 49 Foam Barry Wolf 60-69 50 Moonshine Alan Hughes 60-69 51 Shebeeza Willie Krohn 60-69 Click here for more pictures from Pam Newby and here for ones from Trevor Wilkins

A big THANK YOU to our sponsors:
Action Yachting, RCYC Absa Bank, Regional Marketing Division. B.Canvas, Paarden Eiland Baltic Timbers, Woodstock Bernard Diebold CKD Boats, Paarden Eiland Central Boating, Cape Town Charts International, Cape Town. Colin Kidwell Dave Abromowitz Engineering Services, Bloubergrand First National Bank, Regional Marketing Division. Harken Yacht Equipment, Paarden Eiland. Jack Clarke Manex & Power Marine, Paarden Eiland Marine Equipment Supplies, Salt River		Mar Azul Catering, RCYC. Mediterranean Shipping, Foreshore Mel Stephens Much Asphalte, Eerse River. North Sails, Paarden Eiland Padda Kuttel Peter Bouchard Puma Sports SA. Quantum Sail Design, Maitland Richard Burnett Smit Marine, Cape Town. Standard Bank, Regional Marketing Division. Teddy Kuttel Traditional Boat Association Warwick Financial Advisory Services

and finally a huge WELL DONE to the A-Team who sourced the sponsors for all the prizes!
Charles Paice, Hein Schipper, Jack Clarke, Tunney Kirk, Colin Kidwell & Gillian Shapley.

about the A-Team

 

RCYC SENIORS' RACE 2009 Report by Trygve Roberts Each year a band of senior yachtsmen get together at RCYC to do some sailing and a lot of reminiscing. I have observed over the years, the incredible bond of older sailors and our great southern ocean. (having been instrumental in having Ron Keytel on board our J27 and progressing steadily through the ranks until he won the overall winners' trophy last year) Here amongst our older members (the ranks of which I am about to enter) one looks carefully beneath the withered brows and sunburnt skin and many faces become recognizable - sailors who have shapoed this countries' sailing history: Dave Abromowitz, Hein Schipper (how I envy that man and wish I can be like him one day), Gerhard Koper, Sheriff Saville (my octogenarian hero) and many more like him. I was wondering how I could possibly do this event justice in 300 words and the truth is, I can not. Being at the prize giving is one of the most moving sailing events one can imagine. It seriously brings a lump to ones throat. Fifty one yachts completed the event in conditions which can only be described as very kind. Not that a blustery south easter would deter any of these ancient mariners! The race is run as a pursuit race with the little boats starting first and with all respect to the senior sailors, no spinnakers are allowed, although I strongly suspect if this rule were abolished, the bay would have been resplendent in colourful spinnakers. How about it for next year organizers? The day was close to perfect with a low bank of fog looming out to sea and a light to moderate Westerly tickling the Atlantic. A whale frolicking right in the path of the yachts caused no undue alarm. At 14h00 the first boat (Buccaneer "Let's Go!") set off to the windward mark. It took a long time before the fastest boat (and eventual winner) - Landmark 43 skippered by Gerhard Koper finally crossed the starting line. Light winds and a few large holes spread over the course saw several skippers coming to an untimely standstill, whilst others with more luck, tacked away and remained in the pressure. After a slow run down to the Milnerton mark, it was still the diminutive Buccaneer well in the lead but others were closing fast. At the penultimate mark rounding it was Buccaneer "Lets Go" (Duncan Johnson), followed by the J27 "Pure Magic" (Ron Keytel) and the Landmark 43 "Windpower" (Gerhard Koper) in third place. The final short broad reach to the finish line saw a few changes with the Buccaneer losing the first three places to finish 4th overall. Gerhard Koper in the new 43 ft boat had too much power and won comfortably from "Lobelia" (Gordon Kling) who just pipped Ron Keytel in the J27 "Pure Magic" into third place by one second. The real winner was the sport of sailing and this big fleet of competitive sailors who pitched to honour our senior sailors. The men and women who have brought glory and honour to this wonderful sport of yachting. If you were one of those who attended the magnificent prize giving ceremony, you will agree the level of competence of organization is only matched by the skill on the water. Each year I am increasingly touched by the emotion of this event. Perhaps it is because I am about to enter this phase of my life? Each year a new crop of outstanding sailors qualify to sail in this event. Waiting in the wings are Geoff Meek, Rick Nankin and others. One thing is certain - this event will be well attended for many years to come as South Africa's beaker of quality yachtsmen keeps growing. Roll on 2010!