(Mpumalanga, South Africa)- What to do on an Easter Weekend in South Africa? Go sailing no matter what "Mum" says! From 1000 hours on Easter Friday, the grounds of Witbank Yacht & Aquatic Club became a hive of activity in frantic and hyper-kinetic preparation for the Amtec J/22 Mpumalanga Provincial Championships. Life was made easier for the registration team as most of the information had been collected prior to the event. Thank goodness since we had a HUGE turn-out twenty-one boats!
Witbank
Yacht Club had pulled out all the stops with the facilities and
infrastructure ensuring a well run and organised event. With boats and
crew prepared, the winners of the Amtec sponsored spinnaker, the team on
PAGURO IV, knew that their chances had just improved. The first race on
Saturday started with winds of 8-10 knots, an organised bridge
committee had a course laid and a prompt start for the fleet of 21
J/22's commenced at 1100. No one boat held the first place consecutively
as the competition was close and fierce. In the first three races a
maximum of 8 minutes separated the first and last boats. A quick
turnaround between races ensured that a total of 6 races were completed.
The Durban entry, VOODOO skippered by Luke Wagner and crewed by Jean
and Siya showed that they were a team to be reckoned with achieving two
firsts, two seconds, a third and a fourth. The steady wind which calmed
slightly after three races did nothing to deter the boat skippered and
crewed by the Youth team. They were as competitive as their experienced
senior counterparts as proved by Donovan Kruger on HAKAHANA rounding the
mark first in the 6th race and ultimately finishing 7th. As the sound
signals for the 6th race were heard there were some tired bodies but the
focus was ever present with five minutes separating the first and last
boat. Sunday saw a lighter breeze but four evenly matched races
completed the regatta on 10.
The
land crew worked extremely hard getting all J22's out of the water in
preparation for the J/22 Amtec Nationals scrutineering. Prize-giving
acknowledged Donavan Kruger, with his team of Jared, Steven Kruger and
Justin Botha being the first placed youth skipper. Third place saw
US'N'J skippered by Graham Baker with Barry and Shaun Gurnell with 28
points, second VOODOO with Luke and his team with 25 points and first
place to Richard Weiderholdt on CELL C with his team of Greg Plunkett
and Rob Edwards on 18 points. Special thanks went to Mike Hayton of
Amtec for his sponsorship, time and effort as well as all Witbank Yacht
Club ensuring a fantastic regatta was held by all. For more J/22 Mpumalanga Provincial sailing information
