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"SCHNEIDER
ELECTRIC" HUNTER
CLASS NATIONALS
Friday 21 March to Monday 24 March 2008
Lake Denys Yacht Club - Vaal Dam
Forty years of the Hunter Class in South Africa
celebrated in a most fitting manner.
Nearly FIFTY of these nineteen foot,
two-man keelers gathered at LDYC to enjoy four days
of sailing, participating in a well-organise event
in wonderful company, generously hosted by the folk
of LDYC.
Race Officer Rob McCrystal applied his knowledge of
the changeable local conditions to good effect in
order to get through a programme of seven races in
the four days. His experience prevented the fleet
from being subjected to the worst of a typical
highveld rain-and-wind storm on one of the mornings
and from the frustrations associated with bobbing
around on the water in windless conditions on other
occasions.
At the end of the third day and after six races (
results including a discard after race five ), the
results sheet made for interesting reading with
three boats having won races at that stage. A first
for the class was a national event race win for the
all-girl crew of 'Assegaai', Jessica Lenz/Shellee
Potts. Cheers were heard from across the fleet as
the girls took the bell at the end of their race.
They were well-placed in fifth position at this
stage. Not to be outdone was last year's runner-up
'Essex Girl' (Paul Changuion/Matt Fleming) in joint
second position as they staked their claim with two
wins. In a commanding position at the top of the
leaderboard was 'Guesswho?', with John Bruckman/Dave
Martinson ( Champions in 2006 and 2007) in sublime
form as they captured the lion's share of three
first position placings.
Also in second place were 'Monkey' (Alex Schon/Rob
Edwards) and 'Vaal Valk' (Herbie Carolius/Keith
Vennell) as they sailed consistently at the head of
the fleet. In the chasing pack, well-known names of
other members of the Hunter class hovered with a
chance of top positions .'Odin's Eye' (Tony
Cockerill/Hank Pike) and 'Baby Blue' (Craig
Millar/Mike Sergeson) had enjoyed mixed fortunes.
'Bad News', skippered by last year's Youth winner
Luke Wagner (crewed by Reg Ross), enjoyed improving
performances in the later races.
All through the fleet, tussles for position had
developed as the many participating boats measured
their performance in the event
against their closest rivals. Many a tale will be
recounted well into the future on some of the
incidents that occurred during the sailing of the
seven races of the event. Embellished they most
probably will be, and their recounting will be
matched only by that of the tales of enjoyment while
the fleet was off the water.
On to the final day and the substantial LDYC
breakfast witnessed much discussion as to the
prospects for the day's racing as the reluctant
morning breeze built slowly from the north-east. RO
McCrystal had the fleet out to the racing area
pretty smartly, ably assisted by members of his
mark-laying and support team.
The dying wind had the RO shortening course for what
was to be the final race of the national event and
the bell signalled a good win for the oldest
participating Hunter, 'Odin's Eye' (Tony Cockerill),
as she crossed the line ahead of 'Guesswho?' (John
Bruckman), 'Monkey' (Alex Schon), 'Baby Blue' (Craig
Millar) and 'Bad News' (Luke Wagner).
Incoming chairman of the Hunter class, Alex Schon,
conducted the prizegiving. He took the opportunity
to thank the LDYC committee and staff for the manner
in which the club had organised and hosted the
event. Special mention was made of Terrie
Pratt and Simon Farrington for the huge effort
that they put in to ensuring the resounding success
of the event. The Chairman also took the opportunity
to remind those present of the exciting proposals
for the future growth and development of the Hunter
Class.
Overall 'Top Ten' Positions:
1. John Bruckman/Dave Martinson -WYAC ('Guesswho?')
National Class Champions three years in
succession !
2. Alex Schon /Rob Edwards
-LDYC ('Monkey')
3. Herbie Karolius/Keith Vennell
-DAC ('Vaal Valk')
4. Tony Cockerill/Hank Pike
-HMYC ('Odin's Eye')
5. Paul Changuion/Matt Fleming
-HMYC ('Essex Girl')
6. Jessica Lenz/Shellee Potts
-VCA ('Assegaai')
7. Luke Wagner/Reg Ross
-HMYC ('Bad News')
8. Craig Millar/Mike Sergeson
- HMYC ('Baby Blue')
9. Simon Farrington/Greg Plunkett - LDYC
('Slippery when Wet')
10.Lester Johnstone/Kai Ackerman -LDYC
('Mickey')
Youth:
1. Tielman Burger Jnr/Dylan Emmett - LDYC ('Whirlygig')
2. Stephen Wagner/William Crockett -HMYC
('Sarah')
'Reg Beavitt Memorial
Trophy'
- Inter club competition:
1. HMYC 'Raiders'
2. LDYC
3. WYAC
Class
Chairman's Award
- Service to the Hunter Class
Joint Award - Simon Farrington/Terrie Pratt
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
HMYC Hunter Class
Off-Season Comms
By 'sHuCCs' --28 August 2008
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CLUB NOTICES / FORTHCOMING EVENTS / DATES TO DIARISE
(check the HMYC general news section on the club
website for more detail)
The full HMYC Club Calendars for '08/'09
is available on their website.
*
HMYC Opening Cruise
-
Day programme
Sunday 31 August 2008
Lunch 12h00
Briefing 13h30 Sail
Past 13h30
Azalea Cup 14h30
For
lunch at Opening Cruise, HMYC's new Club
Management's 'opening gambit',
'Patrick's
Pasta Dish' and Dessert at only R45 a head
!!!!!!!!!!
(Remainder of torso? Negotiable !)
Please contact Dave Patrick at
afroconf@iafrica.com to confirm your attendance
at the Lunch.
*
HMYC Class Championships
series ( 8 events in series)
viz. 29er, Lazer,
Hunter (GD/Hunter
Trophy events),
and ANY other boat 'making class'
incorporating Monthly Mug events for all classes
FIRST
SUNDAY of EACH MONTH from September to April
*
HUNTER KZN PROVINCIALS
- Saturday 13 to Monday 15 December - HMYC, Midmar
Dam
(dates to be confirmed soon)
HMYC AGM,
Prize-Giving and Dinner
Saturday 21 June 2008 at the
Victoria Country Club.
Please refer to Club main news on this website for a
brief report on this occasion.
The list of award/prize winners reflected the
contribution that the Hunter Class is making to
events at HMYC at present.
"Well done Class!''
LATEST
REPORTS
Beware THE HMYC RAIDERS in 2008/2009 !!
Information is that there is already much activity
at HMYC as the Hunter fraternity make their
preparations for a busy sailing season ahead !
"ALWAYS
DRINK UPSTREAM FROM THE HERD"
(Will Rogers)
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South
African Sailing
