The last of 10 races to be
sailed. Positions one and two, and positions three and four, for
the 2007 National Championship event would be decided by the
outcome of a single race!
This was the position on Saturday 24 March as Race Officer,
Austin Daly, led the fleet of 31 Hunters out on to Witbank Dam
to set the course and start the final race of the event. The
mid-afternoon south-westerly wind settled and all was set for a
fitting finale to a championship event of the highest order.
The action had started on the Wednesday with the weighing of
entered boats and the event registration process. A no-nonsense
briefing in the clubhouse was followed by the usual bustle of
activity associated with last-minute racing preparation. This
preparation was to prove invaluable as the winds to be
experienced during the event would soon be seen to test sailors
and equipment alike. Many of the more seasoned campaigners were
heard to comment, at conclusion of racing, that they had never
experienced such consistency of wind strength at Witbank for the
duration of a major Hunter class event.
Two races on Wednesday followed by four races on Thursday saw
the result sheets reflect the closeness of the racing out on the
water. A further three races in challenging conditions on
Friday, coupled with the toll on bodies and boats, had a total
of nine races completed. Result sheets were again studied at
some length, with accompanying speculative debate, as crews
prepared themselves for the challenges of Saturday’s final race.
Much was at stake in all the categories of the event in which
performance would be formally recognised.
An absorbing tussle developed soon after the start of race ten
between leading boats,‘Copadaph’(John Bruckman/Dave Martinson-WYAC)
and ‘Essex Girl’(Paul Changuion/Tim Duguid-HMYC). It was ‘Essex
Girl’ ahead until ‘Copadaph’ caught the wind under spinnaker on
an outside line to the leeward mark. From there on it was the
local boat covering to finish the race ahead of her rival and to
clinch the title. The result makes it two-in-a–row for John and
Dave who took the title in 2006 on ‘Guesswho?’
Recovering well from a bad start was ‘BB’(Craig Millar/Mike
Surgeson-HMYC) , who slipped inside closest rivals and oldest
boat in the fleet, ‘Odin’s Eye’(Tony Cockerill/Hank Pike-HMYC),
at the final mark to claim overall third position.
The Hunter Class AGM was held on Thursday, the Hunter Class
Dinner (sponsored by ‘Schneider Electric’) on Friday, and the
Prizegiving held on Saturday evening. Also generous in their
sponsorship of aspects of the championship programme and
contributing to the success of the event was ‘AMTEC Project
Management’.
Credit must go to all, especially host club WYAC and their
members and helpers, who contributed to make the 2007 Hunter
Class National Championships one of the most successful class
events to date.
Apparently, the year 2008 will mark 40 years of the HUNTER class
in South Africa. Entries in the National Championship event have
been in excess of 30 of these wonderful little keelboats for the
last nine championships. Class members have undertaken to work
hard in all the regions to achieve an entry of 50 boats at the
Hunter Class National Championships to be held at LDYC on the
Vaal Dam from Friday 21 March to Monday 24 March 2008.
2007 National Championships-Results:
*Championships
1 ‘Copadaph’ (J Bruckman/D Martinson-WYAC)
2 ‘Essex Girl’ (P Changuion/T Duguid-HMYC)
3 ‘BB’ (C Millar/M Surgeson-HMYC)
4 ‘Odin’s Eye’ (T Cockerill/H Pike-HMYC)
5 ‘Mickey’ (L Johnstone/V Owen-LDYC)
*Handicap
1 ‘Odin’s Flirt’ (Anthony McMillan/Lauren Ross-HMYC)
Youth sailors and 12th overall
2 ‘Donatella’ (C Hay/G Brown-WYAC)
3 ‘Caliph’ (R Hill/L Clark-WYAC)
*Youth Trophy
1 ‘White Ice’ ( Luke and Steven Wagner-HMYC)
9th overall
*Club Trophy( 5 boats’ scores to count)
1 HMYC ( who trailed 7 boats to the event)
2 WYAC
3 SPYC
Chairman’s Trophy (for Outstanding Service to the Hunter Class)
Inaugural award in 2007 – Simon Farrington
Results
| Rank |
Boat Name |
Sail No |
Helm |
Crew |
Club |
Race 1 |
Race 2 |
Race 3 |
Race 4 |
Race 5 |
Race 6 |
Race 7 |
Race 8 |
Race 9 |
Race 10 |
Nett |
| 1 |
Copadaph |
2000 |
John Bruckmann |
Dave Martinson |
WYAC |
1.0 |
3.0 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
5.0 |
2.0 |
15.0 |
| 2 |
Essex Girl |
2013 |
Paul Chaguien |
Tim Duguid |
HMYC |
4.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
5.0 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
3.0 |
4.0 |
17.0 |
| 3 |
Baby Blue |
181 |
Craig Miller |
Mike Surgeson |
HMYC |
6.0 |
5.0 |
3.0 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
1.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
4.0 |
5.0 |
26.0 |
| 4 |
Odins Eye |
40 |
Tony Cockerill |
Hank Pike |
HMYC |
2.0 |
4.0 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
4.0 |
8.0 |
11.0 |
6.0 |
2.0 |
6.0 |
27.0 |
| 5 |
Mickey |
265 |
Lester johnstone |
Vaun Owen |
LDYC |
11.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
2.0 |
6.0 |
7.0 |
8.0 |
4.0 |
1.0 |
DNC |
40.0 |
| 6 |
Spassymoto |
404 |
Robert Edwards |
Andrew Edwards |
SPYC |
7.0 |
7.0 |
9.0 |
7.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
7.0 |
5.0 |
12.0 |
9.0 |
52.0 |
| 7 |
Carpet Bagger |
409 |
Mike Hayton |
Malcolm Orren |
WYAC |
8.0 |
8.0 |
7.0 |
6.0 |
8.0 |
9.0 |
5.0 |
10.0 |
7.0 |
15.0 |
58.0 |
| 8 |
E T |
182 |
Herbie Karoleus |
Chris Emery |
DAC |
3.0 |
2.0 |
5.0 |
9.0 |
7.0 |
6.0 |
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
1.0 |
65.0 |
| 9 |
White Ice |
256 |
Luke Wagner |
Steven Wagner |
HMYC |
13.0 |
20.0 |
11.0 |
8.0 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
8.0 |
6.0 |
10.0 |
73.0 |
| 10 |
Bounty |
215 |
Barry Ogilvie |
James Grierson |
WYAC |
10.0 |
13.0 |
8.0 |
12.0 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
6.0 |
9.0 |
8.0 |
13.0 |
79.0 |
| 11 |
Assegaai |
2001 |
Jesica Lenz |
Shellee Pots |
SPYC |
5.0 |
12.0 |
15.0 |
18.0 |
17.0 |
13.0 |
14.0 |
7.0 |
10.5 |
7.0 |
83.5 |
| 12 |
Odins Flirt |
145 |
Antony McMillan |
Lauren Ross |
HMYC |
14.0 |
19.0 |
13.0 |
14.0 |
15.0 |
15.0 |
4.0 |
12.0 |
13.0 |
3.0 |
88.0 |
| 13 |
Rags |
179 |
Graham Genloud |
Richard Genloud |
WYAC |
15.0 |
9.0 |
10.0 |
13.0 |
11.0 |
4.0 |
17.0 |
15.0 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
90.0 |
| 14 |
Slipery When Wet |
773 |
Simon Farrington |
Terrie Pratt |
LDYC |
9.0 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
15.0 |
13.0 |
11.0 |
13.0 |
DNC |
10.5 |
8.0 |
92.5 |
| 15 |
Amaglugglug |
224 |
Barry Hundley |
Grant Parker |
Witts |
12.0 |
10.0 |
12.0 |
16.0 |
12.0 |
17.0 |
12.0 |
11.0 |
16.0 |
11.0 |
96.0 |
| 16 |
Orion |
736 |
Sean VanRensburg |
Pierre Van Rensburg |
DAC |
23.0 |
15.0 |
19.0 |
10.0 |
9.0 |
16.0 |
15.0 |
19.0 |
9.0 |
20.0 |
112.0 |
| 17 |
Donatella |
2003 |
Colin Hay |
Garry Brown |
WYAC |
26.0 |
21.0 |
16.0 |
11.0 |
19.0 |
12.0 |
9.0 |
14.0 |
21.0 |
12.0 |
114.0 |
| 18 |
Mistress |
222 |
Peter Metcalf |
Big Dave |
HMYC |
16.0 |
24.0 |
17.0 |
19.0 |
22.0 |
20.0 |
16.0 |
13.0 |
15.0 |
DNC |
138.0 |
| 19 |
Jabula |
446 |
John Latilla |
Brendon Latilla |
WYAC |
17.0 |
16.0 |
18.0 |
17.0 |
20.5 |
21.0 |
19.0 |
17.0 |
DNC |
19.0 |
143.5 |
| 20 |
Paradiem Shift |
460 |
Rob McIntosh |
Keneth Renton |
HMYC |
20.0 |
17.0 |
24.0 |
22.0 |
23.0 |
DSQ |
20.0 |
20.0 |
17.0 |
16.0 |
155.0 |
| 21 |
Jenny Wren |
184 |
Niel Ellinson |
Allen Maddern |
WYAC |
18.0 |
23.0 |
21.0 |
20.0 |
16.0 |
24.0 |
18.0 |
16.0 |
DNC |
DNC |
156.0 |
| 22 |
Haysons |
2008 |
Rory Hay |
Craig Hay |
WYAC |
19.0 |
11.0 |
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
18.0 |
21.0 |
22.0 |
19.0 |
17.0 |
159.0 |
| 23 |
Caliph |
221 |
Roger Hill |
Lionel Clark |
WYAC |
22.0 |
22.0 |
22.0 |
21.0 |
20.5 |
22.0 |
OCS |
18.0 |
18.0 |
18.0 |
161.5 |
| 24 |
Miraculix |
457 |
Dillen LeRoux |
Andrew Ballard |
PSC |
21.0 |
25.0 |
23.0 |
25.0 |
18.0 |
19.0 |
23.0 |
23.0 |
DNC |
DNC |
177.0 |
| 25 |
Jeldi 2 |
448 |
Rob Watson |
Steve Thysse |
TYC |
27.0 |
28.0 |
25.0 |
23.0 |
24.0 |
26.0 |
26.0 |
26.0 |
20.0 |
21.0 |
191.0 |
| 26 |
Guess Who |
2004 |
Alice DeWet |
Angela Chokie |
WYAC |
25.0 |
18.0 |
20.0 |
24.0 |
25.0 |
23.0 |
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
199.0 |
| 27 |
Sirocco II |
745 |
John Ogilvie |
Shaun Viljoen |
WYAC |
30.0 |
DNF |
26.0 |
26.0 |
26.0 |
25.0 |
24.0 |
21.0 |
22.0 |
DNC |
200.0 |
| 28 |
Girl Friday |
441 |
B Funke |
Roy Tolfts |
TYC |
28.0 |
DNC |
27.0 |
28.0 |
28.0 |
28.0 |
22.0 |
27.0 |
23.0 |
22.0 |
205.0 |
| 29 |
Aptronics |
735 |
Daddy |
Elliot & Steven |
DAC |
29.0 |
27.0 |
28.0 |
27.0 |
27.0 |
27.0 |
27.0 |
24.0 |
24.0 |
23.0 |
206.0 |
| 30 |
Wild Thing |
263 |
Rhys McMillan |
Warren Clarke |
WYAC |
24.0 |
26.0 |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
25.0 |
25.0 |
DNC |
DNC |
228.0 |
| 31 |
Six Pack |
717 |
M Clarke |
Donovan Martinson |
WYAC |
DNC |
DNC |
29.0 |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
28.0 |
DNC |
24.0 |
241.0 |
