HUNTER NATIONALS 2004

What a regatta.....what a finish....
Hats off to Witbank Yacht and Aquatic Club for hosting a bumper regatta deserving of it's National status. Hats off too to our sponsors for having the vision to support a class which has proven itself as a perfect nursery for future Springboks. Thirty Boats on the start line...... not many classes can boast that entry.

E.T. Wins a tightly fought battle with Odin's Eye, whilst Guess Who battles Mickey for 3rd..
Herbie and Gerrie sailed out of their skins to steal the Championship out of Tony and Jason's grip in the last race of the regatta. Up to this stage, it was Odin's Eye all the way as Tony and Jason sailed consistently well in tricky conditions which even confounded the locals. John Bruckman and his crew had to fight tooth and nail to hold onto 3rd as Mickey sailed into contention.

Finds of the regatta have to be Mike Dann and his crew, on a borrowed Hunter, who sailed very competitively, and of course Spazzymoto continues to serve notice.... wait until they have a new suit of sails....!!

At the AGM, on Sunday evening, it was decided after a vote, to run the KZN Provincials Offshore... lets hope the 17 people who voted FOR put their money where their mouths are, eh?... and support the event. Sailing offshore can be fantastic fun.... Jessica has been given the green light to organise next year's Nationals at a Club of her choice... and all dates basically remain as they are.

Technically, it was decided that blades with full length top battens are permitted but not mandatory, but that barberhaulers on the Blade are outlawed. It was also agreed to amend the rules to accommodate the new Hunter Mast section.

Our new Chairman, is Colin Hay, a dedicated Hunter sailor who can be relied on totally to drive the class whilst retaining it's attractions, and Jessica Lenz was revoted as our Treasurer, with Sandy Ostendorf as Secretary again.. Well done you guys and gals.

War Stories abound, mainly relating to the travelling to and from the regatta.. Midmar boats alone suffered 4 tyre failures, and two wheel bearing failures....... one resulting in a hunter having to be trailed home on a low-bed at considerable cost.

On the Lighter side... after a good party, at 3am one quiet morning, one nameless hunter sailor was heard by all camping in the vicinity of his tent , serenading his lady.... promises of unimaginable acts of love were promised, all of this over his cell phone. Just what this produced for the luckless sailor makes one wonder, being that the call was made in the middle of the night. Ah well, it's great to hear that romance is alive and well in the Hunter Fleet!

RESULTS

SAIL No	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3	RACE 4	RACE 5	RACE 6	TOTAL	DIS	FINAL RESULTS	NAME SKIPPER
182		5	3	1	1	1	11	11	1	HERBIE KAROLUS
40	2	2	2		4	3	13	5	2	TONY COCKERILL
2004	1	4	4		3	8	20	8	3	J.BRUCKMANN
265	4	3		6	2	5	20	14	4	LESTER JOHNSTON
299	8	7	1	2	8		26	9	5	MIKE DANN
433		10	6	4	6	2	28	12	6	ROBERT EDWARDS
2000	3	6		10	10	4	33	11	7	DAVE MARTINSON
2011	10	9	8	3	5		35	30	8	CHRIS FROST
2008	6	1		7	12	15	41	15	9	COLIN HAY
215	5	8	13	11	11		48	14	10	BARRY OGILVIE
2001		13	7	9	7	12	48	15	11	JESSICA LENTZ
179		15	9	12	14	10	60	18	12	GRAHAM GENLLOUD
227	9	12	17		16	6	60	30	13	JAMES KING
458		20	5	13	15	11	64	20	14	SLEIGH HAYNES
257	7		12	14	13	18	64	30*	15	DES DRAKE
2000 yellow (409)	13	16		15	9	13	66	18	16	FRANK LENTZ
263	14	18	10	17		7	66	19	17	MALCOLM ORREN
446	21	11		16	18	17	83	30	18	JOHN LATILLA
414		21	19	19	17	16	92	24	19	ALAN MADDERN
444	27	17		23	20	21	108	30*	20	KELLY TEASDALE
745	19	23	30	18		19	109	23	21	JOHN OGILVIE
460	17	19		21	30	30	117	30	22	ROBIN McINTOSH
261	22		16	20	30	30	118	30	23	DAVE CLAXTON
221	23		30	25	21	20	119	30	24	J LAMB
438	16	22		24	30	30	122	30	25	GRAHAM KEIR
751	25		30	27	22	22	126	30	26	PIET BOTHA
184	28	24		28	24	23	127	30	27	SAM STEENBERG
761	26		30	26	30	30	142	30	28	LUKE WAGNER
766	30	30	30	22	30	30	172	30	29	KURT ORST