Written by Stewart Giles
18 November 2023
When 33 boats confirm entry to a race that statistically attracts half that you know something special is happening. The healthy interest could be, in part due to the fact that this was the first year the Pursuit Race was to be included in the GP series, but whatever the reason it was clear this was going to be a really, really cool sailing event.
33 entries and 28 starters on the day, and the wind predictions looked promising. This could be interesting. However, as is often the case the wind forecast is about as reliable as Eskom. There was wind. And then there wasn’t. And then there was. But more on that later.
With the start in place courtesy of the awesome DAC Bridge/mark laying team of Ann, Marie, Tersia and Wesley the majority of the fleet were away before 11.00. After a quick dash to the weather mark, the spinnakers came up and the Holidays, Mistrals, Astoves, Stadts and a lone Nimbus headed for the Muster Mark.
After a quick port howzit to the Seal Point Mark it was a beat to LDYC and Noumea, the Mistral helmed by Mark Tee was already telling the rest of the fleet that he meant business. By now the majority of the other competitors had started too, but the leading boats were blissfully unaware of this. Noumea had built up a considerable lead now but, as we all know – it ain’t over until….
With handicaps being eaten up, and skippers wondering whether to hug the shore or take a more direct path to LDYC the wind was showing signs of easing up. And then it did just that. A mirror of water reminiscent of Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner spread out as far as the eye could see. Not a puff in sight. And by then the J27 skippered by Jake Opperman had already joined the party. Instigator had infiltrated the fleet and wasn’t about to take any prisoners.
Meanwhile…
Over on the other side of the dam, an unseen battle was taking place. And it involved a Dragonfly and the eventual winner of the race. But this wouldn’t be a story worth reading if the ending was revealed this early on in the tale.
Back on the south side of the dam the ripples on the water suggested a change was on the cards, but by now an L26 and a J22 had joined the fray, and this didn’t bode well for the slower boats. Rob Wilcox on Streetcar and Jessica Lenz’s Jazzy were in the running.
This was confirmed when the majority of the fleet headed for the Muster Mark again. Streetcar and Jazzy were now dots in the periphery, heading for Rose Bay.
It’s all over, some said.
Then a few things happened at once. A Fareast 28, skippered by Deon Viljoen started to gain on the others. Manny Raposo’s Dragonfly wasn’t far behind. The sky darkened and the temperature dropped a few degrees. And then the wind started to howl. The boats in the front sped off – the Mistrals said Please no, and did what Mistrals do at times like these. The flattening of the Mistrals enabled some of the other boats to catch up. Brad Wooley on his Stadt 34 took full advantage and steadily passed the Stadt 23 sailed by Tyronne Morris, who reacted to this in the only way possible, by shrugging his shoulders.
That’s the Pursuit Race for you.
As the cutoff time loomed the L26 looked like he had it in the bag. Then Phattass decided otherwise. Deon Viljoen clearly reckoned this was a DAC race and therefore a DAC member had to win it. And win it he did. The Fareast 28 took the honours at 16.00 with Streetcar in second and Instigator in the bronze position.
It was an amazing sailing event, and it was an unprecedented one in which the first ten boats were from different sailboat classes. The smiles on the faces of the sailors back on land told a story of their own.
The 2023 Deneysville Aquatic Club Pursuit Race was possibly the best one ever. There was something for everyone and this definitely bodes well for the future of sailing on the Vaal Dam.
Hats off to DAC for another impeccably organised sailing event.
