Knysa Yacht Club extends their lead

With very light winds out of the west, it was touch and go as to whether there would be a race today. Fortunately, for the sailors, the Compulsory Courses had been sailed and this allowed Di Hutton-Squire, the Race Officer, to set a shorter course of around 6 miles. After bobbing around Table Bay for a couple of hours, waiting for the wind to fill in, the race finally started at 1435. With only 5 knots of wind over the course, it was slow going and imperative for the skippers to start in clean air and get away from the melee at the start and then take advantage of every puff and wind shift.

Thrills Spills and a Capsize - Lipton Challenge Cup Day 3

Day three in the Lipton Cup, started with flat seas and a light southerly breeze. With the weather forecast predicting 15 knots out of the S, the crews sailed onto the race course knowing that the days course would most probably be the final compulsory course, a rectangle. True to form, the Committee and mark laying boats laid the rectangular course and it was time to prepare for battle.

Lipton Day 2 and the Compeition Gets Tighter

With one day of racing under their belts and a sense of who were the teams to beat and watch out for, the 25 yachts competing in this years Lipton Cup Challenge Cup left the confines of Table Bay Harbour and headed out onto the race course in light NW winds of around 9 -11 knots and lumpy seas, left over from the cold front that passed through the area two days ago. Difficult sailing conditions on little 8 m yachts who are easily stopped by the swell.

Lipton Cup Challenge Starts with a Bang

With the first race today, scheduled to start as the Athlone Towers met their fate, sailors from all over the country braved the lumpy seas and cold rain to compete in the opening race of this year's Lipton Cup Challenge.

One of the unique features of the Lipton Cup Challenge is that there are 3 required courses and it is customary for the Race officer to attempt to set the most difficult course, a square, on the very first day of the regatta. After dealing with the constantly shifting winds, Di Hutton-Squire, the Race Officer, decided to abandon her attempt to make use of the square course and set a windward, leeward (like a sausage) course as the first race. With the new course set, the sailors jostled for position and started the first race at 1310, only to have the Race Committee call for a General Recall after a large number of the yachts were across the line at the start.