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Race Results Ladies Race Nov 2011
1ST JUDITH AND NORMAN EDWARDS
PENNANT NINE YACHT CLUB, VAAL MARINA, VAAL DAM. - Martin Smit
The annual Pennant Nine Yacht Club Ladies Race was held on 26 November 2011 with an improved entry list of nine entries from previous years, with seven local (PNYC) entries and three visiting yachts.
The visitors were the regular Pacer 27, Unruly, from DAC, with Margie Gibson on the helm, the M23 of Michael Vijverberg, helmed by daughter Eline Vijverberg, and a 29er of Jonas Vijverberg, helmed by novice Marian de Pontes.
Local Club yachts included Catcha Booga (Carribea 28) Nancy de Vries, Bonaventure (Buccaneer) Judith Edwards, Sofia (Nimbus) Jenny Smith, Genevieve (S23) Erica Chiappero, Lazey Daze (Kelkiewyn) Lesley Webb, Tarka (S22) Jo-Anne de Lange, and Sea Quill (S34) Renata Reeve.
With the wind forecast at a good 6-7 knots north-west to westerly, it promised to be ideal winds. A triangular course was laid to accommodate the variation in boats competing and sailing angles and everything set to go, and the race started.
Of course the Vaal Dam wind queen decided its time to switch, with a lull before slowly switching to such a light to non-existent north-easterly that some competitors were battling to cross the line.
Thankfully the breeze filled in a bit, more from a northerly direction, and the tail enders could also get going.
The steady 6-7 knots forecast was never really there, with the wind fluctuating between 2-6 knots at best, eventually steadying to 5-6 knots towards the end.
This prompted the bridge to shorten the race to two laps in order to finish before dusk.
The faster M23 and Pacer 27 had a really good ding-dong around the course, predictably finishing well ahead of the other yachts, with the M23 taking line honours by just a couple of minutes.
The 29er with rookie Marian de Pontes on the helm finished a good third place over the line.<
Meanwhile, the middle of the fleet were having their own race, spinnakers and gennakers flying, with the Nimbus, Sofia, finishing 2 minutes ahead of Genevieve, in turn pipping Bonaventure by seconds.
Of course, the results on handicap would be a totally different scenario! The faster boats could not quite pull it of with the initial light and variable winds experienced, and the final result on Handicap was as follows:
1st Judith Edwards - Bonaventure (Buccaneer) - (PNYC),
2nd Jenny Smith - Sofia (Nimbus) - (PNYC)
3rd Erica Chiappero Genevieve (S23) (PNYC)
4th Leslie Webb Lazey Daze (Kelkiewyn) (PNYC)
5th Margie Gibson Unruly (Pacer 27) (DAC)
A scrumptious dinner consisting of liver patι & melba toast/biscuits, fillet steak with garlic roast potato & salads and ice cream & chocolate sauce were prepared by Commodore Vince Chiappero (& wife Erica!), grilled to order by Bosun Officer Eddie Wiffler and Vice Commodore Graham de Vries, with a good social evening to follow it up.
A big thank you goes to all the sponsors, including the private sponsors, as well as the competitors for their sportsmanship, and Gordon Hewitt with the mark laying.
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