RACING > Breaking News

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 (story from www.sailing.org.za)

South Africa's Hobie Cat sailors pulled of some winning racing at the Hobie Tiger World's Regatta at Langebaan, with Duncan Ross and crew Rick Nankin taking the final race on Saturday over half a minute ahead of the rest of the fleet, an incredible feat against a world-rated fleet in these powerful and superbly fast catamarans that can top 25 knots in the right breezes.

In a top international 63-strong fleet from 18 nations, with several Olympic medallists, including eight teams from Holland, six from France, four from Australia, inevitably the South African could not keep the top four places from falling into the hands of the professionals from Australia, with the title going to the burly Australian Mark Laruffa, and crew Daniel Sims.

But the South Africans had looked potent from the start, with local Shaun Ferry, a three-time Hobie-16 World Champion, and crew John van der Vyfer taking a first, second and fifth in the three races on the first day. But the visitors soon learnt the intricacies of the currents of the flat Langebaan lagoon, and their experience began to pay in the tough breezy conditions which saw over half the fleet capsize in the 30-knot breezes of the third day. Ferry's boat was damaged in a capsize, forcing him to retire, and upsetting his chances of being in the top contenders..

Nonethless, the final tally saw six SA teams in the first 11 places, and the international sailors praised the highly competitive regatta, and also Langebaan as perhaps the finest cat-sailing venue anywhere in the world.

For winner Mark Laruffa, the win was a life-time dream, since he has held several Australian national titles, but in 27 years of catamaran sailing, this was his first worlds title. The final race was touch--and-go, since he was only one point ahead of compatriot, Mitch Booth, who lives in and sails for Holland. A ninth place for Booth aginst his own third clinched the title for Laruffa, with Booth in second place.

But Mitch Booth's second place was a triumph for his young crew, Capetonian Tiffany Baring-Gould, a talented dinghy sailor but almost brand new to catamarans. "I can't really believe this in my first catamaran reand gatta," she said. "It is very very exciting sailing. "

In the Hobie Dragoons, a new catamaran designed for younger sailors, the runaway stars of the event were locals Matt Whitehead, 14, and crew Megan du Plessis, 13, who had an incredible eight first places in the nine races, and were over six minutes ahead in the final race. Needless to say his parents, Colin and Tracey Whitehead, who organized the event, were more than proud.

Intrigueingly, the top visiting sailors were stunned by the venue, "stunning scenery, good stiff breezes and flat water, amazing" were among some of the comments. They were also full of praise for the way the event was run, and not least the skill of race officer Doug Alison, and the firm control exercised by the jury, headed by Australian Paul Pascoe, to ensure fairness. In the crucial final race, after the fleet was almost everyone over the line in the first two starts, Alison flew a black flag, and with the world title at state, the leading offenders were suitably curbed.

Perhaps even more outstanding was the performance of Josh Kruyt, assistant race officer to Di Hutton-Squire for he Dragoon races. At 14 years of age, Josh is South Africa's youngest qualified race officer, and hey, someone should look into this, probably in the world. Later in the week, Di handed Josh the reins and Joe Cool, he did a great job. But then it was on this lagoon, back in 1991, that his dad David "Chalky" Kruyt, won the Hobie 16 World title against a strong international field. Hobies are of course par excellence the proof of the old advertising adage, "The family that plays together. stays together". In fact it is a lot more than that, they go places, usually the full course.

EDGE SAILING TEAM selected to South African Hobie Tiger WORLDS Team.

Duncan Ross and Rick Nankin finish 2nd by only 3 points in the Tiger National Championships recently held in Langebaan. Racing went down to the wire with a championship win still within reach untill the last day.

17 races were held over a 2 part series with Langebaan living up to its reputation as being one of the finest sailing venues in South Africa. This no doubt confirms the venue as an excellent choice to host the 2008 HOBIE TIGER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in early March.

2nd Postion for SEITZ/ROSS in TANZACAT

After 3 days of triangle racing Wolf Seitz and Duncan Ross sailing a Hobie Tiger finish second in The Tanzacat International Catamaran regatta.

Racing was held in the beautiful bay of Masasani a few miles north of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The event in its' 7th edition was superbly organised by DYC. Easterly trade winds varying from 8 to 16 knots provided exciting and close racing for the 60 odd competitors. The event winner was ex Hobie 16 World Champion Blaine Dodds.

Ross/Seitz led the event for the first 2 days and went into the last day of racing with a single point lead. However the lighter winds on the final day favoured the Dodds who eventually won by a 5 point margin.

For the full story including news of the Zanzibar Rally and Mbudya Island 'camp out - click here >>

EDGE SAILING TEAM tackles the TANZACAT

Duncan Ross and Wolf Seitz will continue their successful partnership and team up again to compete in the TANZACAT. After securing the fastest elapsed time in what is dubbed as the ‘southern hemispheres biggest inland yachting event’ - The Round the Island Race held on South Africa’s Vaal Dam – the duo take to the tropics to compete in Tanzania.

The TANZACAT is an annual event hosted by the Dar es Salaam Yacht club in Tanzania. The 2004 edition of this event will include long distance racing to the Island of Zanzibar as well as triangular 'round the bouys racing'. With 2 containers of boats coming from RSA and one from Europe the event is looking stronger than ever.

''We will be sailing a Hobie Tiger in the Formula 18 class. This class will be well supported and also hotly disputed with the likes of World Hobie 16 Champion Blaine Dodds from South Africa in the line up,' said Ross.' Sailing in the tropics is every sailors dream and we are expecting a warm and windy event'

EDGE SAILING TEAM secures SECOND overall in the ATLANTIC 1000.

Duncan Ross and Roberto Pandiani have joined forces to race a 1000 miles from Miami, Florida to Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina. The Tybee 500 and the OBX 500 races run the same course as the famous Worrel 1000. Billed as one of the toughest Catamaran races around it will be no doubt be a challenge for the team.

The slogan 'iron men - plastic boats' will be verified by the team when they reach Kill Devil Hills at the finish on May 23. Race updates and photographs direct from the beach will be posted from May 6 onwards.

Sailing a F18 (Hobie Tiger) Duncan Ross and Wolf Seitz achieved the shortest elapsed time around the course in the southern hemispheres largest inland yacht race 'The Bathroom Bizarre' RTIR(Round the Island race).

Hosted on the Vaal Dam - 1 hour south of Johannesburg, South Africa - the soaring temperatures and light breezes did not deter more than 400 boats from competing in this high profile annual event. Full results >>

The 2003 F18 Worlds recently finished in beachside town of Koksijde in southern Belgium. Basking in the European summer the event attracted 120 teams from around the world to participate.   Three times F18 World Champ Mitch Booth was there to defend against stiff competition from other top sailors like Darren Bundock and A Class World Champ, Glen Ashy, Gavin Colby as well as three times runners up the Boulogne brothers. It was set to be a tough event. Full story >>