It’s getting darker fast on Wednesdays, and, as the juniors keep turning up late, there will be less racing. Last Wednesday we managed to get only two in. Jason Cooke was first, followed by Kyran Bosazza and Ciaran Sharrock. Overall Kyran is now leading on 52 with Luke and Jason both on 45 and Justin Stoker on 44.

Then on Friday we had eight keelboats on the water!! Absolutely marvelous! The winner was Rob Clarke sailing the Kelkiewijn, followed by Mike Lavery in the Club’s L26. Third was Dominic de Villiers in the Stadt 22. The Buccaneer and the Sadler 34 didn’t do too well as they appear to be a bit under-canvassed – the wind did drop quite a bit just after the start. And we don’t really know what handicap to apply to Willy Putter’s newly acquired Hunter 23 – we gave her the rating for a Hunter 707 as that came closest to 23’, but if Willy could oblige us with some more details of his boat please?!

As the Fridays appear to be so much more suitable than the Wednesdays we are seriously thinking of moving the ‘Splash’ from the Wednesday to the Friday for next season, and make it fortnightly at high tides. Advantages: 1) For most sailors, and parents, it is easier to get off work early on the Friday then the Wednesday, so, hopefully, no more late arrivals and late starts. 2) Less strain on our ‘bridge’ resources. 3) Sailors can leave their boats semi-rigged ready for the Saturday’s racing 4) No problem to run a keelers, a senior dinghies and a junior dinghies race at the same time. Disadvantages: None?? If you violently oppose this strain of thought then kindly make your feelings known to either Andrew or myself.

Last Saturday we tried out the new Committee boat for the first time for a Club race, i.e. the first of the Commodore’s Cup series. Neil and Norma declared the boat fine for the purpose and caught out quite a few sailors by starting dead on time. We did warn you time and again: Neil waits for no one! Having the Ctee boat meant a nice course, using the normal Club markers, with a long beat, a broad reach, a close reach and a finishing beat. Three races were sailed in perfect sailing conditions. We had 10 entrants, including two Hobies who were stone last in the first race by having to re-track to still fit in a missed mark. And three of the four Finns didn’t make that first start. Overall John Fowler’s Laser is leading, with Don Tait’s Finn second. Then it’s Chick Ramsay’s Hobie14, Rob Clark’s Finn, that Weta trimaran on demo, and Joop’s Finn. Some of the personal handicaps have been slightly adjusted.

This Wednesaday, 10th March, it’s Splash time again. Do try and come on time and be on the starting line by 17.45! Ian Price does the bridge with Derek Wheeldon on rescue.

Next Wednesday, 17th March, is the last of the mid-Summer Splash series, with Andrew Finn on the bridge and Mike Pogodin on rescue.

Saturday, 20th March is the second of the Commodore’s Cup series with Neill on the bridge and Johnny Vorster on rescue. Most likely this will be with the Committee boat once more, so be on time at that start!!

There will not be a News Sheet next week, but we’ll pester you again with a 22nd March issue.