After a slight delay due to shifting wind conditions, the 25-strong fleet of the 2004 Lipton Challenge Cup Regatta got under way in Durban at 12.36pm on Monday.
The predicted rain did not come through, but the shifting wind conditions caused frequent position changes throughout the race.
For the second race in a row, upcountry clubs got off to a quick start with the entries from KwaZulu-Natal putting in particularly strong performances. Tyco of Point Yacht Club, Dock Leveller Supplies of Zululand Yacht Club and Lipton Yellow Label from the University of KwaZulu Natal were in the lead after the start.
As the wind shifted to the west reaching speeds of up to 12 knots, the fleet was locked in a ding-dong battle with positions changing after each rounding of the triangular course. Royal Cape Yacht Club entry Greenlight, skippered by Springbok yachtsman Dave Hudson, managed to maintain its lead until the finish line.
Defending champions Theewater Sports Club on board Dalys Insurance snuck up into second place, while Algoa Bay Yacht Club’s Blick/Stanley Challenger kept up its brilliant performance to finish in third place.
Theewater’s performance has moved them up to the top of the overall rankings with Algoa Bay in second position and Royal Natal’s Orion Challenger in third place. Hottentots Holland Beach Sailing Club continued their good run in Lipton Cup regattas with a current fourth position.
Their yacht, Dynamic ID Systems, has performed consistently well in this event and has finished among the top six places since 1999.
Royal Cape Yacht Club’s win in Monday’s race has moved them into overall fifth place.
”We had a cracker start and were worried that we might be over the starting line, so we did the conservative thing and ducked back only to find later that we had been clear.
”We got through to first place shortly after the start and then for the next couple of hours had an extremely exciting race with both Algoa Bay and Theewater on our tail.
”The conditions were absolutely perfect and the race officer, Doug Alison, made the most of them with a great course, which he did not hesitate to move when the wind shifted.
”The final beat was a classic tactical battle with Theewater and Algoa Bay splitting tacks a number of times leaving us to try and protect our lead over both of them,” said Greenlight skipper Dave Hudson. — Sapa