MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Time for a bit of Sailing

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The local Algoa Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) finishes off the sailing calendar for the year with it’s annual prestige regatta – ABYC Week.

This year ABYC Week runs from 27 April to 1 May and incorporates the 505 dinghy National Championships. The 505’s will be holding their annual National Championships in Algoa Bay every year until 2015. In 2015 the 505 World Championships will be sailed in Algoa Bay and organisers are expecting a huge event with close to 100 boats and an influx of a minimum of 300 overseas visitors to our fair shores for at least 10 days.

This year’s ABYC Week reflects the growing excitement amongst local sailors in anticipation of upcoming international sailing events as the yacht club, on the back of a very successful 2007 Mirror World Championships, has also submitted a bid to host the 2015 Mirror World Championships – a two week event that attracted over 100 boats in 2007.

ABYC Week will see 39 boats on the bay battling it out for honours in three fleets – 505 Dinghy, Fleet 1 (day and sportboats) and Fleet 2 (cruisers). The 505 and Fleet 1 will both sail around tight Olympic courses that, weather dependent, will bring the boats close inshore of Hobie Beach. Fleet 2 will sail longer courses utilising some of the marks of the faster boats and the Bell Buoy to give longer sailing courses.

The 5O5 is a One Design double-handed boat that incorporates a light weight, high performance hull design with a powerful sail plan and one trapeze. The boat is unique in that it has outstanding performance in all conditions. In light air it is quick and responsive, and in breeze it just goes faster. Planing begins in 10 knots of wind.

The 505 Sail Register records all boats sold and registered since 1954 (some of them still sailing) and currently reflects a total of 9100 sail numbers.

Ideal vantage points for the sailing will be off Hobie Beach and Shark Rock Pier. And sundowners on the deck of ABYC with a bite to eat in the Chartroom Restaurant are also highly recommended.

Alexander and Warwick Ham
505 Dinghy 8471 – Alexander and Warwick Ham sailing in Algoa Bay 2011

Editor’s Notes: I will be manning the mark laying boat during ABYC Week – drop me a mail if you would like to take photographs from a unique vantage point.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.