MyPE

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

Vasco Da Gama Ocean Race Durban to Port Elizabeth 2017 [video]

By

Visit and explore more Port Elizabeth videos.

Today’s the day the Walrus said!
Yes, at 12h00 today, Thursday 27 April, a fleet of 7 boats will start the 3rd Vasco da Gama Ocean race to Port Elizabeth, and the 46th Vasco race ever sailed.
44 hardy crew will compete on the 7 boats – with 25 ‘Vasco Virgins’ doing the race for the very time. Like the Comrades Marathon, each and every crew will have the satisfaction of knowing that they have completed the course and have achieved something very few others have.
All eye’s are on the weather right now, and as some wag said at the farewell cocktail party last evening, “it never looked like this in my day”. It never, ever does – especially when long range forecasts show that the fleet may well just have a downwind slide all the way to the finish line.
Some strong running conditions should greet the fleet immediately they round the Fairway Marker off Durban and set course for Port Elizabeth. They should have these strong running (North Easter) winds for at least the first 12 hours, after which they will persist – albeit a little lighter and just as welcome.
So what are the tactics? Most experienced ‘Vascoites’ will head offshore looking for the notorious Agulhas Current which flows strong down the coast. The only way to find it is to keep checking the water temperature – as the water temp will rise and the navigators will begin to see the extra mileage given them free by the current.
This may take them up to 40 miles or more off the coast, and all the while the navigators will be looking for the best angle to change course and close the coast and finish line as efficiently and quickly as possible.
Highly technical stuff – of that there is no doubt. It is after all, a navigator’s race.
The big question being asked is who will take Line Honours.
The red hot favourite is the 40-foot SmartTri40. She has the ability to set a blistering pace down the coast and set a brand new multihull record for the race – as no multihull has ever finished the course to Port Elizabeth.
Another favourite is Rocket – doing her 3rd race to Port Elizabeth – and with a skipper determined to have his best race yet.
Whatever happens, this is going to be a fascinating race – so watch it on the GIMCO-Sponsored Tracker at:
http://yb.tl/vascodagama2017
The tracker will update the positions of the boats every 15 minutes throughout the race – and one will be able to see, almost live, who is leading in the dash for line honours, and how each boat is faring on handicap. Plus, exactly where each boat is, how fat they have to go, and of course their ETA.
Enjoy the passage with us – it’s one you will definitely enjoy this year.

They’re off and on their way to Port Elizabeth some 400 nautical miles away. And the biggest bonus for all competitors is that there is a really good chance of them having wind from behind all the way – something unheard of in the race. Hold thumbs that this is the case as records will be broken if the wind holds.
First around the Fairway marker off Durban was Rocket and Herbie Karolius. But what surprised the followers out there was that he did not pop his kite immediately he bore away for PE.
Next was SmartTri40 with Sean Jones at the helm.
3rd round was Benguela and Miles Webb.
4th round was Wallbanger with John Tudehope.
5th was PYC Duskey Jon Marshall.
6th was Mafuta and Robin Hulley
7th was Ocean Spirit and Neville Bransby.
The YB Tracker is polling the boats and shows the actual positions on the water as well as handicap positions.

And 2 pics from the start line
pics by Richard Crockett/SAILING Magazine

Vasco Da Gama Ocean Race Durban to Port Elizabeth 2017

Click HERE to find more ‘Sailing Port Elizabeth‘ videos.

Sailing Port Elizabeth video selected based on a YouTube search – Click Here to report any ‘offensive’ videos.

CLICK HERE to submit your favourite Port Elizabeth video.

Visit the MyPE YouTube Channel | More PE Videos.

The following two tabs change content below.

Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.