Vonk brothers fly at Tera class nationals
Ashley Layland (left) from Mossel Bay, Emma Lucas (Cape Town) and James Vonk (right) on Swartvlei Lagoon during the Tera National Championships last week.
The Tera Class National Championships and selection regatta were hosted on Swartvlei at Pine Lake Marina from Thusday to Saturday, 21 to 23 March.
There were 12 boats in the Pro fleet and 14 in the Sport fleet with sailors coming from Knysna, Mossel Bay, George, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and one entrant from Richards Bay.
On Thursday four races were completed in a light southwesterly breeze. On Saturday, the direction changed to south-east and picked up to 15 knots. Five races were sailed in these more challenging conditions, leading to one broken mast. The last day brought a more easterly wind of about 10 knots, allowing for the final three races to be sailed to reach the full quota of 12 races.
In the Pro fleet, Mossel Bay's Ashley Layland initially held the lead from George's James Vonk, but Vonk then took a string of firsts to dominate.
Rhys Whitfield (IYC, Cape Town) threatened to topple Vonk, but his win in the last race with Vonk second gave the championship win to James Vonk by one point. James Matchette (IYC, Cape Town) got the third podium place. Ashley Layland, who was the first girl, was in fourth place.
The Sport fleet was entirely dominated by Sean Vonk (George) with Hannah Sasman second and Roux le Roux in third place. Both are from Cape Town.
On Sunday at George Lakes Yacht Club, double-handed sailing was scheduled, but none of the usual boats of this type were sailed. The only double-handed boats sailing were Dabchicks, while the usual Lasers, Sonnet and a Dart 18 completed the fleet. The first race was abandoned when all stopped racing to assist the Sonnet to recover from a capsize. Two further races were sailed in a puffy southwester of up to 10 knots. Thomas Lawa and JP Buys took the win in both races, ahead of Kyle Koeries and Luchen America.
In the Lasers Henry Paine won both races. Maurits Lammers was second in race one and Malcolm Osborne was second in race two. For more information about George Lakes Yacht Club see its website, www.glyc.org.za or like its Facebook page, GLYC.