Day 1 is Done & Dusted
The opening day of the Lipton Challenge Cup contest ended up being a hard-fought battle, with the wind elements and errant crew errors doing anything but assisting their overall positions on handicap.
The first race was run in conditions which were probably marginally over the limit for really great racing, not that I believe anyone was complaining.
The acid test of good sailing always lies in the results, and today, after two races, two Clubs are tied for first place overall – showing what a close contest it really was.
Walvis Bay Yacht Club and Royal Cape Yacht Club each won a race, and each scored a second place – so the game is now on and it’s up to everyone else to catch them in the next six races. Just imagine a Lipton Challenge Cup contest in Walvis Bay next year?
Third overall today after the two races was Aeolians Club. They had a poor first race to finish fourth then pulled off a third spot after starting the second race on port tack and going off to the starboard side of the course where they obviously felt the advantage was up that windward leg.
The ‘feather duster’ in today’s race was undoubtedly Davey James and the Royal Natal Yacht Club team, who led both races for most of the way, but suffered breakages from which they were not able to recover. They were certainly the fastest on the water, with a philosophical Davey James reminding everyone that he won the 2021 Lipton Cup in the last 100 metres of the final tenth race.
There are a maximum of six more races to sail, and many scenarios which could play out. Stay tuned to the daily live commentary on WhatsApp and the race tracking on YB Tracking.
Richard Crockett
