I will be stepping down as National Chairman at the end of the year. Its time for new blood, new ideas and energy to take us forward. Please think about who can take the reins over, you will be required to vote in a new chairman at Nationals Midmar 2009. Remember,its the sailors who vote so discuss with your friends and parents and come to the AGM prepared.
Owen
At the recent Junior dinner held at VLC the Dabchick participants in the 2008/9 Grand Prix series were honoured. Warren Hadley was the season winner followed closely by James Mc wha. Robert Bradfield and Ingrid Wertheim Aymes were in 3rd and 4th place respectively, both in their first season in Dabbies.
Megan Eccleston was awarded the Verona trophy for the best result in the first season, perserverance and promise. Megan aquired her boat in February this year and along with the Barnard brothers is showing a lot of potential.The final placings were :
sailwave-results-for-northvaal-dabchick-grand-prix-2008-2009-travelling-circuis
Regards
Owen
Easter Bunny + Boxes of Boat Bits = Dalmatian Dabchick!
Mountain Yacht Club, situated at Ebenezer Dam in between Polokwane and Tzaneen in Limpopo, has been running a youth sailing programme since 2006.
One of the young lady sailors, Neo Mathe from Mankweng, joined this programme in 2007 and has never looked back. After learning to swim confidently in open water, she learned to sail, and by begging, borrowing and stealing various Optimists she won enough club races during 2008 (including a bronze medal at the Northvaal Inter-schools) to be awarded the Development Sailor of the Year trophy in December last year.
However, Neo’s sailing career took a big step forward when, in the second week of April this year, Ian Fraser (Pretoria Sailing Club), a true “easter bunny”, dropped off a 28-year old Dabchick hull at MYC. Owen Baxter (Victoria Lake Club) generously donated a set of Gareth’s old (but still lekker) sails, while Brad Bell and Jim Facey (Mountain Yacht Club) produced a full rig and set of sheets.
Everyone dug into their boxes of old boat bits (every “real” sailor should have one!) and all the necessary fairleads, cleats, kicking straps, blocks, pintles and gudgeons, shackles, and even an old Dabchick centerboard and dolly wheels were forthcoming.
A rudder was fashioned from a broken windsurfer centerboard, and with about five days of work by Judas Munyai (Polokwane) in between the jobs that pay, and with sandpaper, fibreglass, primer, paint and stickers from Neo’s parents, a beautiful “Dalmatian Dabchick” was produced for a total cost of only R650!
Christened “Gothika”, this bubbly Dabchick was proudly launched during MYC’s Autumn Youth Regatta, where Neo sailed her into 4th place in her first ever single-handed Dabchick race.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
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Gothika Before”
Judas Munyai with Gothika, after sanding, patching, and reinforcing the hull, ready to be painted.
Gothika After”
Faith and Neo Mathe with Gothika at Ebenezer Dam before launching
“Gothika Sailing”
Neo Mathe sailing Gothika single-handed in her first race
AUTUMN YOUTH SAILING AT EBENEZER
Mountain Yacht Club recently hosted its annual Autumn Regatta for advanced youth sailors from Polokwane, Haenertsburg and Tzaneen at Ebenezer Dam. The teenage sailors enjoyed warm weather with light winds over the weekend, and managed to complete three America’s Cup-style races on the Saturday plus a long distance race on the Sunday.
The training aspect of the weekend covered advanced sailing and racing theory, and the practical aspects included competitive starts and dry capsizing.
The regatta was won by Tessa Morris sailing her Dabchick, followed closely by Carmen Bradfield in her Laser. Third position went to Rain Patterson also on a Dabchick.
Tessa, an accomplished ballerina as well, demonstrated beyond doubt that these two sports share much in common when sailing downwind in light airs!
There were also other good performances, notably from Rodney Stevens, Kyle Smith and Douglas Elphinstone, sailing Dabchicks single-handed in the advanced category for the first time, as well as from David Morris and Timmy Elphinstone (Unicorn) sailing their Optimists.
Amongst the young ladies, Ayanda Buthlezi and Neo Mathe, also sailing Dabchicks single-handed in the advanced category for the first time, sailed very well to finish within the top 10.
For more information, contact Mauneen on (015) 293 – 2333.
Photo Captions:
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2009-05 Ayanda
Ayanda Buthelezi sailing her Dabchick “Dabonaire” at Ebenezer Dam.
2009-05 Doug
Douglas Elphinstone sailing his Dabchick “Lightning” single-handed
2009-05 Tess
Tessa Morris sailing her Dabchick “Windspray” to victory in the recent MYC Autumn Youth Regatta.
Good luck and great sailing to MYC,and those behind the scenes -you are setting an example great stuff
Owen
Steve has built 6 Glass dabchicks,5 of which have been exported to mozambique and a 6th which is being test sailed in the Cape. Stephen tells me that the idea is to build a maintence free boat, and not necessary one which is faster than the existing wooden boats. There is not intention of building a faster or superior boat which will make existing boats obsolete. I believe that the cost of building these is also cheaper than using wood.
I quote Stephen : -The price for an unfitted hull (incl forestay, hatch cover and1 shroud plate each side is R10500 +vat =R11970. A set of vacuumed obeche foils is R3420 incl vat. Prices for a complete boat are available on request. All prices are valid as long as material prices remain unchanged
He has also supplied me with the following pictures (click to enlarge):
A strong fleet of Dabchicks turned out for the Milnerton Aquatic Club Championships on the 9th and 10th of May. The event also saw the first racing of Stephen du Toit’s new fyberglass Dabchick. Photos are attached.
The 2009 WC Provincial Championships were again held at Saldahna Bay over the Easter weekend. Sixteen Dabchicks,
including Alex Ham (Gauteng), Jayan (George Lakes) and Tim Manley (Mossel Bay) participated with half the fleet coming from IYC.
Just on half the fleet were youngsters sailing their first Dabchick provincials. The enthusiasm and commitment shown by them bodes well for the future of the Dabchick class.
Two races were sailed on the Friday in light conditions, three back to back races on the Saturday in steadily increasing winds, and a further four back to back on the Sunday in far stronger conditions. It was really great to see the novices handling some of the stronger winds, while the top five helmsmen were having a real battle. In many of the races mere seconds separated the first few finishers. In fact the bridge commented that they sometimes had some very close calls to make!
There was excellent ground support from the associated parents and other willing helpers who fed, repaired, launched and assisted with other activities. The course was reasonably close to the shore enabling the spectators to watch the exciting races.
Two further races were held on the Monday which allowed for two discards on the eleven races sailed.
Both Jeremy and Kevin Foreman won their first race at a provincial event – congratulations!
The class must thank Dave Manley and his sponsors for arranging sufficient prizes so that each Dabbie sailor obtained a prize at the end of the regatta.
All in all a fantastic event – our thanks to the organising committee and their helpers.
The final placings were
1st Tim Manley (Mossel Bay)
2nd Jonathan Kukard (IYC)
3rd Kevin Foreman (IYC)
4th Chris Boshoff (ZVYC)
5th Jeremy Foreman (IYC)
We hope to see further growth in the Dabchick class in the very near future.
Rob Foreman
Results can be viewed here. Photos of the Dabchick class are attached; for all photos from the event click here.
It struck me when I saw this that we sometimes forget that sailing can be fun, not always about winning races or having the latest fittins etc. Food for thought. Pic compliments scuttlebutt
Owen
I have been unable to drum up any support from the KZN sailors therefore in consultation with NSA it has been decided to hold the Dabbie & Oppie GP 5(scheduled for Sterkfontein Dam) at Aeolian’s club, North Bay Vaal Dam,on the 9 & 10 May. These are the same dates that were scheduled in the Youth calendar.
At the same time that the regatta is taking place we will organize some training for the novices etc from sailing schools along the lines of our recent very successful sailing weekend at Aeolians. Therefore everyone is welcome whether racing in the regatta our just sailing for fun or learning. (Even the Love Boat’s are welcome)
Will the winners of last years Sterkies,please get the silverware back to us – Tim Forson Dabbies, not sure if there is a Oppie Trophy, the winner was Nikolai Sivertsen.
I must stress that this is an event open to all Juniors and not only those from a specific club, so please forward this mail to those not on my mailing list.
REMEMBER THIS OUR GP 5 EVENT SO DON’T MISS IT
Further details will follow.
Hi,
You may recall, I mentioned that we have plans for a Dabbie training weekend at the Vaal. Well thanks to NSA we are going to have a junior all class big bash at Aeolians on the 7th & 8th of March.
So cancel all those other plans like water polo, cricket, baseball, Ballet etc sailing is where you will get the most action. J (Yes I know a couple of Dabbie guys who are into tights) .More details will follow, but we will have a few trainers for every experience level and every class. If you need any help call me. So far it looks like a camping and self catering weekend. If you haven’t been to Aeolians I assure you, you will have fun. Parents are most welcome.
SO TAKE A KOKI AND WRITE THE DATE ON THE FRIDGE DOOR, AND MARK THE CALENDER IN THE LOO. (Everyone should have a calendar the Loo) SPREAD THE WORD ON MIXIT, FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, SKYPE, SMS, YOU TUBE etc
Rob gee there are so many, Rob Morris – please see if you can organize a contingent from Mountain.
After this weekend, there is no ways the Western Cape will be able to dominate at Nationals in December and I am dying to return the Dabbie team racing wooden spoon to where it belongs. I have copied the Cape guys to make them nervous J
Owen
