SAILING MATTERS
by the Rear Commodore, Gregg Dobson

GARMIN RNYC
Wednesday Twilight SeriesAt the end of this month (March) our ‘GARMIN RNYC Wednesday Twilight Series finishes - so we are on the home stretch and need as many boats on the water as possible to end the evening season with a huge bang. 
On 17 March Brandhouse will be producing the promotions and entertainment with live music by Francois Hardy. And, for all those with a ‘newbie' aboard, don't forget that your new recruit could win an Offshore Sailing Academy Course.

So there's lots of life left in the evening season yet - but you have to be there to enjoy it.

DINGHY COURSE FOR ADULTS
Sail Africa will be hosting a Dingy Course for Adults on Saturday 13 March. To book your seat or find out more information please contact Taryn on 031 261 4723 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
SEATS ARE LIMITED, SO BOOK NOW!!

Let's enjoy our sport safely!

See you on the water.

CLUB DRAW WINNERS
There was good turnout for the draw last Friday. The Britannia Room was festive and full of members enjoying those ‘famous RNYC prawns' - and new on the menu were Oysters. A great time was had by all. If you did not win a prize this time, come down on Friday 26 March and try your luck then.

Non Attendance Prizes
R2000 K Burger
R1500 D Hayman
R1000 M Sousa

Attendance Prizes
R400 P Harris
Leg of Lamb J Banfield
Bottles D van der Walt; J Kriek; N Yelland.

LOWER DECK MENU
Members may have noticed that there have been adjustments to our downstairs menu. The ‘Daily Specials Board' shows what quick and tasty meals are available each day, whether it be lunch or dinner. As a result of the need to keep portions to a manageable size, and some patrons pushing the serving staff to give them portions bigger than normal, we are introducing a ‘pay by weight' scheme in the Lower Deck. Members will be charged by weight for the size portion they require.

PARKING DECALS
The 2010 parking stickers for the car park behind the Club have finally arrived. These can only be collected from Liz or Liezel during office hours (07h00 - 16h00). If any member is unable to collect them during office hours, arrangements can be made with either Liz or Liezel for them to be left for collection

DURBAN HARBOUR LICENCE DISK RENEWALS
It's that time of the year again. As usual the club will submit the renewal applications in bulk. Please obtain a form from Liezel, complete it and return it with a copy of your current CoF. The port has not yet published the new tariff. The deadline for these is Wednesday 24 March. If your boat is less than 9-metres in length it does not require a SAS issued CoF. However the Registration form requires that the Club Safety Officer sign the form attesting to the fact that the boat has been inspected. Contact Liezel for a safety inspection form for yachts under 9m. These can be faxed or e-mailed on request. It needs to be completed and returned to Liezel.

THANKS TO OFFSHORE SAILING ACADEMY
The Sailing Committee, and indeed the General Committee and Flag Officers too, would like to thank Chris and Libby Bonnet of Offshore Sailing Academy for their most generous sponsorship of the Wednesday evening ‘newbie' prizes. This initiative has been going all season, and every week some lucky new sailor stands the chance of winning a sailing course at the Offshore Sailing Academy. If you have not managed to win a course yet, and want to learn to sail, give  hris and Libby Bonnet a call on 031-307 7944 to book a course. This dynamic duo have trained tens of thousands of wannabee sailors - many of whom are now sailing the seven seas, or have fulfilled their sailing dream.
Sailing is a lifetime sport - so get aborad now.

DURBAN BOAT SHOW

Friday 30 April - Sunday 2 May

Yachtbasin

Newsletter 7, 9 February 2010 - Amendment to Notice of Race

Three amendments to the Notice of Race have been deemed necessary by the organisers. See the Race Documents section for updated documents.

Since going live the race website has attracted immense interest from a broad spectrum of people.

Robbie Dove has indicated that he will be entering a brand new Beneteau First 40. This boat is identical to the one which won the recent Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race.

David Munro has indicated that he will be entering his UK registered J133 which is currently in Richard's Bay. He will be bringing out three very experienced crew from the UK for the race and will be looking for additional crew here in SA. That's an exciting entry.

There has also been a serious enquiry from the Seychelles, while I am constantly being made aware of interest from many different quarters. This is shaping up to become another classic race. See the Entries page for updates.

Check out the Crew / Boats Wanted section of the site for people looking for crew or crew looking for boats.

The official race website is www.mauritiustodurban2010.co.za

The official website of the Mauritius to Durban yacht race in September this year has gone live, so have a look at it at:

www.mauritiustodurban2010.co.za

The following official race documents are available on the site for download:

Notice of Race
Entry Form
Safety Requirements

Plus, there are feature articles that appeared in SAILING and SA Yachting magazines for every race since its inception in 1895. These make fascinating reading as they not only cover the races in depth, but also bring back memories and mention the names of well-known yachties who may now have hung up their sea boots, while mentioning boats which could now be anywhere in the world and which were once household names.

IT'S ALL SYSTEMS GO...

Yes, it is all systems go for the 2010 Mauritius to Durban race. This despite some negative comments on facebook and the like that the race will not happen.

Late last year I met with the Flag Officers of both the PYC and RNYC and explained that at that point I had not been able to secure a sponsor, but that the race should go on. They agreed wholeheartedly, have each committed working capital to the race, and are as adamant as I am to make the race a success.

Plus, I was in Mauritius in late December and spent an afternoon at the yacht club where the people I spoke to were very positive about the race and very keen to see it happen and to host the fleet. So, let's not dwell on the negatives, and let's get down to the real business of a yacht race.

Interest in the race is massive. I am continually amazed at how many people know about it and are keen to compete either as crew or in their own boats. That's positive and the first and most important ingredient in the recipe for a great race.

• The race will start on Saturday 4 September 2010.
• Prize-giving will be on Saturday 18 September 2010.

Sponsorship
Despite no overall sponsor yet the race will go ahead. There are people prepared to assist financially on a low-key basis, so whatever happens we will have a race. Without an overall event sponsor we may not have all the fanfare and ‘nice to have's' - but we will race - and that after all is what we are doing it for. My request to anyone who may have any sponsorship leads is to please contact me personally so that I may follow the lead through.

Visit to Mauritius
I was in Mauritius briefly at the end of December and met with Craig McKenzie who earlier in December launched his new Pacer 376 which he will be racing to Durban in September. I had a good meeting with GBYC. It is still such an amazing venue. The sun was shining, the water was a beautifully clear turquoise and there was wind. The view across the bay from GBYC was as good as ever. Those who have been to GBYC will know exactly what I am talking about, while those who have not will have to get to Mauritius in September to witness it for themselves.

My kids have heard me rave on about GBYC - and they were blown away by the venue and quickly realised that the ‘old fart' was not smoking his socks again! In fact, I reckon that GBYC is one of the best yacht clubs in the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean islands area!

Notice of Race
This is ready and will be on the RNYC website within a few days. Go to www.rnyc.org.za and follow the link to the Mauritius Race. This is until the dedicated race website comes on stream.

Safety Requirements
These are ready and will be on the RNYC website within a few days. Go to www.rnyc.org.za and follow the link to the Mauritius Race. This is also until the dedicated race website comes on stream.

Entry Form
This is ready and will be on the RNYC website within a few days. Go to www.rnyc.org.za and follow the link to the Mauritius Race. And this is until the dedicated race website comes on stream.

RNYC DIARY DATES

MARCH
Wednesday 10 Wednesday Night Racing on Durban Bay PYC
Saturday 13 Offshore Sailing Series 1/4 (Durban Bay) RNYC
Coastal Race 1 - BWS (Offshore) PYC
Saturday 13 Sharks vs Brumbies - 10h40 - SEE IT ON THE CLUB'S BIG SCREEN
Wednesday 17 Garmin RNYC Wednesday Twilight Series RNYC
Saturday 20 Offshore Sailing Series 2/4 (Durban Bay) RNYC
Sharks vs Highlanders - 08h35 - SEE IT ON THE CLUB'S BIG SCREEN
Wednesday 24 Wednesday Night Racing on Durban Bay PYC
Friday 26 Club Draw - be there to win prizes at 18h00
Saturday 27 Offshore Sailing Series 3/4 (Durban Bay) RNYC
Saturday 27 Sharks vs Hurricanes - 08h35 - SEE IT ON THE CLUB'S BIG SCREEN
Sunday 28 RNYC Protea Cup (Offshore) RNYC
Wednesday 31 Garmin RNYC Wednesday Twilight Series RNYC (END OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACING)

APRIL
Friday 2 Easter Regatta PYC
Saturday 3 Easter Regatta PYC
Sunday 4 Easter Regatta PYC
Monday 5 Easter Regatta PYC
Wednesday 7 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
Saturday 10 Offshore Sailing Series 4/4 RNYC
Sunday 11 PYC Keelers - Congella Sprints PYC
Wednesday 14 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
Saturday 17 PYC Youth Regatta PYC
Sunday 18 NSRI Barrel Race Day PYC
Wednesday 21 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
Saturday 24 Royal Yacht Squadron Series RNYC
Sunday25 Royal Yacht Squadron Series RNYC
Monday 26 Royal Yacht Squadron Series RNYC
Tuesday 27 Royal Yacht Squadron Series RNYC
Wednesday 28 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
MCel Vasco da Gama Race starts
Friday 30 Club Draw - be there to win prizes at 18h00
Friday 30 Durban Boat Show - Yacht Basin

MAY
Saturday 1 Grand Prix IV Series (Offshore) PYC
Hobie Class Champs (Offshore) PYC
Durban Boat Show - Yacht Basin
Sunday 2 Grand Prix IV Series (Offshore) PYC
Hobie Class Champs (Offshore) PYC
Durban Boat Show - Yacht Basin
Wednesday 5 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
Sunday 9 PYC Keelers - Caney Series PYC
Wednesday 12 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
Saturday 15 Durban to Richards Bay - BWS PYC
Wednesday 19 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
Saturday 22 Bar Anniversary Mug PYC
Wednesday 26 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
Friday 28 Club Draw - be there to win prizes at 18h00

JUNE
Wednesday 2 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
Sunday 6 Keelers (Offshore - PYC) Brass Monkey Series 1 PYC
Wednesday 9 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
12 - 16 Trio Interclub Challenge (Offshore - RNYC) RNYC
IRC Provincials (Offshore - RNYC) RNYC
Wednesday 23 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed
Sunday 27 Coopers Light - Commodore's Salver (Offshore - RNYC) RNYC
Friday 25 Club Draw - be there to win prizes at 18h00
Wednesday 30 Possible Garmin Technical/Demo evening - to be confirmed

JULY
3 - 9 MSC Regatta PYC
Friday 30 Club Draw - be there to win prizes at 18h00