With most of our students taking part in the Grand Slam in Hermanus last weekend, we had only a limited number of students in our sail training. The Homestead boys were sailing the first time on the L26 again after their dinghy training weekend. They seem to be more confident on the water and seem to take part more willingly in sailing the boats. I would call the dinghy training a success and we will let all inexperienced academy students do the same before they jump on our academy boats.

Shane was cancelling an appointment to help us out as skipper, Prune had her last day in the academy before returning back to France and our Homestead boys were able to tack and trim the jib for the first time. Boyd has introduced two new students from Bishops to join our academy and he is trying to get a full team together to sail Lipton.

As per usual fashion, our students are always very late in announcing their attendance for the sail training and for our major regattas. It’s hard to organize sailing teams if you don’t know who is actually coming. This seems to be a trend not only limited to our students. Toni Mainprize assured me that other boat owners also have a problem with crew commitment when it comes to set dates and

events. I guess we are all spoilt for choices and we like to keep our cards open as long as possible.

If boat owners think of quitting racing on a regular base, the level of commitment from their crew might just be the deciding factor. It can be very stressful to motivate 10 people on a weekly basis as we all know.

Teamwork requires sacrifices from all people involved. On the other hand it’s all worth it when things come together. This is something that we can teach in our sailing academy and I hope that many of our students do see the benefits to work as a team.

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OUTBOARD MOTOR NEEDED! The RCYC Sailing Academy has recently received the very kind donation of a 4.5m semi-rigid duck which the Academy hopes to use for on water training for their L26 fleet. The Academy however looking for a suitable replacement (90hp) outboard to fit onto the donated hull. Do you have a suitable motor that you’re willing to part with? If so please contact Harry Brehm academy@rcyc.co.za

05 February 2015

RCYC Sailing Academy News – Harry Brehm

MID-SUMMER FLING REGATTA - 06 - 08 February 2015

This is one of our premier summer regattas, which this year features a high profile International Race Officer from the States.

Fling Regatta prides itself on a high standard of racing and a “boutique” style regatta with an International flavour. All boat owners are invited to the Fling Boat Owners Dinner at Noordhoek Manor.

All boat owners receive a prize at the Prize Giving. Friday is a Twilight race followed by live music and party.

Please Note : Entries are now closed.

Click here for Notice of Regatta

JOIN US IN WELCOMING THE RAINBOW WARRIOR

DATE: 06 February 2015 TIME: 09h00

LOCATION: At the pilot station 4 miles from the Harbour entrance (2 miles north of Green Point)

For more info regarding the Rainbow Warrior please see further down.

LUCKY DRAW ROLL OVER

Join us for the RCYC’s Friday Night Lucky Draw which is now at R12 500. The winner was

Mr Tom Jacob, who was unfortunately not present. The draw takes place around 19H45

every Friday evening in the club bar. You have to be a fully paid up RCYC member and

present at the time to qualify for the win. Come on down and join the fun.

Our LUFTHANSA TWILIGHT SERIES is well under way for the upcoming season. For more information please click here _____________________________

Please note that prize giving and lucky draw will take place after the flag officers Twilight race on Wednesday, 11 March.

Upcoming Events

RCYC DOUBLE HANDED SERIES - 14 February

This is race 2 - 14 Feb of the RCYC Double Handed Series.

12h30 Skippers Briefing

14h00 Race Start

Division 1 Club Handicap of 1.005 and above

Division 2 Club handicap of 1.000 and below

MYKONOS OFFSHORE 20 - 21 February 2015

Please click here for Notice of Race and Entry Form

Please remember entries close on Friday 13th February.

LIPTON CHALLENGE CUP

RCYC, the defending Lipton Champions will be hosting the Lipton Challenge Cup 2015.

DATES: 10 – 17 July 2015

(Please Note that this will be taking place in the school/university holiday)

If you are able to volunteer in anyway please contact our sailing office.

Watch this space for more info

FLAG OFFICERS RACE – 11 MARCH 2015

This event forms part of the final Twilight Series for the season and the fleet is split as set out below.

Division 1 A-L Mount Gay Rum Morning Glory Jacana Me2Me Vulcan

Mwah Nitro Tenacity Windpower First 40

Thunderchild Bad Habit Sheshisa Maestro Corum

Monkeys in the Mist Unzipped Unleashed Silky Rocket

One Eighty Picasso Cape Fling License to Chill Voodoo

Division 2

Hill Billy Touch N Go Nuthr Witch Ebb Tide Scarlet Sun

Regardless Jazzman Always Well Yolo Lapwing

Freedom Ambeloui Vortex Argonaut Majimoto II

Sungazer Scatterling Bateleur Cathy R Tulliana

Division 3

Cabaray Far-med Shadowfax FTI FLyer Hors d'Oeuvre

Apricot MaluLani Wings Derbygum Ava

Gandalf Carousel Albacore Storm Saiorse

Paprika Chen Phantom Bandit Matador

Anastasia Iechyd Da Sizwe Wings Impact

Antares Wave Dancer

OUTSIDE HOUSE – NOTICE REFUELLING

All boat owners are asked to make prior arrangements (bookings) through Action Yachting before arriving at the fuelling

jetty.

Club management is finding it difficult to meet crane schedules if members needing to

refuel arrive on the fuelling jetty unannounced and without prior confirmation of time

and space.

OUTSIDE HOUSE – NOTICE NEW ARRIVALS – BOOKING IN Members and visitors are reminded that any boat arriving for the 1

st time at the RCYC is required to call in at the

Administration Office and Sign-in with the Marina Secretary. THIS INCLUDES VESSELS ARRIVING JUST TO UTILISE THE CRANE OR SLIP.

Marina Notices

.

TWILIGHT RACING SERIES - IMPORTANT NOTICE

ALL Boat Owners/Skippers MUST sign in their guests for the Wednesday Evening Twilight Racing.

Please make use of our

online registration on our

website (www.rcyc.co.za) to

save time.

BLACK CAT REPORT by Dave Immelman

Morning All Position: S33 58,765 E018 11,160 DTF 11.3 Miles We are now about 11 and half miles from Moulie Point and motoring at 5 knots. We are expecting to arrive at RCYC around lunch time all things going well and we don't run out of diesel. Tank is starting to look very dry... We managed to sail 150 miles and 170 Miles in the last 2 24 hours and then the wind died as we approached land, so on with the donkey and hope we have enough diesel.

I just wanted to thank all who have supported us and followed our Governors Cup Campaign there and back, and to all the words of encouragement and congratulations we have received. I know that it was much appreciated by all. Julie, can you please send our best to those friends we left on the island and wish them well for their trip home. We will see you at the club for a chat and a beer in three of four hours. Or a Paul Mare likes to say "tea and scones" Thanks and best wishes, Wavy and Black Cat crew.

General

PRESS RELEASE: Greenpeace’s iconic ship - the

Rainbow Warrior - returns to South Africa to

highlight solutions to South Africa’s electricity

crisis

Cape Town, 6 February, 2015: Greenpeace’s iconic ship

- the Rainbow Warrior - today arrived in Cape Town for

a month long tour of the South African coastline, as

part of a Greenpeace campaign to highlight the fact

that renewable energy investments are the solution to

the current electricity crisis. The environmentally friendly

ship will dock at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront in South Africa from the 9th – 16th of February. The ship was welcomed by

jubilant Greenpeace Africa staff and volunteers, and entered South African waters bearing a banner that read ‘Renewable

energy is the solution’.

“Welcoming the Rainbow Warrior in South Africa at a time when the country is threatened by stage 3 load shedding is really

important for Greenpeace Africa. The country is in crisis, and it is clear that the solution to load shedding is not more

investments in coal and nuclear, but in fact lies in removing the barriers to renewable energy. The ship will be used to

highlight how renewable energy puts power back into people’s hands, and is already delivering on time and on budget” said

Greenpeace Africa Executive Director Michael O’Brien Onyeka.

The new Rainbow Warrior is one of the most environmentally friendly ships ever built and is at the cutting edge of clean

technology. She replaces the Rainbow Warrior II, which retired on 16 August 2011 after 22 tireless years at the campaigning

front line and the original Rainbow Warrior, which was bombed in 1985. The original Rainbow Warrior is famous for helping

to end nuclear testing in the Pacific, blocking coal ports and closing down destructive fishing operations.

“Greenpeace Africa campaigns for a just transition away from coal and nuclear energy and towards a clean energy future

based on renewable energy in South Africa. The return of the Rainbow Warrior is a true honour for Africa, and we are

confident that this visit will empower Greenpeace Africa with the tireless spirit of the global organisation that is required to

win major campaigns and build on the successes achieved so far on the continent” added O’Brien Onyeka.

“The Rainbow Warrior is an important campaign tool for Greenpeace globally, in order to expose environmental crimes and

advocate for solutions for the many citizens that are suffering from environmental injustices. Having the Rainbow Warrior

here today is a reminder to our leaders on the continent, that the time to act is now, we cannot, and we should not destroy

our legacy to our children” ended O’Brien Onyeka.

During the ship tour, there will be open boats in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban when the Rainbow Warrior will be

open to the public for tours of the ship. For Greenpeace Africa, this is a way to say thank you to all our supporters who have

and continue to support our campaign for a South Africa that is powered by clean renewable energy.

For more information on Greenpeace Africa visit: www.greenpeaceafrica.org

To find out more on the Rainbow warrior go: http://www.greenpeaceafrica.org/rainbow

The Royal Cape Yacht Club seeks an applicant for the position of

Sailing Administrator

Sadly the RCYC Sailing Office are having to say good bye to Adrian Spencer-Jones as he departs

South African shores for new ventures on British shores. I wish him the best of the best in my home country and all the

successes that he is looking for, but it will leave a huge hole in our sailing office. I now start the difficult task of looking for his

successor. See the ad below if you would be interested in, or know someone that would be interested in, the role of Sailing

Administrator at RCYC.

Previous sailing experience would definitely be a huge advantage, send your CV to sailing@rcyc.co.za.

Read more about the requirements for the position here