RSA 505

The 2018 505 National Championship was sailed at Aeolians Club from the 21 -24th of September. The event was a real festival of sailing with 12 boats competing and teams travelling from as far as Cape Town to challenge for the title. The regatta kicked off on Friday afternoon with a very light wind race. The Funke brothers managed to hold on an win it followed by Justin Clarke and Richard Hutton-squire in second and The Ham brothers in third. The second race of the day was abandoned due to the dying breeze. 

Day two dawned with the prospect of more racing, in light and variable conditions. Racing got underway at 10 and the race officer aimed for 4 races. The Ham brothers showed off their skills and dominated the day with a near perfects score (3 firsts and a fifth) while the fight for the other positions was fierce. The heavier teams struggled, with Funkes sailing their two discards (5,7) and the teams of Klaas/v Gruenewaldt, Robinson/Wertheim-Aymes, Clarke/Hutton-squire all in the mix for glory. The Ham brothers took the lead after day two. 

The forecast for day three was good, strong wind and staying strong for the day. Racing got underway promptly at 10 and the heavier teams could stretch their legs and get going. The Saldanha based team of the Eigelaar brothers enjoyed the stronger wind and blasted along, scoring their best result of a 5th. At the front of the pack it was a battle between the Ham brothers and the Funke brothers for first, with Clark/Hutton-squire close on their heels and Klaas/von Gruenewaldt and Klaas/Holtzhausen also challenging from time to time. The Funkes managed to pull out all the stops and had a perfect day with 4 firsts. What a day on the water and all the teams had many exciting stories to tell afterwards. 

The forecast for the final day was bleak and it did not look promising. A very light wind from the south east filled in at 11.30 and the race officer managed to squeeze a single race in to give the competitors their second discard. After the race the wind died and teams could pack up their kit and get home. On the water, the light wind specialists showed the fleet the way, with Klaas/von Gruenewaldt winning the race, followed by the Ham brothers in second and the Funkes in third. The third position was enough for the Funke brothers to win the event with the Hams in second and Klaas/von Gruenewaldt in third. 

Well done to all who attended and competed. Now the preparation for the World Championship starts in all earnest.