Wednesday, November 06, 2013

The start of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from Table Bay

At the Rickety Bridge sponsorship launch,
John asked Ralph Mothes, owner of the Cape Town Sailing Academy,
for a ride on his yacht, Chantecler,
to see the start of the Cape to Australia leg of the race
So Pam steered us away from the Royal Cape Yacht Club
with a fair wind filling the sails
out into Table Bay
Ralph supervised his students setting the sails
a happy group of crew and passengers
After a short sail round the bay, we returned to the Waterfront
where Ralph steered us round while
we watched the racers passing through the cut
into the Victoria Basin
and out
into the bay
Lynne watched from the shore
Invest Africa, as the host country boat, was last to leave the Waterfront
The yachts formed a line to parade across the bay to the start line 
near Milnerton Beach
 They jockeyed for position before the start
 and set off with the gun, fired from a Navy strike craft
 and sailed on a course round the bay,
with those who'd studied the form taking the route round Robben Island 
to catch the South Easter
 and Ralph turned us
to head for home
 and Chantecler's berth at the RCYC
A very big "Thank You" to Ralph Mothes and the Cape Town Sailing Academy
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

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