Thursday, November 10, 2022

The Great Optimist charity race at Boatica, the V&A Waterfront

We heard about Boatica and the Great Optimist Charity Race on Cape Talk Radio and decided to go and watch
It was being held in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
We took our friend and neighbour Judi Thomas and, chatting,
we discovered that between us we turned out to have a few years of boating experience
It was a perfect early summer day with just enough of a breeze to make the day interesting for sailing
and the show was extremely popular
The sea was calm and large boats were heading out of Victoria Basin to have a trip in the bay
while on the left is the ferry which takes people from one side of the harbour to the other
Two historic buildings are at the exit from Alfred Basin; on the right is the iconic red Old Clock Tower at the V&A Waterfront,
which is an important part of the old Cape Town harbour
It was built in 1882 and served as the original Port Captain's Office
It is a three-story Victorian Gothic-style building, featuring a clock imported from Edinburgh
and surrounded by pointed Gothic windows
The building on the left was the next Port Captain's Building, built in 1904
The building is a good example of the Arts and Crafts School of architecture

The two are connected by the Clocktower swing bridge for pedestrians



Boatica 2022 plan

There were some larger yachts, cruisers and power boats (new and old) for sale
and you could, if you wanted, go aboard to view them. All way beyond our aspirational budget

We found our way along the jetties to where the tiny Optimist boats were moored ready for the race, which started at 12.30. The Optimist is one of the two most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over 150000 boats officially registered with the class and many more built, but never registered. It is sailed in over 120 countries and it is one of only two sailboats configured as an International Class by World Sailing exclusively for sailors under 16. Lynne is pretty sure that it was the boat that she was taught to sail in, a completely abortive wet weekend on a reservoir in South England

John learned to sail in a similar, but older, boat called a Billy-Oh in the St Andrews College Sailing club, where he also helped to build several Andy 12 foot dinghies, which were designed for the school by legendary designer Frank Spears. So we knew the mostly celebrity contestants taking part in this race, who were all over the recommended age, were extremely brave and hopefully experienced

Some were out on the water practising

We had come to support Pippa Hudson, whom we love to listen to every afternoon during the week on Cape Talk Radio
and on her sail and hull was the logo of another charity we support, Ladles of Love

The NSRI boat was a popular destination for many who support this essential South African coastal rescue service
we have no official coast guard service

Some of the motor boats and cruisers moored near the Bascule bridge, which can be raised for access

Pippa Hudson getting ready for the race

Giving and receiving instructions and course directions

They were to sail out of this dock and under both of the bridges, turn about and then sail back as fast as they could

Lots of different sponsors mentioned on all the sails

and a few more became visible

Time to get into the boats and get to the starting line

and time to launch the Cape Talk Optimist

and off they go

Riaan Manser is a slightly crazy and very successful explorer/adventurer
He was game for raising money for charity in this race and in other charitable enterprises
His impressive list of world firsts includes circumnavigating Iceland with Dan Skinstad,
kayaking around Madagascar and rowing from Cape Town to New York with his wife Vasti

and Pippa is off!

Smiling all the way and sailing what looks like a wooden bathtub. Watch that boom Pippa!

They all needed to get in a line behind the start and the wind was not playing along

Nearly there

Oops, watch that dock! A kind surfer pushes the boat off

lining up at the start

Supporters waiting for the vuvuzela hooter

and they're off!

through the cut and under the bridge which was raised at the very last moment

The wind is not kind in the corridor between the two docks and some had to paddle with their hands

A sculler off to monitor progress

First to arrive back was two-time reigning champion Caleb Swanepoel
- but would he win? He had to paddle like crazy

Perhaps not... Now there are two of them and the wind is down
It was a showdown of epic proportions as the wind dropped midway into the race
and skippers resorted to paddles, their hands, and dirty tactics with water weapons to get their boats across the finish line

The winner! 19-year old newcomer Hamilton Slater was the first sailor to complete the course
And it was worth it, the 2022 Great Optimist Race, in partnership with Boatica, raised R130000 for the Little Optimist Trust
during its fun-filled sailing event in Cape Town
The Trust enables financially and physically needy children to use the exposure to sailing
as a means to facilitate healing (both mental and physical), as well as to enhance wellbeing and quality of life

As we left we saw a sad sight and a disgrace;
the Second World War boom defence vessel SAS Somerset, a very neglected museum ship

Harbour seals sunning on the dock

We were in dire need of a beer and, as all the venues at Boatica were totally full, we headed to Ferrymans Tavern

Black Box was the band performing at Ferryman's and they were very good
If you need a band for a function, you might like to employ them, they are very versatile

AAAhhhhhhh

Ice cold nectar. The small one is for Lynne. She misses punting on the Cam and boating on the Solent

Children having great fun in the water feature at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront mall


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Posted by MENU at 6:03 pm

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