CTRW 16-19 Dec

The annual main event of the year... With a good crew and a nice sized fleet in our class for a change, the crew were looking forward to the event... a 4 days hard racing regatta.
Lady Luck had other plans.. with a typical South Easter that blows at this time of year that persisted throughout the regatta.. With daily winds in the 40 knots region.. the race committee wisely assessed the weather daily and had no option but to abandon racing daily.. ON the last day of the event, the rules were even changed to allow one race for the event to stand.. and everyone headed out.. but as the bridge readied themselves to start the breeze was already in the mid thirties and gusting.. leaving them no option but to abandon racing for the day... With the result, 4 days and all 4 days the winds were too strong to sail.. It sometimes happens... Kudos to the sponsors (SAP) who were fully understanding... The Crew for the event were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Cath, James, Antonio and Daniel F.

Wed Nite training Sail 13th December 2017

With a light drizzle and light winds, the decision was still taken to try and get some training in. A long motor out on the water to an area where there was a little bit of wind.. A few other boats were training... Yolo did a beat, tack, kite hoist and around 4 gybes and a drop... by which time the wind had dissipated with the cloud action... So motor on and back to the harbour. Pleased with the session though, albeit everyone wet from the rain. Abaord: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Cath, Daniel(Foredeck for the upcoming regatta) and guest: Sennur

VOLVO OCEAN RACE START 10th December 2017

With the Volvo Race in town, a great opportunity to see these boats in action and give them a send off on their next leg. Yolo went out under motor.. There was no point in sailing, the winds were around 25knots and for the most part, specator boats needed to stay in a certain area.. sailing would have made that difficult and unsafe to do...  Team Yolo watched the start and then positioned themselves near the Radisson to see the boats come back fully powered up, which allowed us to be closer.
A great opportunity to see these boats and be part of it...  Aboard: Dale, Sieger, Cath, Shane, James, Antoinio, Arran.

VOR ProAm 7th December 2017

Ian Coward was fortunate to sail the ProAm Race aboard Brunel. 

YOLO West Coast Race 2017

YOLO West Coast Race 2017

DELIVERY : Saldhana to CT 27th November 2017

With prior knowledge of the weather forecast and time constraints Ian and Dale were unable to do the delivery personally but were fortunate to secure Mark Devit and Thore Berg to bring the boat back. Due to the weather they had planned to do the delivery on the Monday following the event when the best weather window was available. As it happened they departed Saldhana at around 07h30 and headed for CT, with a light Westerly blowing seldom over 8 knots... necessitating motor sailing the whole way. with the seas flattening out as they closed in on CT. Arriving just after 6pm. Aboard: Mark and Thore.

West Coast Offshore Race 24/25 November 2017

This race, new on the Offshore calendar and promises to be a success... The starting format had the class's going off 3 hours apart.. with a progressing South Easter, the last start would benefit more with stronger winds.. nonetheless Yolo's start still had breeze in the early 20's.. starting with the kite up.. and a nice sail down to Robben Island sailing a good VMG... opting not to gybe in the shadow but rather to sail the VMG and break through it.. which we did.. and then had a quick sail down to Dassen passing in record time... winds were up just before and after the island touching in the early thirties.. still holding the kite.. eventually going to the small kite and then later back to the larger one... We over stood the gybe angle into the Bay and direct for Elands.. so soon after the Gybe, we realized that we could not hold the angle as it was tight and we were only sailing 2 up, so did not have the rail weight... so eventually dropped the kite and two sail reached in for Elands.. as we got closer the wind went a bit lighter... conditions were comfortable.. .Around the mark, hardened up for a few minutes and then tacked to beat out of the bay... there was around 13 knots if breeze at this time, going down... sailing into a slop which had the boat slamming into it from time to time... but making really good progress and quite an enjoyable beat.. taking turns to catch a short rest at dawn approached the wind started to lessen as forecasted.. but fortunately we were almost out of the bay, we worked the puffs and shifts and tacked our way out of the bay past Britannia

and Columbine and got a good lane for the heads, followed by a kite hoist to sail down the shipping channel and into Saldhana were we dropped the kite for the last half a mile as the angle went tight. IN all a great race, boat was great. Elapsed time of 26 Hours and Eleven minutes and won our class. Aboard were Ian and Dale

Wednesday 22nd November 2017

With a SW breeze on the water, not too strong.. around 9-10 knots with puffs at around 12 knots for the greater part.. Opting for a wall start... We had to duck below a larger class one boat as they fought amongst themselves... still giving us a reasonable lane.. once around the main breakwater the wind dropped off and the sea was a bit lumpy making it difficult to make good way dodging the kelp.. our main competitor was breathing down our necks.. we played a few shifts but it took us into lighter conditions and then we had to dip below a few larger boats in the process... at which point our main competition skillfully worked their way around this... and was able to pass and make good distance ahead of us rounding the weather mark well before us.. giving them a good gap.. the rest of the race was sublime... with us finishing second on corrected time, which we were still happy with. A pleasant evening sailing on the bay.. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Arran, Antonio and guess Di...

Double Handed Racing -11 November 2017

A Westerly breeze with fluctuations on the water... gusty in the start area with the upper 20's.. so opted for a J4 for the start... Another cracker of a start, allowing Yolo to tack and sail straight over the fleet..  A good first beat to the weather mark, second only to a much faster boat.... around the mark and kite up.. as it was breezy we went with our heavy kite.. which turned out to be the wrong call as the winds started to lighten up... two gybes on the downwind leg..  around Milnerton mark and a fetch to the next mark.. where we realized the breeze had dropped further... around the mark and a beat back to the weather mark, a bit under powered, fortunately the sea was very flat... but we were still not on the numbers.... but opted not to change on the leg. but set up for a larger kite for the last downwind... around the weather mark and off to Paarden Island.. on this leg we changed to our largest genoa..  and again put in two gybes.. with a rusty drop at the leeward mark which cost us.. and a final beat to the finish.. In the end, we got a second place losing first place by twenty seconds to the larger boat... Sailing was great on the water.. and with a flat sea.. a joy to sail. Aboard were: Dale and Ian.

SOCIAL SAIL -Sat 4th November 2017

Yolo tries to sail regulary on a Saturday Afternoon where possible. with a nice Westerly of around 12 knots on the bay, the ideal conditions.. There was a nice Westerly swell, other then that some nice sailing, with Yolo going to Robben Island and back. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the afternoon on the bay.. Aboard: Dale, Sieger, Cath, Arran and guest Amie.

Wed Nite -1 Nov

As foretasted, a SE on the bay, perhaps a bit stronger but that is local effect.
Yolo did not get a good start, getting herself tucked away to the lee of competition with a Class one boat to the lee.. so eventually got spat out and needed to sail in dirty air for much of the leg.. Winds were gusting 25.. Once around Paarden Island a reach to Milnerton, a Fetch to the offset and a Beat to  the weather mark where we perhaps made up some time and a reach down to the finish. A nice race... giving us first in our class. Aboard: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Cath, James, Arran and Shane,

Monday 30th October 2017

With a few new crew members, it was decided to do a training session for Wednesday night type events.. Although everyone can sail, we started with the basics.. so everyone could be in sync on how it is done aboard Yolo.  From boat preparation, to leaving the dock and getting underway.. to the final crew work, maneuvers, crew movement etc... The evening was spectacular on the water, flat water, warm breeze around 13 knots... fantastic.. which enabled could training conditions. Eventually sailing back to the harbour and did a proper pack away and debrief. Aboard

: Dale, Sieger, Cath, James, Arran, Antonio.

Double Hander Race- 28 October

Sadly Class A seems to be continually plagued by poor starting numbers... Sad that with the introduction of ORC the class split could not have been better resolved... using the Class A and B to sail under A for Double handed events.. which would have slightly helped numbers... and at the same time giving the Class B Double handed guys a more even fleet... We note that Class B also struggles to get regular starters.. with the score sheets peppered with DNC's in both class's. We hope that this will improve. Nonetheless Team Yolo were there for some sailing.

Although out of our control, we knew that later in the day there would be a wind shift as forecasted and that the course should not have been set where it was as that was in the transition zone. The finish line was also set outside normal World Sailing recommendations... ie. you finish in the direction of sailing from the last mark.. in this case we had to finish withe the Finish boat to port and then technically bear away around the anchor chain to finish.. the wind transition made this slightly better to accomplish..

And onto the Race:
This would be the first Double handed race in a while to have a bridge start... a refreshing change...
Getting what can only be described as a cracker of a start.. best start of the season... sailing over the entire fleet seconds later... and onto the beat to Barker Rock... a nice breeze setting in with a flat sea... nicely powered up.. trying to find the correct switches, but there was few to be had... often losing out in the process... tacking up the coast to Barker rock, rounding a bit behind the lead boat, a much faster 42 footer... then kite up.. and settled down.. but the breeze was already dying, which had us attempting to find the puffs putting in the odd gybe.. to no avail... eventually getting a nice puff which took us to Landfall, the leeward mark.. and around this and a few hundred meters where the breeze died off... leaving us there for around 40 minutes crawling.... and tacking on the odd shift without any dividend... all this while the lead boat eeeked out the last of the breeze and finished... Eventually the Southerly started to push in.. and we were able to hook onto it... and sail down the wind line to the finish in a rapidly increasing breeze...  Overall a Second.. Really great sailing on the water.. for the most part, some nice conditions.. Aboard: Dale and Ian.

Wed 25th Oct 2017

A SSW breeze at the start area.. with puffs on the water.. wind range 6-12knots. First start was a General Recal.. then a bit of confusion in the fleet as to whether the next start would be the restart of whether our class would be relegated to the back of the starting order... Some boats got this wrong. In the end we got an OK start and raced off to the first mark of the Raddison.. relying on the puffs to keep going, with the faster boats in our class rounding ahead of us.. Immediately set of for Number 1 harbour mark with a bit of fresh breeze behind and a slight windshift which allowed us to catch some distance on the lead boats, then around the mark and to the finish, we noted two wind patterns on the water so made our selection to try and stay in our existing one, which allowed us to catch up more distance on the lead boats.. ending with just crossing the finish line just after them. Overall we got a first  in our class. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Cath, Arran, James and Antonio

WED NITE RACE 18 October 2017

With a Sw wind on the bay, around 12 knots.. with light patches in between.. Getting a fair start and managing to hold onto the back of the Class one boats for the first beat rounding the weather mark not far behind them, but having made up good way on our own fleet after playing a few shifts. Dead downwind to the next mark and a soldiers course for the rest of the race.. Sailing was good. In the end, first in our class. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Cath, Arran and new aboard, James.

ROUND ROBBEN ISLAND RACE 14th Oct 2017

A NW breeze blowing, but had not been blowing long enough for a sea to build.. winds were in the range of 16-20knots for most of the racing. Being a bit light on the rail sailing with only 4 aboard, making upwind a bit more technical... Working our way up the beat, watching and playing the shifts, eventually rounding the island behind a well known sailor who seemingly kept pinching to hold us... we allowed this... and then a big bear away from Yolo blasting 4 boat lengths ahead through their lee in 30 seconds before they figured it out. a fetch around the island and once sure we were clear a kite hoist... the swell was perfect giving the odd surf... with us slowly catching those ahead except the lead boat who was matching our speeds so we were unable to close in meaningfully.. We gybed twice on the downwind. The sailing was great, both upwind and downwind for the day.. Overall 2nd.. which we were very happy with. Aboard: Dale, Ian, Sieger and Denis.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 12 October 2017

First Wednesday night of the season.. sentiment onboard is that we race Non Spinnaker Class for the moment.. the rationale is that we do not always have sufficient crew to race properly with a spinnaker on a Wednesday night.. We also consider Wednesday racing a bit more light hearted and a way of introducing people to sailing and fun..

Conditions were SW, flat seas making sailing really nice.. from around  9 knots to 20 in the puffs..
Yolo started in what we thought was a good position, but the puffs came through higher on the line, propelling those boats forward... Oh well... We spent the rest of the race working our way back to the fleet and then to get through them.. with a few shifts being played on the 2 upwind legs..
In the end, we crossed the line first in our class and first on corrected time..

Abaord were: Dale, Ian, Cath, Sieger and Arran.

....

RCYC Opening Cruise 7 October 2017

Always a firm favourite on the calendar onboard YOLO. With some of the crew getting into the spirit of the day.. this years theme being "Pirates".. which is perhaps not exactly in keeping with the issues that yachtman are currently being subjected to on the East Coast and the West Coast of Africa with the related pirate issues.. nonetheless.. a good day to be had. The day went off well, with a well supported sail past which was enjoyed by all on YOLO. Aboard were: The Kushner Family, Cath, Shane, Sieger, Arran, Misha, Milan.

Gansbaai to Cape Town. 23 September 2017

After a comfortable night at moorings, breakfast aboard and then departed Gansbaai at 7am to head for Cape Town. Motoring the first hour allowing the SE to settle in.. thereafter motor off, taking it easy poled out the Genoa.. and started sailing in breeze which was in the late teens. The wind eventually went into the mid twenties but very comfortable sailing.. with good speeds. MArk Managed 15 plus knots in this configuration. A Gybe was called for Cape Town, Pole other side.. and with winds touching 30 at times a nice sail to the coast and down the coast where the wind started to drop off.. eventually starting the motor in the Llandando region where the pack up of the started.. Arriving at RCYC just before 6. A fast passage and a definite highlight of the weekend. Aboard were: Dale, Ian and Mark(DWD)

MOSSEL BAY RACE 22 September 2017

With a light NW at the start giving a downwind start... Yolo set up for a pin start, gybeing on the pin and blocking Nitro from taking the inside. Immediate Kite set and off Yolo went in around 10 knots of breeze.. sailing to the mid bay region. winds were dying and coming in with puffs.. allowing those behind to make a bit of ground as the race progressed. A gybe was called a few miles into the race... and perhaps a mistake of not gybing back later to cover the fleet instead sailing into a no wind zone till the wind came from behind.. when it did it eventually settled down with a SW.. which came in squalls, the highest was aroudn 30 knots.. which had Yolo flying along quite happily towards Hangklip... nearing Hangklip the wind started to die down.. and an Early shift in the breeze to a Southerly started to happen. Once the breeze settled down, it became a nice fast fetch to Agulhas.. with the boat taking it quite well. Aboard the boat we had a big collection of previous race experience and lots of sailing in this region... and were aware that the Southerly shift happened earlier then expected.. giving concern to a potential longer then planned upwind leg and the related confused sea state.. After much debate aboard and taking into account that the boat would likely need to stay in Mossel Bay for a Week until the next weather window came through to bring the boat back.. the decision was taken to abort the race and head for Gansbaai to spend the night.. with the intention of sailing back the following morning. A nice quick sail to Gansbaai.. Arriving at 5pm.. There were breaks at the one side of the harbour.. but an easy entry... we entered the main harbour first.. then decided to enter the smaller harbour as it was closer to the town.. The breakers were in this area.. we entered the harbour but realized that the surge was too big and potential draft problems once the tide went down.. so went back to the main harbour and rafted up on one of the moored vessels giving us the most comfortable way of mooring vs... being pushed around in the surge near the wall... We had a good curry and spent a good night aboard.... and left the following day on a good weather window for CT. Aboard Were: Dale, Ian and Mark D(DWD) Start Pics by Nic Bothma

DELIVERY CT to Simonstown 9 Sept 2017

Due to time constraints and commitments, the duo of Mark Devit and Thore delivered Yolo to Simonstown. By all accounts a routine delivery, with a bumpy sea to start.. with light winds which necessitating motoring, winds then up to the mid teens with good reaching with a wide berth at SW reefs due to the big break and then reaching into False Bay, where halfway up the winds started to die and back to the engine.. with a respectable time of under 9 hours for a 32 footer. Boat now in False Bay in readiness for the Mossel Bay Race. Abaord were: MArk D and Thore.

Double handed Race 26 August 2017

With a few adjustments on the boat... Yolo set out for another Double handed race... With an obvious SE line forming it was a matter of time before the line would fill in over the start area.... Yolo got a fair start and held in with the faster boats... rounding the first mark in first place, immediately hoisting the kite and set in for a long downwind leg... Wind was less then expected on this leg with the odd puff but nothing too strong. Only one other boat in Yolo's class put up a Assym for 2/3 of the leg... Yolo managed to get to the leeward mark just ahead of this boat.... with a good strike and rounding settled down for a good beat to Milnerton.. This boat quickly passed Yolo and the race was on.. with them pulling out good distance on the next two legs. Sailing was comfortable... waves weren't too big.. and the biggest gusts were around 25 knots during the race, with the average around 19 knots. So it was good sailing on the water. Yolo ended up second over the line and first on corrected time..

WORK COMPLETE 25 August 2017

All work completed on time. Boat relaunched. Unfortunately we could not get new decals made up in time.. so top sides were just polished. Thanks to Diving and Yachting services who took care of the boat while on the hard and did all the work.

ANNUAL HAUL OUT 21 August 2017

With the Season almost upon us, Yolo is being hauled out of the water for a few days, the following tasks will be attended to: -Bottom cleaned, prepared and antifouled -New Anodes fitted -New Propeller Fitted -Decals removed and hull buffed -Rudder switch -Fit B&G Vulcan. All things going to plan, the boat should be back in the water later in the week.

Sat 12th August

With Lipton Cup around the corner, RCYC has asked all the boats moored in the front of the club to relocate temporary to the Cape Grace in the V&A in order to make room for the Lipton boats and to give them some profile. Thus the boat was motored around to the V&A and moored there for likely the next two week. Dale was assisted by Tony C and Marc B.

Double Handed Race -31 July 2017

With a Strange SE on the water, with lots of gusts and if it were not chilly could easily have been considered summer conditions. The course set was not of the conventional type.. The bridge trying to reduce the upwind sailing on the course in the strong winds... but reality is that it is easy for a boat to depower when going upwind, the when fetching.. which creates more flogging and hard helm.. But sailing is sailing.. Yolo got a cracker start... and settled down doing the first leg from Number ten to Milnerton.. The wind was gusting in the upper twenties.. and the lows early twenties... a quick leg rouding Milnerton first and in a quandary of whether to set the kite, so opted conservative and poled out the jib.. The rest of the fleet did the same... a nice downwind leg to a laid mark followed by a gybe and a beat upto the next laid mark. At this point the larger J11.1 started to pull though being able to point higher.. and the JPK 10.10 slowly started closing the gap, also pointing higher with a touch more speed. the J11.1 was first at the next mark soon after by Yolo and the JPK a few boat lengths behind.. Next mark was Milnerton, Yolo was holding her gap off, but at Milnerton did a bad tack with a mainsheet tangle and stalled the boat in irons, which closed the gap.. the next leg was another fetch to Milnerton, the JPK 10.10 took a slightly higher angle while Yolo went direct. slowly the JPK inched forward with a bit more speed and eventually bore away for the final drag to the finish which gave them a turn of speed allowing her to pass to weather of Yolo and finish just ahead. All in all, great to be out on the water and a first place in the race.. Aboard: Dale and Ian.

SOCIAL SAIL -22 July 2017

With very few crew available and a dirty bottom on the boat.. Yolo did not take part in the racing but still managed a sail on the bay.. with a crisp SE on the bay gusting to 18knots... with flat water, gave for some nice sailing conditions, putting in a few legs up and down the bay enjoying the conditions.. and watching the racing going on. Eventually returning to port.. Aboard: Dale, Ian and Sieger.

SOCIAL SAIL 24 June 2017

With very little on the sailing calendar, the only sailing available to team YOLO is to do the odd social sail. So following a Crew lunch at RCYC, headed out into the bay. a Southerly blowing between 10-14knots, flat seas with a slight Westerly ground swell pushing against. Air temp was quite chilly.. Headed out under full sail.. in the bay was the Youth regatta happening.. so when in proximity decided to watch.. and dropped the jib, option to sail around the course watching the racing with he main only. We watched two races and then hoisted jib and headed back to harbour sailing up the full harbour in the process.. Good to be on the boat.. and great to have the core crew aboard: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Shane and Cath.

SOCIAL SAIL 17 June 2017

With the weather and the lack of inclination, finally we were able to make up and take a sail on the bay again. Weather was a Light NW going SW with around 8-10knots... and a left over swell on the Bay. Sailing was pleasant... but headed over the the Lipton Sail off which was happening near the Woodbridge mark..(The Sail off on who will represent RCYC), we spent out time watching the racing sailing up and down the course while making sure that we kept well clear of the competitors.. (In the end Dre won this challenge.. Well done to him and his team, I think good for Lipton to have him back on the course) Then leisurely back to Port.. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Arran and Amy(Arran's Significant other)

Social Sail -20th May 2017

A perfect winters day in CT.. Chilly, clear skies and a little wind on the bay... finding a SE coming through for the afternoon, Yolo headed for the South Side of the Bay to pick up the breeze, followed by some great sailing in flat water down the coastline and then back up. At one stage considering anchoring for a while.. but reminded by Sieger, we were out to sail... and that we did. eventually returning to harbour close to 5pm. Good to be out and using the boat.. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger and Ian jnr.

PINTO RUSSEL CRUISE 27th April 2017

A firm favourite, a fun day, not exactly a racing theme.. just about spending some time on the water.. There were race’s with different scoring. On Yolo it was decided to not be too serious with this event and just enjoy it. Getting a good start, we sailed the most direct course to Murray Bay, Robben Island getting there first. As we knew there would be quite a few boats planning to anchor, we decided to pick a position slightly outside the bay.. so as not to have too many boats trying to get into the small bay, which could have some snaring up if anyone’s anchor dragged. Eventually all the boats were anchored in the area with most enjoying themselves. Aboard Yolo we were able to enjoy ourselves relaxing while taking in the great view.. phase 2 of this event involved a second race and other activities which was planned to be set off at 5pm.. We decided to rather sail back to CT earlier forgoing the final phase. We had a great sail back in idealic conditions on flat water. A great day was had. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger and Cath

SOCIAL SAIL - 22 April 2017

Boats area meant to be used and enjoyed.. not just raced.. and in this spirit YOLO is always used.. This past Saturday had some fo the crew meeting for their customary lunch at the club followed by a sail on the bay. Conditions were warm for late April, which just made it that much more pleasant.. departing the port, sailing to the SE side of the bay as one noted a afternoon SE forming.. something that is classic for this time of the year.. with flat water and a steady 14knots on the bay.. Yolo reached up and down enjoying it.. A lot of other yachts ended up doing the same.. with great sailing to be had.. At one poin t discussions aboard were about anchoring at one of the teams favourite anchorages in the SE part of the bay, but opted to rather keep enjoying the sailing conditions. It was one of those idealistic sailing days.. Great sailing to be had.. Aboard were: Dale, Sieger, Ian and Iian Jnr...(Ian brought his son for a sail.. See pic)

SENIORS RACE 1 April 2017

No Jokes(1 April) Seniors race.. This event is always a gathering of some of the most notable sailing names.. It is a short course, no spinnakers and a pursuit start.. always getting good numbers. This was was a true Yolo affair... with Sieger taking up the top spot aboard. Sieger not being much in practice for some time took a while to get into the feel of things.. The day started with us hitting a submerged log in the harbour. Getting a very good start and a reasonable first beat, Yolo starting cathcing some of the smaller boats ahead... once around the weather mark a good reach to Milnerton followed by a Gybe to the offset where the pole was hoisted... taking back a position on this leg.. rounding inside another boat.. A tricky upwind.. with Yolo making contact with a Sunfish on the beat which effectively stopped the boat.. and soon after picking up kelp on the keel... This kelp stayed with the boat for the rest of the race costing around 1 knot of boat speed thereafter and some drift. In the end, Yolo got a credible mid fleet placing.. Next year, besides competing in the overall's, we will also be able to compete on the over 70's category.. A well organized prizegiving was held. Aboard were: Sieger, Dale and IAn.

FAMILY SAIL 26 March 2017

A stunning day on the water, with a very light NW blowing, warm breeze and super flat conditions, this made for a great sail on the bay. As good weather does, there were lots of other yachts out enjoying the conditions.. real G&T conditions... spending longer then intended on the bay. Aboard were the: Kushner Family and Cath.

Flag Officers Race and Overall Wednesday night Series Prize Giving

Last Wednesday night Race of the Season, this being a fun event.. the flag officers race.. According to the bridge we were over the start line, so we had to go back.. then worked towards new breeze on the water, reaching this breeze second, while most of the fleet stuck to rhumb line.. followed by a quick fetch to the first mark, with the Zero being hoisted... Gybing with the Zero at the mark, but it was clear to see that we would sail out of the wind again.. and the reality that if we continued racing we would be out on the water till late at night.. but the bridge realized this as well and decided to Abandon the race.. so back to the club. Aboard Were: Dale, Ian, Sieger and Cath. OVERALL PRIZE GIVING FOR THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERIES: XL Yolo came first in our division.. representing the team at prizegiving: Dale, Ian, Sieger and Cath.

Mykonos to CT delivery 4 MArch 2017

After the Mykonos offshore last weekend, the team made a decision to forego the Sunday delivery, as the winds weren’t too favourable. As a result, we had to make time this past weekend(4/5 March) to bring YOLO back to its homeport in Cape Town. We met at RCYC from where Dale drove the delivery crew up to Club Mykonos. After a quick pit stop to get food for the journey and a short mishap with the entry gate on the marina(was locked and had to find someone with a tag), we got ourselves onto the boat and set off for Cape Town around 18h15. With the engine humming away, we left the lagoon mouth and made a straight-line course for Cape Town. The aim was to get there as fast as possible with minimum effort. The weather seemed to be in agreement as she served up a light North Westerly with only a mild South Westerly swell. This gave us the perfect opportunity to abandon the sailing idea and stay under motor the whole way home. After a quick supper, a bit of attempted GoPro footage and some tunes to put us in a good mood, we sorted out the watch system and settled in for the night. A simple 2 hours on and 4 off sufficed for each person to get a single dogwatch in. The night was fairly uneventful from here on, good news for us. We moored up at Royal Cape around 04h30, meaning we managed a semi decent 10 hours and 15 minute delivery. This beat the 16 and 14 hours had by fellow racing teams that delivered on the Sunday when we resorted to driving home, a somewhat more comfortable decision from what we hear. After a quick flake of the main and a tidy up, we locked the boat and headed home to squeeze in a few more hours of sleep before first light. Aboard: Ian, Shane and Cath.

Mykonos Race 23/25 Feb 2017

Day 1: Getting a good start in light winds, the fleet quickly tacked off with the leeward boats managing to stay in slightly stronger breeze allowing them to pull away.. and Yolo hanging on.. Closing on Robben Island a deciison was made as the forecast indicated that a Westerly would arrive early afternoon so Yolo made the tack out to sea to incercept the new conditions... knowing full well, that if the forecast was wrong, it would hurt as the boats going down the shoreline would get better conditions. As it turned out, the shift did not happen as expected so Yolo eventually had to consolidate and make for the Dassen Island gate.. the second leg Yolo did much better with the winds eventually shifting on the final approach to South Head... and then kite up and a good sail to the finish.. just missing the win for that leg... IN all a pleasant day onm the water with flat conditions... but a poor overall result in our class. Day 2: The expected conditions were for it to be strong... so set the boat up.. and got a good stsrt and first leg... on the downwind the boats behind were able to get fresh puffs which quickly brought them into range... and the leg back upto Jutten was light... with Yolo opting to hold onto her heavy weather jib... consting valuable distance.. a great downwind thereafter.. followed by a good beat and downwind to the finish.. this race is probbably one of the more enjoyaable races on the circuit, sailing in scenic interesting waters... Getting a third in our class for this race. Overall scoring a 4th place in our class.. Aboard were: Dale,Ian,Sieger,Cath,Hans(Dubai) and Shane.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACE 22 February 2017

With a firm SE on the water.. Yolo got a fair start and hung in with the bigger boats to the first mark(Paarden Eiland) followed by a downwind to Milnerton, with the longer boats slowly overhauling Yolo, a gybe at Milnerton and a fast beam reach to the offset mark.. overhauling a boat in our class on the process... good rounding and a good solid beat to Harken followed by a final reach to the finish... making good time on corrected in our class with a win... Crew very pleased.. one the races we got right. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Shane and Cath.

MYKONOS RACE 2017

Yolo has entered the Mykonos Race which starts this Friday, the 24th February. Although the race will be tracked as part of the event, they will be using 3G tracking(cell phone towers etc...) meaning there will be blind spots which only get filled in when a update is received. So in addition to the race tracking, YOLO will have Xtra-Link tracking aboard... WHich is Satalite tracking, which is capable of working anywhere on the Globe.. YOu can follow us during the Race on www.xtra-track.com and just find us in the drop box.

WED Nite Race 18 Feb 2017

With a light breeze on the water it was crucial to get a good start.. Yolo all set for a great start with time in hand, with just under a minute to go, a boat bore down on the boat racked to our weather to try and get space and T boned him(40 footers) although the boat in the rights, to avoid getting caught up, the only escape for us was forwards.. sailing us prematurely over the line.. Oh well.. a fun race.. Yolo worked back and restarted.. and then went on the catch up, initially making good ground having split from the fleet.. hanging in there till nearing the weather mark, where Yolo stayed on the wrong tack a bit too long.. then going on the wrong tack downwind for a period.. So in the end scoring a second last place.. But all abaord had a good race, with pleasant condfitions. Abaord were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Shane, Cath, Arran and guests Sophie and one other.

Double handed race 4 Feb 2017

With a capzied harbour vessel(and to find out later a fatality) near the starting area.. the bridge made a quick call to make a course change just before start with a downwind start.. this was a refreshing change.. Yolo got a fair start and soon got going under kite.. Doing a peel just before Harken mark, then aroiund and off to Milneerton.. tight angle, but just holding, then rounding Milnerton and with a dying breeze the call made to immediately tack again to try and stay in the breeze.. with a few more tacks on the beat to Landfall, but the wind died away to nothing leaving most of the fleet without wind... condiitons were pleasant though... eventually the bridge decided to abandon the race.. Calling into Port Control for entry, they advised us to wait outside as the port was closed while they complete the salvage process of their vessel.. with us waiting off the breakwater for around an hour.. Abaord were: Dale and Ian.

WED Night Race 25th Jan 2017

With a nice SE on the water, not too strong, allowing for some good sailing. Yolo got away with a fair start but closing in at the weather mark the competions was ahead.. going on a downwind going on a different track to them to try and get ahead from PE to Milnerton mark, but to no avail, even losing another position on the downwind leg.. then around milnerton and the chase to the öffset mark"where we maintaned, a good rouidng of the offset allowed us to get on the inside of the competition and with a lot of working of the boat, managed to inch a bit ahead forcing them to tack to clear their air... at one stage it looked like Yolo was pulling on it's competition, but nearing Woddbridge, it was apparent that they had held onto their lead.. around woodbridge... and the final chase to the finish. Again it was looking good at one stage but they managed to finish ahead.. With a lucky puff near the finish which allowed YOLO to win on corrected time by twelve seconds. Aboard were: Dale, Ian and Sieger.

Double handed Race 21 JAn 2017

Nice conditions at the club, but once out on the water, a very strong SSE wind... A quick test beat confirmed this, so a reef put in and a smaller jib selected, Getting a fair start, but very overpowered going to Paarden Island, ONce around a bear waway for Blouberg Mark, all set up for a kite hoist, but the wind was in the thirties, so decided as no one else had hoisted, not to hoist the kite. Poled out the jib and worked the boat on the downwind... whiole clearing away all the kite gear... The highest wind was 41 knots in a gust.. Managed to get to the leeward mark first, hardened up and sailed closer to the beach, then tacked, the larger boat in our class slowly pulled away on the long upwind... winds were in the uppoer 20's and early 30's.. and there was a steep chop on the bay, making it wet, bumpy sailing... once around the weather mark and a beam reach to the finish. First place in Class. Aboard: Dale

Wed 18th Jan 2017

With a good breeze on the bay, it looked like some nice sailing to be had... realizing there was a wind line sperating the start line.. YOLO ensured she was at the wind end, but with a minute to go, the wind died and in fact was coming from the opposite direction, causing YOLO to put in some quick manouvers, but was still late on the line.. Once away, quickly got back intot he SE without having lost too much on the fleet. Once rounded the weather mark sailed to seperate us from our competition and keep our wind clear.. and poled the leg... managing to end the leg on the inside at the gybe mark. getting a good gybe which made some more distance. a quick fetch leg to the laid mark and then a beat to harken mark and then to the finish. Good distance was made up on the beat as we secured a good lane and used the shifts to advantage allowing us to pull out a bit more distance. Overall First in Class. Aboard: Dale, Ian, Sieger and Arran.

WED 11th Jan 2017

First Wednesday nigth race of the year.. and weather looked good at the club, but Fog in the bay.. Forwever hopefull the fleet made thei way out to the start area on the hope of putting in a race, but the fig thickened and rightly so, the fleet abandoned racing for the day.. So back to the marina. Abaord: Dale, Ian, Sieger and Arran.

C2R Race start 1Jan 2017

With Dale and Ian, having withdrawn from this event some 2.5 months prior, their hearts were still very much in it.. So Yolo went out to watch the start and wish the YOLO crew, namely Shane on Regardless and Cath on Black Cat well for a safe pasage. THe start took place in a strong SE making it pointless trying to keep up with the fleet as we went out under motor... the fleet very quickly sailed away... but good to be out watching and giivng them our support. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger and guests: Des plus an Australian and an American who joined us.