St Helena : St Helena BANJO CLAIMS BELLOWS LINE HONOURS
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Public Relations Information Office) 06.01.2013 (Article Archived on 20.01.2013)
The Governor’s Cup Yacht Race, a downwind 1,750 nautical mile journey from Simon’s Town, South Africa to St Helena, has seen the catamaran yacht Banjo (SA) with its skipper and owner Kevin Webb and crew, Sarel Van der Merwe and Brad Stemmett, claim The Bellows Line Honours Tray by crossing the finishing line on 1 January 2013 at approximately 5:30pm.
BANJO CLAIMS BELLOWS LINE HONOURS
The Governor’s Cup Yacht Race, a downwind 1,750 nautical mile journey from Simon’s Town, South Africa to St Helena, has seen the catamaran yacht Banjo (SA) with its skipper and owner Kevin Webb and crew, Sarel Van der Merwe and Brad Stemmett, claim The Bellows Line Honours Tray by crossing the finishing line on 1 January 2013 at approximately 5:30pm.
Kevin and his crew suffered light winds at the beginning of their journey and for three days the wind also blew in the opposite direction. As wind conditions changed over the next 7 days, Banjo saw itself cross the finish line first, out of the 19 participants.
Billy Leisengang, Principal Race Officer and General Manager of False Bay Yacht Club explained “The Governors’ Cup will be presented to the first placed racing monohull on handicap. The handicap system works on multiplying a carefully calculated yacht performance time correction factor to each yacht’s finishing time, with the lowest corrected time being declared the winner. Should lighter conditions prevail, there will be a great tussle for the Governor’s Cup Handicap Award for the Racing Fleet between the yachts Reaction and Indaba.”
The best part of the race for Banjo’s team, Kevin said “of course was Line honours, but also finishing in the evening, where boats greeted us on the water and welcomed the crew in, it was fantastic.” Kevin who has been sailing since he was a young boy said “I have never taken part in the race before; it was a first for all of us. I bought the boat from owner Frans Loots, who had Line honours in 2010, and he inspired us to do this.” Continuing on his feelings when crossing the line, Kevin commented “I felt great relief, tremendous joy and for us arriving, it was a friendly welcome and it was spectacular.”
Sandpiper 2, with skipper Paul Tanner, is expected to arrive at 4pm this afternoon, 2 January 2013.
SHG 2 January 2013
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