Wind favours coastal racers at nationals
2007-02-15
ALTHOUGH rubberduck racers of the Cape are usually seen as the underdogs when competing in flatwater conditions, things turned in their favour during last weekend’s first national championships in the Free State.
Racers from the Cape get the short end of the stick during inland races with their boat engines, struggling with the altitude and the racers themselves being more accustomed to the waves and swells of ocean/surf racing.
On the flipside, the inland racers are also more skilled in the tactics of flatwater racing.
With the participants in the four nationals all vying for a spot in the national team, as well as a favourable spot on the country-wide rankings list, the competition is fierce among these, the top racers in South Africa.
Local riders that competed were Jacques Matthee and Dian Giliomee (Team Ceasar/Ranger Outback Promotions) in the Standard class and Steyn Basson and Jan Kriel (Team Champs) in the Blueprints class.
Contestants were required to race in two circuit races consisting of two heats and a final each, as well as a long haul race over 160km.
Kriel and Basson finished third in their first heat, were disqualified in the next, but managed to win the final nonetheless. This gave them an overall fifth position.
The team was in great shape after this, winning both the following heats and the final to secure an overall first place.
After setting up their engine for maximum speed over a long distance, Kriel and Basson were on their way in the long haul.
Conditions turned nasty for the racers when the wind starting blowing strongly.
These conditions suited the coastal racers just fine and they took the top three spots in both the Standard and Blueprint classes.
Kriel and Basson narrowly finished second behind Rocco Erasmus and Dewald Kleynhans of Team Novel Ford.
The team of Matthee and Giliomee finished sixth and third in the two circuit finals and second in the long haul.
Kriel and Basson currently lead the Standard Class after achieving 112 out of a possible 140 points.
The next national is the Western Cape leg which starts on 16 March.
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