Cape Town’s famous South-Easter once again produced the goods for the third race in the PRIMI Naish Downwind Dash Series, with a stonking 41knot max windspeed (30knots average). Windy all day meant everyone knew it was on so we had more paddlers on the runs, with 49 SUPs, 35 surfskis and 2 prone-paddlers lining up for start.

The extremely high winds caused problems for some with boards getting ripped out of paddlers hands on the start and the finish line! But no swell meant an otherwise easy start and it was a great spectacle to see all the paddlers set off into the stiff breeze. Everyone got runs today, and with 34x personal bests amongst the SUP’s, it was clearly a great day.

With Dylan and Francois Frick missing the race due to their focus on getting Dylan ready for ISA Worlds, it opened up the field to chase for some podium placings! Ivan van Vuuren once again demonstrated his high-wind skills, piloting his Coreban Dart to a clear victory only seconds shy of his course record in 43.06. Greg Bertish took a convincing 2nd in 44.14 and surprise of the night, Pietro Muscas, set an excellent PB of 44.34 to take 3rd.

Pietro had come into Small Bay just behind Ethan Koopmans (Junior), Peter Petersen and Brad Adams but caught a small runner through the kelp-line. The same kelp caught out Ethan and made him fall but Ethan quickly got back up and set a fantastic PB time of 44.44 to take 4th – and he’s only 15 years old! Brad Adams outran Peter Petersen to take 5th in 45.53.

There were great performances right through the field with windsurfing world champion and world windsurf speed record holder Antoine Albeau setting a very respectable time of 53.28 on his first outing! Highlight for Rob Munro was stumbling on his board but managing to stay on his backside whilst staying on a run and passing Antoine literally lying down! 34 PBs in all, and too many to mention – but check your times, most paddlers shaved minutes of their times!

Brigette van Aswegen was a little off her personal best in 52.36 but Tammy Robarts is roaring up the timing sheets and got 54.14 using a converted windsurfer! Well done Tammy! Monika Wohlgemuth once again got a taste of the podium with a fine third with 58.31.

As mentioned, Ethan killed it in the Juniors, but once again Joshua Robertson is not far behind, he also set a PB with 48.44 on his LE. Matthew van der Linden, back from a bout of bronchitis, had to settle for third with a 50.01.

Greg Bertish now assumes pole-position in the overall rankings and the next race will trigger a discard.

After the race we had a very special treat from Chris Bertish who talked us through his recent SUP adventure – a 325km, unassisted paddle along South Africa’s West Coast. Hearing about the exploits directly from the great man was an incredible experience which had everyone spell-bound throughout the slide-show. If you ever want to be inspired and motivated to go out and do something unique then make sure you book a talk hosted by Chris Bertish – he has pushed himself to places few of us will ever reach and managed to come back and tell the tale in an intelligent, interesting and extremely entertaining manner. Thanks Chris – it was really special and your contribution to our SUP and paddling community is highly treasured. We wish you the best of luck with ISA Worlds and your Atlantic Crossing endeavour!

Thanks to Timekeepers Lollo, Jenn, Bruce, Aden – Jane Amory for pics, Big Bay Lifesaving Club for safety and sponsors: Primi, Naish, Vitaminwater, SUPHQ, SUPracer.com, BulkSMS, Buchulife, Xpression/Coreban, New Balance, BioKinetics Sunset Beach, Watersports Warehouse.

(all photos © Jane Amory)

2013 PRIMI Naish Downwind Dash – Series Leaderboard

 

2013 PRIMI Naish Downwind Dash – Race 3 Results

Date: Wednesday 6th Feb, 2013
Wind: 30-41 knots
Swell: none
Course: 10.1km

#	Name	Time	Class	Division	%	Grade	km/h	min/km	PB	Board
1	Ivan van Vuuren	0:43:06	14'	Masters	100.00	Elite	14.06	0:04:16		Coreban 14 Dart
2	Greg Bertish	0:44:14	14'	Open	97.44	Elite	13.70	0:04:23		Coreban 14 Dart
3	Pietro Muscas	0:44:34	14'	Masters	96.71	Elite	13.60	0:04:25	PB	Naish 14 Glide
4	Ethan Koopmans	0:44:44	14'	Junior	96.35	Elite	13.55	0:04:26	PB	Naish 14 Glide
5	Brad Adams	0:45:53	14'	Open	93.93	A	13.21	0:04:33	PB	Fanatic Falcon 14'
6	Peter Petersen	0:46:05	14'	Masters	93.53	A	13.15	0:04:34	PB	Naish 14 LE
7	Justin Bing	0:47:11	14'	Open	91.35	A	12.84	0:04:40	PB	Coreban 14 Dart
8	Armien Wohlgemuth	0:47:39	14'	Masters	90.45	A	12.72	0:04:43	PB	Naish 14 Glide
9	Sebastian Cattelan	0:48:09	14'	Open	89.51	B	12.59	0:04:46	PB	Starboard 14' OO
10	John de Roy	0:48:29	14'	Open	88.90	B	12.50	0:04:48	PB	Coreban 14 Dart
11	Andrew Cillie	0:48:30	14'	Masters	88.87	B	12.49	0:04:48	PB	Starboard 14' Ace
12	Tom King	0:48:32	14'	Open	88.80	B	12.49	0:04:48	PB	Fanatic Falcon 14'
13	Joshua Robertson	0:48:44	14'	Junior	88.44	B	12.44	0:04:50	PB	Naish 14 LE
14	James Taylor	0:48:45	14'	Masters	88.41	B	12.43	0:04:50	PB	Naish 14 Glide
15	Mitch Wagstaff	0:49:02	14'	Open	87.90	B	12.36	0:04:51	PB	Starboard 14' OO
16	Nic Muhl	0:49:18	14'	Open	87.42	B	12.29	0:04:53		Naish 14 Glide AST
17	Nicky Carstens	0:49:30	14'	Open	87.07	B	12.24	0:04:54		Proto
18	Mathew vd Linden	0:50:01	14'	Junior	86.17	B	12.12	0:04:57		Naish 14 Glide AST
19	Nicky Venter	0:50:40	12'6	Open	85.07	B	11.96	0:05:01	PB	Starboard 12'6
20	Mike Fiet	0:50:46	14'	Open	84.90	C	11.94	0:05:02	PB	Coreban 14 Dart
21	Neal Esterhuysen	0:51:21	14'	Open	83.93	C	11.80	0:05:05	PB	Coreban 14 Dart
22	Nico Pfitzenmaier	0:51:36	14'	Open	83.53	C	11.74	0:05:07		Naish 14 Glide AST
23	Gavin Dace	0:52:25	14'	Open	82.23	C	11.56	0:05:11		Naish 14 Glide AST
24	Brigette van Aswegen	0:52:36	14'	Ladies	81.94	C	11.52	0:05:12		Starboard 14' Ace Pro
25	Tyran Cooper	0:52:40	14'	Open	81.84	C	11.51	0:05:13		Coreban 14 Dart
26	Dave Maxwell	0:52:45	14'	Masters	81.71	C	11.49	0:05:13	PB	Naish 14 Glide
27	Mathew Maxwell	0:53:10	14'	Open	81.07	C	11.40	0:05:16	PB	Naish 14 Glide
28	Rob Munro	0:53:27	14'	Masters	80.64	C	11.34	0:05:18		Fanatic 14 OO
29	Antoine Albeau	0:53:28	12'6	Open	80.61	C	11.33	0:05:18	PB	RRD 12'6
30	Gary van Rooyen	0:53:33	14'	Open	80.49	C	11.32	0:05:18		Coreban 14 Dart
31	Craig Ginsberg	0:53:48	14'	Masters	80.11	C	11.26	0:05:20	PB	Naish 14 Glide
32	Barry Boswell	0:54:05	14'	Open	79.69	D	11.20	0:05:21	PB	Starboard 14' OO
33	Tammy Robarts	0:54:14	12'6	Ladies	79.47	D	11.17	0:05:22	PB	Starboard WS
34	Wayne Robertson	0:55:50	14'	Masters	77.19	D	10.85	0:05:32	PB	Coreban 14 Dart
35	Steve Tripney	0:57:10	14'	Masters	75.39	D	10.60	0:05:40	PB	Coreban 14 Dart
36	Wade Keet	0:57:20	14'	Open	75.17	D	10.57	0:05:41	PB	Starboard 14' OO
37	Monika Wohlgemuth	0:58:31	14'	Ladies	73.65	D	10.36	0:05:48		Naish 14 Glide
38	Rory Smith	0:58:45	14'	Ladies	73.36	D	10.31	0:05:49	PB	Naish 14 Glide AST
39	Jonathan Donner	1:00:05	14'	Open	71.73	D	10.09	0:05:57	PB	Naish 12' Glide
40	Mark Herd	1:00:26	12'6	Open	71.32	D	10.03	0:05:59		Naish 11'6 nalu
41	Anna Knotten	1:02:41	12'6	Ladies	68.76	D	9.67	0:06:12	PB	10'6 Proneboard
42	Shaun Havney	1:04:50	14'	Open	66.48	D	9.35	0:06:25	PB
43	Craig Girdlestone	1:04:52	14'	Masters	66.44	D	9.34	0:06:25	PB	Naish 14 Glide AST
44	Paul Ruger	1:05:16	14'	Masters	66.04	D	9.28	0:06:28	PB	Coreban 14 Dart
45	Kim Docherty	1:07:30	14'	Masters	63.85	D	8.98	0:06:41	PB	Coreban 14 Dart
46	Ryan Butcher	1:08:13	12'6	Open	63.18	D	8.88	0:06:45	PB	10'6 Proneboard
47	Iva Lopes	1:08:49	14'	Ladies	62.63	D	8.81	0:06:49		Naish 14 Glide AST
48	Michaela Gabriel	1:09:28	14'	Ladies	62.04	D	8.72	0:06:53		Naish 14 Glide AST
49	Grant Donald	1:11:15	14'	Open	60.49	D	8.51	0:07:03	PB	Starboard 14' Ace Pro
50	Andrew Henwood	1:14:19	14'	Open	58.00	D	8.15	0:07:21	PB	Coreban 14 Dart
51	Gina Seegers	1:15:23	14'	Ladies	57.17	D	8.04	0:07:28	PB	Coreban 14 Dart