GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Racing high performance radio controlled yachts is an exciting, challenging and very satisfying sport or pastime.

Getting involved is easy all you need is a boat and a stretch of water, so come and join in the challenge of racing radio controlled yachts along the Garden Route.

Model sailing in the Garden Route can be broken into three classes of RC yachts, the shipmate R36’’ class has been in operation since 2003 and is a South African designed and built boat. 

The new dragon flite 95 is a new world class yacht which only entered South Africa only last year, a fleet of 31 in South Africa, of which 4 sail in the garden route. And the RC laser which again is international class boat, it was first brought into South Africa about 10 years ago from America, 9000 RC lasers worldwide, of which 150 are in South Africa, of which there are 7 sailing in Knysna since 2009.

Sailing takes place in a variety of venues. From Hartenbos river to Touws river (in front of the Fairy Knowe hotel) to the Knysna lagoon. 

Radio controlled sailing in the Garden Route takes place in a variety of venues from Hartenbos river to Touws river (in front of the Fairy Knowe hotel) to the Knysna lagoon.

"We sail 36’s or Dragon Flites twice a month on a Sunday, racing starts at 11:00 and RC Lasers in between on a Saturday or Wednesday depending on tides."

• Reasonable entry cost and little maintenance.
• Enjoy the great outdoors - fresh air and some vitamin D
• Easy to transport and store in a bedroom or garage
• No fancy radios are required - a simple 2 channel will do the job
• Ideal medium to learn and practice “Starting” manoeuvres as races are typically of short duration, so many races are completed in a day’s racing. This give you many opportunities to experiment.
• Ideal medium to learn and practice the “Yacht Racing Rules” learn quickly from your mistakes.
• Come to understand sail trimming on a small scale - The same principles as big boat sailing apply - quickly change the settings for the next race and see different results, until you get it.
• Take the sport as seriously as you like - there is room for all, both young and old.

So come and meet the organisers on the waters edge - George Winter (082 511 8538) commodore GRMSC, or Brian Beauchamp (083 640 4919), or Peter Clunas (083 731 8887) commodore Knysna buoys (RC Lasers).

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