MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Since the beginning of April, Mossel Bay has been decorated with colourful sails as first the Emerging Nations Programme (ENP) clinic was held, then the Junior Protea selections, and at Easter the annual Western Cape Provincial Sailing Championships took place here.
The Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club (MBYBC) was the host for all these events. Sailing is becoming more popular in Mossel Bay and events such as these contribute to the increased interest in the sport.
According to local sailing expert and club commodore Rob Holden, wonderful weather for the clinic with winds ranging from four to 24 knots and a range of sea states, challenged the sailors and coaches.
A total of 18 coaches and sailors from around Africa took part in the Laser Radial Class competition. Sailors from Tanzania, Sudan, Mozambique, Egypt, Namibia and South Africa will participate in the 2017 World Championships in Sanya, China later this year. The main aim of this clinic was to increase the number of sailors participating in the Youth World Championships and to narrow the performance gap and promote worldwide competition.
The annual Western Cape Provincial Sailing Championships took place over the Easter weekend. The competition also incorporated the national championships for the 29er dinghy class.
Four young sailors from Qingdao, China, were among the 300-plus sailors that took part as part of the annual provincial sailing exchange programme facilitated by the Western Cape Provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.
In his speech at the opening event held in the Dias Museum, Xin Kejiang, team leader of the Qingdao delegation stated the following: "In 1998, the Western Cape and Shandong Province in China forged friendly ties. In 2013, Western Cape and Qingdao had a primary discussion on youth sailing exchange. Since 2014, youth sailors from both countries have taken part in the local sailing races.
"Sailing became a bridge for mutual understanding and intercommunication among the young sailors as well as the organisers. I invite the young Optimist sailors of the Western Cape to Qingdao for the International Optimist Training Camp and Regatta in August.
"Our delegation is the third group to have the great opportunity to come to South Africa, an extremely beautiful country. Just hours after arriving, we have already felt your hospitality and I firmly believe the delegation will have wonderful memories and many new friends. We wish you great success with the Western Cape Championships!"
Also present at the opening event was the Sport Promotion officer of DCAS, Mzolisi Kota, the assistant director, Scientific Sport at DCAS.
Phelisile Cengani and the Eden Sport Council Secretary, Dave van der Walt.
The MBYBC boasted 23 entries in this year's provincials and these are their final results:
- Tammy Holden and Lea Smit 3rd in the 29er fleet
- Ashley Layland 3rd in the RS Tera Sport fleet
- Sasha Nillssen 4th in the RS Tera Sport fleet
- Clintonio Vallentyn 1st in the Topper fleet
- Bradon Kretzmann 2nd in the Topper fleet
- Waydon Goliath 3rd in the Topper fleet
- Abigail Sweeney 5th in the Junior open fleet
- Oliver Holden and Johan Prinsloo 6th, junior open fleet
- Sansar and Himmath Maharaj 13th, junior open fleet (it was their first ever provincial championships)
- Megan Robertson 11th, Laser Radial fleet
- Pieter de Villiers 1st, open Cat fleet
- Joppie Naude and Marc von Schütz 2nd, open fleet
- Chris van Zyl 3rd, open fleet.
Photo: Tersia Marais
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