W Cape Champs to be held in town
The Western Cape Sailing Championships will take place in Mossel Bay from 29 March to 1 April.
The championships have been held here before at the old Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club premises.
Mossel Bay Sailing Club commodore Elfie Holden, who is co-ordinating the championships here in Mossel Bay, said: "We are expecting about 120 boats from around the country, of all types, including Optimists, which are quite slow boats, used by juniors.
Finns, Mirrors
"There will also be two national championships - the Finn nationals and the Mirror nationals, in conjunction with the Western Cape Champs."
Holden says about 500 people, competitors and their families included, are expected.
For the purpose of the champ-ionships, the Skipper Foundation NPO's premises at the old yacht club building will be used. This consists of the Skipper Foundation classroom, which will be used for championship registration purposes, the two slipways and the parking area.
The restaurant in the old yacht club building will assist with functions, Holden says.
Opening function
The opening function for the championships will be held on the grass at the Dias Museum. If it rains, it will be held in the museum.
A highlight of the Western Cape Championships is that, as part of an exchange programme with China, three children from China, aged about 10 to 12, will be taking part, sailing Optimists.
This initiative is part of the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport exchange programme.
Holden says there will be three courses set out in the bay.
There need to be 12 rescue boats, with two people on each boat, for the championships.
Bridge boat
Also required is a bridge boat, at the start and the finish of the races.
Flags will be used to communicate with the sailors, so those operating the flags must know the protocol well, Holden says.
Bev le Sueur, who volunteers her services to Western Cape Sailing, is facilitating bringing the three young Chinese sailors to the championships.
She was formerly chairperson of SA Sailing: Western Cape. Each province has its own chair. She explains that the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport holds the provincial sailing championships in different towns in the province, such as Hermanus and Saldanha, on a rotational basis. It was last in Mossel Bay in 2017.
There was a break during the Covid-19 pandemic.
For more information on the championships, contact Holden (082 826 3825).