All set for Western Cape Champs
Local sailors are practising diligently for the Western Cape Sailing Championships, to take place in Mossel Bay on the Easter weekend, from 29 March to 1 April.
The Garden Route Interclub championships took place in Mossel Bay on 2 and 3 March and this was part of the preparation for the Western Cape Champs, Mossel Bay Sailing Club commodore Elfie Holden said.
Mossel Bay Sailing Club, George Lakes Yacht Club and the Knysna Yacht Club took part in the interclub competition.
Holden said the sailors managed to sail both days of the competition, although the weather on Sunday was not the best. "The easterly did not become too strong and we got a decent number of races in," she said.
In the fast fleet, George Lakes' Martin Rostek came first and Daniel Kruger on an Ilca 6, also of George Lakes, came second.
Oliver Holden and Christiaan Cilliers came third, sailing double handed on a 29er.
Handicap
Oliver and Christiaan were sailing on a handicap. Holden explained that different types of boats and pairs or singles sailed together, but were given different handicaps.
In the dinghy fleet, sailing a Topper, Renier Delie of Mossel Bay came first and Mossel Bay's Ekow Bali, sailing a smaller Topper 4.2, came second. Bali did well because his mast snapped in the first race and then he went on to come second.
Third place was taken by Mossel Bay sailors in a double-handed Topaz boat Amayoli Elefu and Wandile Nkomo.
The Mossel Bay team for the Western Cape Championships is:
29er boats: Christiaan Cilliers, Oliver
Holden; Feva boats: Lutho Mvula, Misumzi Nqeku; Quba boats: Lukhona Mgchodo, Khanya Jam-Jam, Botle Mangquthu; RS Teras: Solomeleze Gqwangu, Anesco Abrahams, Qhayiya Nieklaas, Lulonke Lenks; Topaz: Wandile Nkomo, Amayoli Elefu; Topper boats: Siyolisile Gxowa, Kamohelo Masooa, Akhelakhe Mamasi, Wisdom Bali, Joel Oosthuizen, Lilitha Malusi, Lisakhnaya Nginingini, Lelam Dube; Topper 4.2 boats: Asakhile Mpumela, Ekow Bali, Neo Fredericks, Luke Raubenheimer, Christopher Raubenheimer, Elton Shoko; Mosquito catamaran: Pieter de Villiers.
Finns and Mirrors
Holden says: "There will also be two national championships - the Finn nationals and the Mirror nationals, in conjunction with the Western Cape champs."
For the purpose of the championships, 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.
For more information on the championships, contact Holden (082 826 3825).