How two young sailors are conquering the ocean

Two teenagers from Cape Town say there’s nothing like messing about with boats and being out on the open water – from the peace and freedom they experience to being so cold that they can’t tie a knot!

Natasha Jack (18) from Khayelitsha and Sive Maholwana (19) from Fish Hoek started sailing the seas of Cape Town in 2017. They learnt to sail yachts – a medium-sized boat with a sail – at the Royal Cape Yacht Club Sailing Academy. The boat’s crew changes the direction of the big sails to catch the wind. The wind pushes against the sails and moves the boat forward. It sounds like hard work, but it’s also a lot of fun. Natasha and Sive tell us about what it’s like to sail every weekend.

How did you start sailing?

Natasha: I started sailing on a dinghy (a boat that is smaller than a yacht) and then I learnt to sail yachts. When I got to the academy, I saw all the knots and I felt lost! But constantly going out on the water and having a patient teacher helped a lot.

Sive: I started to sail on yachts. They put me on the boat and, over the years, I have familiarised myself with the boat. My teammates give me the confidence to sail.

What does it feel like to be out on the ocean?

Natasha: It is so peaceful and beautiful. I appreciate every moment of being on the ocean. Not a lot of people get to do this sport, especially from Khayelitsha.

Sive: The waves make the boat go up and down. It’s like being on a slow swing. I find it very soothing.

What surprised you most about sailing?

Natasha: Every time you go out, you learn something new. There’s a lesson every time.

Sive: The sea and weather are never the same and you have to prepare the boat differently for that, every time. You have to know your boat very well. You also have to know your surroundings. When you are out at sea, it’s very empty so you need to feel the waves and currents around you.

What is the best thing about sailing?

Natasha: When you are away from land, there is so much peace. It’s you and the sea. When you sail a boat, you need help from your crew. My crew members are now my best friends.

Sive: You feel so free when you are out on the sea. There is so much space. On land, you can sometimes feel small but on the ocean, you are alone with six friends. I trust the sea, so I feel safe. You feel your heart is happy.

What is the worst part about sailing?

Natasha: The knots! (There are a lot of different knots used on a yacht to change the direction of the sails and they can be very tricky to do.)

Sive: It gets really cold, so when you forget your jacket or gloves, then you can hardly tie a knot.

Do you see a lot of sea creatures?

Natasha: We see them every weekend and it’s amazing. We see seals, penguins and whales, but dolphins are my favourite. They have been known to help humans when they are in trouble.

Sive: Once, we were racing and then “Boom!” – something hit the underside of the boat. We looked down and it was a dolphin that had bumped into us. It started jumping out of the water right next to the boat. We forgot we were in a race! Dolphins love boats and will follow them for as long as they can. They look like they are dancing in the water.