Sailors off to world championships
Yesterday, Thursday 18 July, a Mossel Bay Skipper Foundation team left George on their way to Medemblik, The Netherlands, for the Topper World Championships.
There are more than 200 boats from all over the world entered in the regatta for Medemblik 2019 says Skipper Foundation head Elfie Holden.
Many ocean race sailors and now Olympians started their sailing career on the Topper and this class of boat is highly popular in Europe.
This year the Skipper Foundation team of Waydon Goliath, Bradon Kretzmann and James Bull will be joining the migration to Medemblik to participate in this event. Last year this trio travelled to China to participate in an event marred by little wind.
The team will be travelling for two days to get to the venue, where they have chartered boats waiting for them to sail in the competition.
“We are so excited and can’t wait. We are sure the wind will be blowing in Holland.” Bradon exclaimed when asked about the long haul.
With regards to preparing for the event, James said: “Preparation was a bit more difficult now that we are further from the water. But we were encouraged to practise as often as possible.” The Skipper Foundation was forced to move from the Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club premises when Transnet National Ports Authority appointed a new tenant of the yacht club building. The young sailors are now based behind the Santos Express train restaurant at Santos Beach. Waydon says he is excited to see his international friend again and to have some strong winds to sail in.
"The Skipper Foundation thanks the Municipality of Mossel Bay, Illnois Engineering Solutions and the raffle ticket buyers for their assistance in making this amazing dream possible," says Holden.