RCYC Youth Regatta proudly supported by MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping.
Due to a smaller than expected entry, school and college exams, we decided to change the regatta from a two-day event to one day event. The eight entries enjoyed five back-to-back races in 10 – 15 knots in Table Bay. The Race Officer, Belinda Hayward, supported by Jennifer Burger, Hilary Ackermann and Kerry Pryde provided five different courses with only 10 minutes between races. The racing was very competitive with no one team dominating.
It is worth mentioning that of the four Academy boats about 80% of the sailors have only been sailing for four months. It talks to the quality of the instructing and the structure of the program. One L26 did manage to unceremoniously lose four of their crew overboard when the newly replaced lifeline came undone on a beat. Whalesong and Pure Magic were quick to the rescue and recovery. Their newly learned skills with STC (Personal Survival Techniques) were put to the test and the sailors taken ashore for hot showers and dry clothes.
Of the 52 competitors all were youth except for four adults. That is an exceptional statistic!
At the prize-giving each competitor received water and a coke from Peninsula Coca-Cola. Nando’s supplied substantial delicious platters for all competitors. Well-deserved Nando vouchers were handed out to the overboard crew and their rescuers.
A special thank you to MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping and Felix Scheder-Bieschin on Naledi for his generous sponsorship of this youth event. Even though the event was smaller than expected (neat, concise and concentrated) we hope to grow the event next year to include even more of our youth in sailing.
