Sailing events for Durban

Sailing and ships are part of the history of our city, and today there’s a vibrant and active sailing community taking part in leisure and competitive sailing events. See below for more details.

Every Wed: 5.30pm, Twilight Series – Bay

11 Feb: RNYC Memorial Dinghy – Bay

12 Feb: RNYC Memorial Keelers – Offshore

18 Feb and 3 March: RNYC Dinghy – Bay; Sailing Academy – Offshore

19 Feb: PYC Keelers – Offshore

4 March: PYC NSRI Barrel

10 and 11 March: RNYC/PYC Overnight Keelers

24 March: PYC Dinghy – Bay

25 March: PYC Offshore Keelers

26 – 30 March: PYC Beach Club Optimist Class Selection Series

31 March: PYC Dinghy – Bay

For more info call 031 301 4787

And here’s a big national event taking place in the city:

Point Yacht Club and Royal Natal Yacht Club

Riverview Manor Freedom Day Regatta

2012 SA Laser Nationals

27 April – 1 May: Offshore Durban

Vetch’s Pier over the Freedom Day long weekend will be awash with white sails as top sailors nationwide head to Durban to compete in the Riverview Manor Freedom Day Regatta featuring the 2012 SA Laser Nationals hosted jointly by the Point and Royal Natal Yacht Clubs.

It’s been more than a decade since the high performance class of Lasers has been sailed competitively in the warm Indian Ocean. The class of Laser sailboats is the most popular international adult racing class and every Laser is identical. It is a single-handed Olympic Class boat and is a challenging boat that rewards athleticism, subtle helming and trimming techniques, as well as tactical excellence.

Olympic hopeful, Rudy McNeil, national sailor Tamzin Gennissen and Choose Life High Performance sailor Byron Watt, with a Laser.

Pictured on Vetch’s Beach just after sunrise are Olympic hopeful, Rudy McNeil, national sailor Tamzin Gennissen and Choose Life High Performance sailor Byron Watt, with a Laser. Pictures by Sophie Thompson

The defending champion, Rudy McNeil from Umhlanga, will be back to defend his title, having been crowned at the 2011 Club Mykonos Laser Nationals. The local lad has just returned from participating in the ISAF World Champs in Perth, in an attempt to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. He will be using this event to polish off his Olympic preparation.

E-mail: sophietheelf@gmail.com