KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Interclub Regatta 2025 proved to be a resounding success this year.
With a remarkable entry of 74 boats, the event saw a significant increase in participation compared to recent years, highlighting the growing enthusiasm and competitiveness within the sailing community.
Vantage point
The fantastic position of the Knysna Yacht Club with a vantage point over the water where boats were crossing the finish line, and general activity at the club drew a lot of spectator interest and made for an exuberant atmosphere.
The regatta commenced on Saturday 8 February under ideal conditions, with a brisk 15-20 knot south westerly wind providing the perfect challenge for sailors.
Demanding conditions
The demanding conditions kept participants on their toes, and the fleet completed five races back-to-back. By the end of the day, the majority of sailors, though weary, wore expressions of satisfaction, having tested their skills and endurance against both their peers and the elements.
However, the challenging winds did take their toll on some of the boats, resulting in several breakages, including broken masts and booms.
These incidents were a testament to the effort and force required to compete in such conditions.
The fast fleet winning team, Knysna Yacht Club.
The racing fleet was comprised of boats from various competing clubs, including Knysna Yacht Club, Mossel Bay Sailing Club, Redhouse Yacht Club, George Lakes Yacht Club, and the East London Yacht Club.
Two fleets
Each year, Knysna, Mossel Bay, George Lakes and Redhouse host reciprocal events and enter individuals who are scored as teams based on their top performers' results.
This year, the top six boats from each club's entrants were scored towards the Interclub competition.
Boats competed in two fleets, fast and slow, determined by the type of boat and its official handicap.
Fiercely contested
The fast fleet boasted 48 boats this year, with Knysna Yacht Club emerging victorious, followed by Mossel Bay Sailing Club, Redhouse Yacht Club, and George Lakes Yacht Club.
Slow fleet winners, from the left - Asakhile Mpumela (3rd), Lulonke Lenks (2nd), Christian Cilliers (1st), and Albert Lombard from Lombkor.
The individual competition within the fast fleet was fiercely contested, with only a negligible points difference separating the top few boats.
The final race proved decisive, with David Shilton narrowly defeating Yogi Divaris and Dudley Isaac, all sailing Finns, to clinch the top spot.
The slow fleet, predominantly comprising junior sailors, saw an impressive 26 boats take to the water. In this category, Mossel Bay Sailing Club took top honours, followed by Redhouse Yacht Club, George Lakes Yacht Club, and Knysna Yacht Club.
Incredible skills
The winners here were Christian Cilliers followed by Lulonke Lenks, and Asakhile Mpumela.
The Knysna Interclub Regatta not only highlighted the incredible sailing skills from various clubs but also nurtured a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship among the sailors.
Boat-on-boat encounters
Throughout the weekend, participants thoroughly enjoyed the competitive spirit and thrilling moments, which included several boat-on-boat encounters.
Mayhem on the start line was the order of the day.
The junior fleet from Mossel Bay brought an extra layer of joy with their laughter and singing during the lighter wind races, making the friendly competition even more delightful.
Arrived in numbers
What was also very notable was the size and competitiveness of the individual classes this year.
With the ILCA (Laser) Nationals on the horizon in East London in April, the ILCA sailors arrived in numbers.
There were no less than 20 ILCA 7s, 10 ILCA 6s, and 5 ILCA 4s - a fantastic turnout for the competitive class. The Finn class was also substantial and extremely competitive with 10 boats, and the Topper Class had 14 junior sailors.
Sea Cadets
The partnership between the Knysna Yacht Club (KYC) and the Sea Cadets from TS Knysna was again celebrated this past weekend as they were an integral part of the event.
They participated in the sailing with three boats in the slow fleet sailing for Knysna, assisted on rescue boats, and also managed the slipway to assist KYC staff with launching and retrieving boats.
Live-streamed
The weekend would not have been possible without the main sponsor, Lombkor, who provided the necessary support to host the event and make it as accessible as possible in terms of entry fees and sponsoring some well received prizes.
Harken assisted by also sponsoring some really nice sailing-related prizes while Robberg Fine Foods provided use of their buoys to enable the setting of sufficient courses for all the boats. The event was live-streamed for the first time thanks to The Computer Store, Knysna.
Eager to reunite
The anticipation for the next Interclub event, set to take place in Mossel Bay in March 2025, is already building, with sailors eager to reunite and compete once again.
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