Mossel Bay hosts sailing regatta

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - On 26 and 27 February Mossel Bay Sailing Club hosted the regional interclub competition between Mossel Bay, Knysna and George Lakes yacht clubs.

This event was the last in a three-part championship which takes place annually between these clubs.

It was the first time after Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club lost its premises three years ago that Mossel Bay received any entries from other clubs, event organiser Elfie Holden said.

"It took a lot of convincing to get the other club sailors here as we have no facilities to offer them," Holden explained.

The event base was a tent on Munro Beach and all the boats launched from this area. "The incline to the beach under the railway at Santos Beach is quite steep and visiting sailors find this a great inconvenience.

"Fortunately, a handful of these visiting clubs' sailors decided to take up the challenge and come and sail in our beautiful waters," Holden said.

The top five positions in their fleets:

Lower handicap fleet

1st Yogi Divaris, Knysna Yacht Club; 2nd Brett Gething, Knysna Yacht Club; 3rd Khanya Mafuta and Oliver Holden, Mossel Bay Sailing Club; 4th Kyle Koeries, George Lakes Yacht Club; 5th Mat de Villiers and Chris du Toit, George Lakes Yacht Club.

Higher handicap Fleet

1st Renier Delia, Mossel Bay Sailing Club; 2nd Waydon Goliath, Mossel Bay Sailing Club; 3rd JP Buys, George Lakes Yacht Club; 4th Ayden Gething, Knysna Yacht Club; 5th Ashley Lomati, Mossel Bay Sailing Club.

Sailors Waydon Goliath (left) and Renier Delie in action. Passengers of the Europa II cruise liner had the excitement of watching a regatta while they were anchored in the bay.