Young sailors make Knysna proud

KNYSNA NEWS - Young sailors kept the Knysna flag flying high during the Eden Interschools Regatta over the past weekend.

Not only did Knysna Primary School (KPS) – who was represented by Ryan Steenkamp, Luca Lutolf and Tyrin Williams – win the primary school fleet division, but some youngsters also made a mark during individual races over the weekend.

The event was hosted by the George Lakes Yacht Club and entries were received from eight high schools and seven primary schools from across the region including Mossel Bay, Knysna and George.

The fleet sailing in the high schools division had 29 boats and the primary schools had 20.

A day for knowing the ropes
According to organisers, on Saturday 6 April a moderate southeasterly wind was blowing, providing excellent sailing conditions for the more experienced sailors. The novices, however, found the going difficult and had to retire to shore.

The primary schools fleet, sailing shorter courses, completed five races on the day, while the high schools fleet sailed four.

At that stage, in the primary schools fleet, Jean Paul Buys from Outeniqua Primary was leading with Tristan Boshoff from Glenwood Primary and Ryan Steenkamp from Knysna Primary in second and third respectively. In the high schools fleet, Conrad Holm of Glenwood House College was in the lead, ahead of York High's Matthew de Villiers and Robyn Hellstrom.

Only one race in light breeze
On Sunday, the wind failed to make much of an appearance and only one slow race in a very light southerly breeze could be completed. In this race, the winner in the high schools fleet was Sean Vonk from Glenwood House College with Ashley Layland from Point High in second. In the primary schools fleet, Aydin Gething from Oakhill was the winner and Tristan and Jean Paul in second and third place.

For the high schools fleet, the individual winner was Conrad on his Optimist. York High's Matthew de Villiers on Dabchick and Robyn Hellstrom on his Laser Radial came in second and third respectively.

In the primary schools fleet, the individual winner was JP from Outeniqua Primary on his Optimist.

Tristan Boshoff on his Optimist was second and KPS' Ryan Steenkamp on a Tera Sport was third.

The interschools team scoring was done on the basis of the top three per school. On this basis, the team from Glenwood House College came out on top. Knysna Primary took the top spot in the primary schools division.

The George Lakes Yacht Club sailing season is coming to an end, with its closing cruise taking place on Sunday 14 April. The following Easter weekend, many of the young sailors will be heading to Theewaters Sport Club in Villiersdorp to compete in the SA Sailing Western Cape Dinghy Championships Regatta.

Robyn Hellstrom from York High planing at speed on her Laser. Photo: Peter Adrian