Point Yacht Club
Offshore Durban: until 13 July
As the weeklong Inter-Varsity Match Racing concludes, the sailors turn their attention to the next major event taking place offshore of Durban, the MSC Week that starts tomorrow (Sunday 1 July) hosted by Point Yacht Club.
The offshore regatta kicks off with a tune up race on day one, where invited guests, the Dolphins and Sharks players get some time off from their busy schedule to experience the magnificent sport of sailing.
Point Yacht Club has a whole day filled with land-based activities, including an island clean-up organised by Neil Millar of Winds of Change. The cricket and rugby stars will be assisting the sailors cleaning up their aquatic playground. Mbongeni Buthelezi will also be dazzling the sailors with his unique style of art using plastic waste, he will be workshopping at the club and then exhibiting his finished works over MSC Week.
From Monday, sailing gets serious with the J22 Nationals and L26 Provincials embedded in the regatta. Whilst local racing classes and cruising classes battle it out for honours in their class.
Confirmed entries for the J22 Nationals are skippers Brett van Rooyen (DJ’s Purple Reign); Nevan Lucas (Monkey Republic); Craig de la Hunt (Andiamo); Ralph Paterson (Hot Salsa); Herbert Karolius (After Dark); Neil Armstrong (Hang 10); David Scorey (Davidoff Cool Water); Ricahrd Wiederhold (Advanced Valves); Graham Baker (red G Us ‘n J); Brent Haddock (J’Ysuis); Dalene Muller (Wild Card); Peter Funke (Hakahana); Paul Thompson (Flying Colours); Trevor Hulleman (Hay-J); Christine Samways (Phoenix Rising); Nigel Milln (Just J); Rob Willcox (Voodoo) and Rick Parker (G’Day J).
Confirmed entries for the L26 class is led by Double Olympian, Roger Hudson on RCYC Homechoice. Hudson and his team boasts two double Olympians and four world champions, the defenders in the main sailing event, the Lipton Challenge Cup will be taking to the water in the MSC Week.
Joining them are teams Sibusiso Sizatu (Mephistopheles); Eli Brophy Tintinger (Lindiwe); Nhanhla Phakathi (PYC Challenger); Refeloa Zililo (iThemba); Hannah Fokkens (SLFC Spindrift); Coert Grobbelaar (PGMT); Michael Boorman (Tranxene); Paul Changuion (Orion B2G2); Brendon Humphreys (Container World) and Craig Deverson (R S Waldecia).
Entries received so far for the Racing Class include Argo FY co-skippered by Clipper Round the World sailor, Craig Millar and Olympic sailor, Alec Lanham-Love. They will be taking on Gregg Hurter on Bellatrix, Deon Viljoen on Phatass and Bluff team Andrew Murray on Liquid Blue. Three multihulls have confirmed their participation, Andrew Dolloway on Ladybird, Sean Jones on Bandit and Marc Hammick on Bog Monster.
For the main, historic event this winter, the Lipton Challenge Cup which starts on the 8 July, there are 17 entries that be been received. Defending their title are Royal Cape Yacht Club, with the challengers from across South Africa representing the following yacht clubs: Algoa Bay Yacht Club; Bluff Yacht Club; Buffalo Yacht Club; Glenwood High School Yacht Club; Island Sailing Club; Lake Denys Yacht Club; Langebaan Yacht Club; Point Yacht Club; Royal Natal Yacht Club; Seal Point Yacht Cub; UKZN Yacht Club; UCT Yacht Club; Victoria Lake Club; Witbank Yacht & Aquatic Club; Zeekoevlei Yacht Club and Zululand Yacht Club.
For more info like the club’s Facebook page or visit www.pyc.co.za.
