Successful Regatta held on Swartvlei Lake in Sedgefield
This week the restless surface of the beautiful Swartvlei Lake was punctuated by the gleaming white sails of laser yachts during the 2016 South African Laser National Championships, which ran over four consecutive days from Saturday 1 – 4 October from Pine Lake Marina.
The overall conditions were extremely conducive for sailing, with blue skies overhead and both strong westerly and south-easterly winds testing the skills of the 114 sailors competing in various classes.
Georgou Divaris, a 16 year old local sailing star from Sedgefield and a member of the George Lakes Yacht Club, had his work cut out for him on the water as he battled it out with 24-year professional yacht racer and two-time Olympian Asenathi Jim. Asenathi represented South Africa, along with his partner Roger Hudson, at the 2012 London Olympics and more recently at the 2016 Rio Olympics where they raced a two-person 470 spinnaker-trapeze yacht, placing 20th overall.
Divaris himself is no stranger to success. He began sailing when he was just 10 years old, has once won the World Championships and was placed 2nd in the African Championships last year. His dream, like that of so many athletes, is to qualify for the next Olympics Games.
When asked why these two passionate sailors are so drawn to sailing, they both said that they relished the mental and physical challenges which the sport presented. A sailor is constantly testing one’s limits against the unbridled forces of nature and it requires a lot of mental energy, physical strength and dedicated focus to succeed as a competitive sailor.
Over the four days of sailing, each of them fought hard to gain the lead. Divaris took race one but was then beaten by Jim in races two, three and five. At the end of race six, Divaris was back in the lead. At the end of race 11, however, Jim’s experience and 6 years on the professional yachting circuit gave him the upper hand as he took gold ahead of Divaris. James Hellstrom came in third place taking the bronze.
In the Laser 4.7 light weight junior class, Cullen Keytel from Hermanus Yacht Club took first place, while the skilled sailors from Knysna Yacht Club Sanele Magquaza, Apenduli Maneli and JP Kriel taking second, third and fourth positions respectively.
This successful Regatta proved once again that the Swartvlei is certainly one of the best inland yachting destinations in South Africa.
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