Light winds challenge sailors at MAC 24 Hour

Staff Reporter|Published 11 months ago

Milnerton Aquatic Club’s 24-hour Challenge took place in ideal weather conditions as the sailors were treated to near perfect steady 5 to 10 knot winds. Picture: Colin Brown

Mark Algra

The Horn sounded at noon on Saturday March 23 at Milnerton Aquatic Club and Rietvlei came alive with 21 sailing dinghies crossing the start line and racing towards the first mark in this year’s 24 Hour event.

Twenty-one teams entered the 25th anniversary event, started in 1998 at MAC. This year saw the introduction of a 12 Hr Challenge being incorporated into the 24 HR. Seven teams entered the 12-hour event and they sailed the daylight hours - going ashore at 6.30pm and then re-joining the challenge at 6.30 am on Sunday morning.

Nine Sea Scout groups sailing their 16 foot Saldanha dinghies took part in this year’s 24-hour Challenge at Rietvlei. Picture: Colin Brown

The weather gods were kind to the sailors this year and the sailors were treated to near Perfect steady 5 to 10 knot winds – these conditions were perfect for the junior and novice teams. It blew westerly and north westerly most of time, on Saturday afternoon there was a medium 10-15 knot south easter blowing but this died and went back to a northerly late Saturday night.

The Sea Scouts, including First Muizenberg, have become regulars at Milnerton Aquatic Club’s 24-hour Challenge as it gives them the opportunity to sail away from their home waters at Zandvlei. Picture: Colin Brown

This was unlike the last event in 2022 where gale force 25-35 knot SE winds blew. The 20-boat fleet was reduced to just five boats competing with many boats going in for repairs and torn sails, while other teams waited on the side lines for the conditions to moderate. These heavy winds helped a MAC GP14 dinghy - The Red Barron-break the world record. Saturday night saw the light winds continue and eventually die off in the early morning hours.

Sailing teams gather at the start of this year’s 24-hour Challenge. Picture: Angela Caroline Gray

This year’s event saw nine Sea Scout groups sailing their 16 foot Saldanha dinghies. The Sea Scouts have become regulars at the Event and it gives them the opportunity to sail away from their home waters at Zandvlei.The wind came back at around 5am and was steady up to the Sunday noon finish horn.

Plumstead Sea Scouts gather for a team picture after winning this 24-hour Sailing Challenge at Rietvlei. Picture: Angela Caroline Gray

MAC team RoyPow swop over during this year’s 24-Hour Challenge. Picture: Angela Caroline Gray

Results:

Sea Queen, a Saldanha dinghy from 1 st Plumstead Sea Scouts sailed a flawless race and won the Mac 24 Hr Challenge on Handicap, Royal Cape Yacht Club A - sailing a Sonnet dinghy placed second, in third another Saldanha from First Bergvliet, RCYC B team in a 420 were fourth and the MAC team RoyPow sailing an Enterprise were in fifth spot.

The MAC Junior sailing team Awesome Rawson sailing a Pico finished sixth.This team of junior sailors have only been sailing for a short while and these young sailors were over the moon at having completed their first 24 Hour Sailing Challenge

In the 12 hour challenge

Results:

A MAC sailing team on the Extra Dinghy ‘Platypus flew around the course and finished first, they were followed by team Du Noon sailing a Laser in second. In third spot on a Topaz – team Goose followed in 4 th spot by NAVY 1 in a Bosun dinghy. In fifth the Enterprise CV6 followed in sixth team Corinthians 2 in a Mirror. Seventh spot Team Viking in a Finn dinghy.

The Prize giving ran smoothly and sailors are now already planning for the 2025 event.

For more information and results, visit the MAC 24 Hour Facebook page.