Boating

Sailing

The Club caters for all types of sailing activity. While typical keelboat sailing is the mainstay of the Club,

dinghy sailingand especially development sailing is actively gaining momentum.

Keelboats

The Club has a number of annual trophies that are sailed for and on average two race weekends per month are arranged during the sailing season.

Various overnight events are also arranged where the participants overnight in one of the anchorages within the bay.

The Club also presents and hosts the annual West Coast Cruise which caters for a max of 40 yachts and cruises along the West Coast between Dassen Island and Port Owen. The event started in the late 70s and is still South Africas premier cruising event.

For more info on the West Coast Cruise see Home Page.

Dinghies

Dinghy sailing principally takes place within the river although the Club has hosted the Dart 18 catamaran, Western Cape Championships as well as the National Championships offshore from the beach at Laaiplek.

The Club has a couple of dinghies for use by members and hosts two dinghy events per year. The first is the annual, Great Berg River Race where the competition is between our neighbours the Velddrif Yacht Club and ourselves. Although the racing is competitive the emphasis is on fun and fellowship between the two Clubs. The race is unique in South Africa as the competitors must go under the road bridge which is to low to sail under so the yachts must be capsized and walked through. This causes fun and generally draws great spectator appeal. The race is organised by one or the other club each alternate year.

During the last weekend of January of each year the Club presents the Port Owen River Race. This is an open event for all Western Cape Clubs and again although the sailing is serious it is a fun event followed by a genuine West Coast Snoek Braai.

Development Sailing

During 2003 the Club embarked on a development sailing programme and this is growing steadily. The Club has five 09er dinghies and the kids are developing fast. Soon they will be able to progress to the bigger and faster boats in the fleet. Children of Club members are allowed to participate in the development sailing programme.