SA to participate in world sailing championships

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Mongezi Mtati

Five South African boys will be jetting off to New Zealand on 21 December 2011 to participate in the 2011 Optimist Worlds Sailing Championship that will take place in Napier from 30 December 2011 to 10 January 2012. The top five sailors from about 50 countries will compete for the world title in a very technical and competitive event.

The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy, measuring 2.3 metres long by 1.1 metres wide, and intended for use by children up to the age of 15. It is recognised as an international class by the International Sailing Federation. Approximately 150 000 children in over 100 countries sail an Optimist, making it not only one of the biggest dinghy classes in the world, but also one of the fastest growing.

Skill of the skipper is crucial

Optimists provide real international competition because they are a one-design boat, manufactured to the same specification by dozens of builders around the world. They all must conform to the same standard, so the results of a race depend on the skill of the skipper rather than equipment superiority.

The SA team is made up by Cape Town boys David Wilson, Travis Barret and Emil Feuillette (all aged 14) as well as Ryan Barnardo and Daniel Spratley (both aged 15). They will be accompanied by their coach Andrea Giovannini and manager Kevin Bingham. The sport currently receives very little support in South Africa and the boys and their families have had to cover their own costs to get to the competition.