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Thursday morning 26th of September I was stuck in Cape Town attending to local matters and could not, as per my usual routine, make it to Saldanha. Knowing that this was a big day at the club, due to the scheduled floating of our refurbished jetties, I gave both Eddie Truter, (club manager) and Andrew Bews, (outside house slipway, jetties and water space) an early morning call to ensure everything was on track. I asked for feedback on progress and photos of the operation to be sent through to me as and when possible. By 1500 not a word! Knowing, how busy the team must be and not wanting to disturb them, I sent Andrew a WhatsApp enquiring as to progress. The response I got was short and to the point: “Terrible, jetties sinking!” That will teach me to keep my nose out of things! As we all know by now the jetties are in the water and the final stages of securing into their new positions is currently underway. Another project which has been completed successfully is the refurbishment of our SBYC self-catering flat. The flat is looking great and if current demand for occupation is anything to go by, the flat will soon be fully booked for the season. BZ to the Outside House team for the progress on and completion of these two projects.
Having had our Opening cruise and the first events completed, our 24/25 season is firmly under way with the momentum of activity at the club picking up. Every time I manage to get out for a sail, I realise how blessed we at SBYC are. You just drop your mooring and off you go, spoilt with choice as to a destination to drop anchor for lunch or overnight or maybe just to go for a sail. The best is that this is available to us twelve months of the year and 24 hours per day. I have been fortunate to visit many yacht clubs both locally and abroad and have yet to find one that can compete with SBYC. In order to encourage members to make use of our facilities and to get out on the water, we have a jam-packed calendar with events which should cater for all tastes. Keep a weather eye out for notices published from time to time.
We must once again thank the people of Saldanha (community), the local authorities (SBM) and in particular the Navy (SAS Saldanha) for the support we receive in enabling us to practice our sport. We at SBYC see ourselves as an integral part of the broader Saldanha community and strive to contribute positively to the growth, development and protection of the environment of Saldanha Bay and surrounds.
Progress with the Academy has been amazing with new lessons being learnt on a daily basis. For many reasons, it is never an easy task to merge two entities. It was no different when it was decided, for all the right reasons, to merge the sail training and sailing aspects of TS Saldanha (Cadets) with that of SBYC. For this purpose the SBYC Academy was established. This partnership, I am happy to say, is now settling down and poised for big things. Expect a lot more activity at the club in this area. An exciting development is that the decision has been made to expand the sail training done by the SBYC Academy to all cadet units. This will be carried out on a workshop basis during school holiday periods. Thank you for the encouragement, assistance and support received by all in our endeavours to grow youth sailing. You can make no better investment for the future! Audrey you and your enthusiastic team are doing an amazing job, keep it up!
Some notes for your attention:
To end on an encouraging note, I share these two comments received during the month
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails” – William Arthur Ward
See you on the water.
Peter
Ahoy, fellow sailors and landlubbers alike!
Another month has breezed by faster than a 20-knot south-easter (and yes, it’s back with a vengeance), so it’s time for me to reflect on the organised chaos we call life at the club. It’s been busy, it’s been fun and it’s been…well, like herding cats through a field of catnip.
Races & Regattas: Let’s dive into the Frostbite Series – or as I affectionately like to call it, “The Who Forgot Their Jacket Challenge” or better yet, “The Snot Neus Challenge.” It kicked off with a modest 6-7 knots, a gentle breeze that was more like a polite suggestion than actual wind. But, just like my son before breakfast, the wind soon turned moody, putting on its best tantrum. Of course, that didn’t stop our fearless fleet of six from braving the elements and giving it their all.
Social Shenanigans: Our Spring Party was an absolute smash! The decorations were on point, the music was pumping and the braai smoke was billowing. We definitely had more ‘spring’ in our step than the Springboks, who unfortunately lost to the Pumas by just one point (ouch!). A huge shout-out to our amazing bar staff for keeping us well-lubricated and going the extra mile by staying up late for the 23h00 rugby kick-off. Your efforts were very much appreciated—and probably saved a few people from some serious dry-mouth!
Maintenance Mayhem: We’ve been hard at work with maintenance, making sure everything is shipshape for the season ahead. So far, we’ve tackled the men’s bathroom (a bit of a hillbilly fix, but hey, it works!), spruced up and refurnished the onsite flat and made great progress on the major jetty refurb and replacement project. The gardens and surrounds have also had a good tidy-up, along with the junior/academy sailing area and infrastructure. And let’s not forget the ongoing dinghy fleet refurbishment project, because we all know a shiny dinghy sails better, right? It’s been a busy time, but we’re getting there, bit by bit!
Accounts & Administration: Where do I start… was it with, “It’ll be a walk in the park,” or perhaps, “Should be an easy enough project while you attend to your 8 to 5 job”? Ha! Famous last words. So far, we’ve ticked off a new accounting system – check. A new POS system – check. Payroll system? You bet – check. And let’s not forget the stock/inventory system and new auditors – triple check! Needless to say, I’m putting a moratorium on any more so-called “easy peasy” projects for a while. For now, the focus is all on in-house management, streamlining processes and tightening up controls! No more walks in the park for me, thank you!
On the Horizon: Mark your calendars, folks! The Octoberfest is coming up and I’m polishing my Lederhosen as we speak. And let’s not forget the Halloween bash, costumes are mandatory, so no “I’m dressed as a sailor” excuses! The best-dressed prize will not go to someone in a windbreaker and Crocs, I promise.
Final Thoughts: Serving on the committee for the past year and a half has been a privilege and an incredibly rewarding way to give back to a sport that has shaped me in so many ways. With plenty of energy and enthusiasm left in the tank, I’m eager to keep contributing to the Club’s growth and success. I firmly believe in honouring the rich culture and history that makes our Club unique, while creating a welcoming, inclusive space for all our members. Keeping the spirit of camaraderie alive as we evolve is key. A big thank you to everyone who makes this club what it is, whether you’re on the water, working behind the scenes or simply showing up for the free snacks and shooters (you know who you are), your presence is valued.
Let’s keep sailing strong, laughing harder and your glasses even fuller.
Cheers
Calum Wedge
Vice Commodore
Unlucky for some but not for me! By far the highlight of my September was the invitation received from POYC to attend a presentation by our very own Kirsten Neuschafer on the 13th. Not only was I awe struck by her presentation, I got to shake her hand, managed a hug and shared her conversation at the dinner table. This humble incredible Lady is an inspiration to all South Africans. Thank you to Bruce, and your team, for making this possible and for your kind invitation. I hope we can persuade Kirsten to visit SBYC in the, not too distant, future.
On the local scene our racing and cruising programmes are well under way. We now have regular racing events for both keelboats and dinghies and the fleet is growing with every outing. We are hoping that by the end of October we will have a class for Saldanha Dinghies with three of our own having been restored and recommissioned.
To add a bit of fun, where possible, we are planning to combine racing with cruising events. It then gives the opportunity to take part in either category with a common final destination. Our first event with this format will be the Mykonos Cruise/Race scheduled for the 12th October. Watch out for the notices in this regard.
Another big event to look forward to is the SBYC dinghy regatta scheduled for the first weekend in November. We are hoping to make this an annual event.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore! Dream! Discover!” – Mark Twain
Let’s go sailing!
Peter
Another fun filled month was enjoyed by the Academy children as the competitive spirits rise at our bi-weekly racing weekends. We look forward to see the numbers grow in preparation for the first SBYC dinghy regatta taking place 1-3 November, 2024.
We held a very successful Open morning on the 27th September and invited newcomers to test the waters now that the winter months are behind us. We continue to receive many calls of interest from parents in the surrounding areas and news of our Academy is reaching far and wide. If you know of anyone interested please share the following email address with them for further information, academy@sbyc.co.za.
The main event for this coming month is the Tour de Vlei on 12/13 of October – thanks to the ongoing maintenance work on our fleet we have 5 Mirrors entered for this event and a gang of very enthusiastic young sailors! We wish them every success on the waters.
SPRING HAS SPRUNG!!
September came and went, bringing some much-needed warmth! I’m happy to report that this warmer weather coaxed a few of our members out of hibernation (finally!) to join in the fun. Here’s a quick recap of the action-packed month:
Saturday, 7 September 2024: Navy Walk & Soup Extravaganza
We kicked off the day with the Navy Walk into the reserve at North Head Lighthouse. Not only did we enjoy a stunning flower display, but the weather was also picture-perfect for some scenic strolling.
The evening was all about comfort food! Massive shoutout to the club’s soup stars—Bev Bestbier, Anne Schoeman and Diana Steyn who outdid themselves with an amazing selection of soups. Seriously, it was soup heaven: potato and leek, butternut, vegetable, pea and ham and a spicy lamb and lentil number! Paired with incredible bread generously donated by Rosemead Bakery (thanks, Brett!), it was a feast. Plus, the Springboks vs. All Blacks game made sure the vibe was electric!!!
Fast-Forward to Saturday, 21 September 2024: Frostbite 2 Race & Spring Party
The week was buzzing with members from RCYC stopping by on their West Coast Flower Cruise. They ended their adventure at our club on Friday, capping it off with a prize-giving event. Hosting them was a blast!
Saturday was race day with Frostbite 2, followed by our epic Spring Party that evening. The tables were decked out in spring-themed décor, the music was pumping, fires were blazing and everyone had a proper “jol.” Good times all around!
A massive thank you to our dynamic bar duo, Abrie and Carika, for always keeping the drinks flowing, the smiles wide and our wallets empty. You’re absolute legends!
Coming Up…
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
And now, your thought for the day:
“If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
Conrad de Swardt, Graeme Plint, Charles Walters, Constant Viljoen, and Shane Farquhar!
New Jetties where launched. Like they say, easier said than done. After launching them we had a sinking feeling while moving them into position, this led to a learning curve on how to replace one with a hole. Lesson learnt, don’t always listen to advise. It turned out that we missed holes in no less than four out of the nine, I guess that’s not a complete failure seeing that it is above 50%!
Next step will be moving the new units into their fixed position. We will re-use the one old jetty and scrap the other.
The small jetty will be placed once all the larger units are happily in their new positions.
The flat refurbishment went well until a male decided to interfere. This led to a 2 week delay and new glass for the windows. Needless to say, the culprit was severely dealt with!
All said and done, the flat is now open for business. Well done to all involved.
Next step will be to repair/ replace the stairway.
Embrace Adventure • Discover a Passion • Build Skills
Welcome Aboard!
Enter a world of excitement and exploration at the SBYC! Our Junior programme is tailored for youth ages 7 to 18, providing the perfect platform to learn the art of sailing while building valuable life skills in a safe and family-centred environment.
Nestled along the picturesque shores of Saldanha Bay, our club stands as a beacon for sailing enthusiasts of all ages. With a rich legacy spanning decades, we offer a vibrant community dedicated to encouraging a love for the sea, sailing excellence, and a spirit of camaraderie. From professional training to thrilling races and family-friendly events, our club invites you to embark on a journey of discovery, learning, and unforgettable experiences on the glistening waters of Saldanha Bay.
With us, your family will discover more than just sailing; it’s a place where your children can learn and thrive. You’ll join a welcoming community passionate about the sea, immersing your family in outdoor adventures, away from screens, and embracing the beauty of nature.
Enrol today and immerse yourself in a world of adventure, learning, and friendship. Don’t miss the chance to discover the wonders of sailing with us at SBYC Junior Sailing. For more information, please
contact: Audrey Redmond 076 767 5046.
