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Customs has been undergoing modernisation for the last few years. This entails replacing the Customs & Excise Act of 1964, which is pretty much outdated, with the Customs Control Act of 2014. Customs are publishing the draft Rules that will govern the new Act.  Documents below: SARS Draft Rules Chapter 11 to 20 and 24 for comment SARS 20140812 – Customs Control Act SARS 20140701 – LAPD-LPrep-Draft-2014-44 – Draft Customs Control Rules Comment Sheet What is relevant to us are …

Sailors arose to big breeze in Santander for the sixth day of racing at the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships and with 64 scheduled races it was set to be a big Wednesday. Gusts of up to 30 knots were reported across the race track early on in the day and with an 11h00 local time start some of the fleets took to the water. As the day progressed the breeze began to decrease significantly across the race tracks, …

I am very excited by the opportunities that we in South African Sailing have ahead of us.  The previous committee has provided us with a great platform to take things forward and I would like to thank Rob M’Crystal and Mike Dixon in this regard. Looking forward your new Council is as follows:   President                                       Philip Baum Vice President                             Mike Robinson Chairman/ WC Councilor      …

RSA sailors did not race yesterday due to the lack of wind. Only the 49er yellow fleet were able to get racing in on the fourth day at the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships as light, teasing winds played havoc across the seven race courses. The 470, 49er, 49erFX, Finn, Nacra 17 and RS:X fleets were all scheduled for racing early on in the day with the Laser (silver and bronze fleets) and Laser Radial (silver fleet) penned in …

Seven Volvo Ocean Race boats lined up alongside each other last Friday for the first time for Leg Zero, a two-day race to the Balearic Islands and back. The first competitive meeting (400nm) of all seven teams would provide both the crews and the race organisers the opportunity to size up each other before the Volvo Ocean Race starts next month. Before the Leg Zero race began, the teams ran through a series of emergency procedures such as man overboard, …

The third day of racing (Sunday) at the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships was a tough affair with light winds and a strong current testing the sailors across the six fleets on the water. The Laser, Laser Radial and Men’s and Women’s RS:X were joined by the Men’s and Women’s 470 fleets on the third day of racing as they kick started their competition. After a long wait ashore and a further one afloat waiting for the wind to …

More than 1,250 sailors in over 900 boats from 84 nations will compete at the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships from 8 – 21 September 2014. The best sailing talent will be on show and as well as world titles being awarded across ten events. 50% of Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition places will be won based on results in Santander. The regatta format will feature an opening qualification series and a final series with the top ten in …

In the 2014 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup fleet there are three Supermaxis, goliaths of the sea measuring upwards of 100-ft. Contrasting designs define the Class. Firefly is a modern interpretation of a classic day racer, while Inoui and Viriella are simply imperious modern yachts that offer their owners graceful habitats afloat. Firefly leads going into the second half of the competition, but only by one point from Inoui , which has the wind behind her challenge having won today’s 31nm …

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is a serious event – so to win you have to be fit and well prepared. Leaving nothing to chance on water requires dedicated preparation. The working day for the Mini Maxi crews begins in earnest as the sun rises; physical conditioning and mental wellbeing are treated seriously. All teams have their own approach; whether it be hours in the gym, cycling northeast Sardinia’s mountain bike trails or swimming lengths in the sea. Alex Schaerer’s …

The defending Vasco da Gama Race champion of the last two races, Gregg Hurter, has just entered next year’s race which will be from Durban to Port Elizabeth. Hurter has successfully campaigned his Beneteau First 40 Bellatrix and won the last two races overall on handicap. He is a seasoned Vasco veteran who cut his teeth in the race during the good old days when the race was run between Durban and East London, and when fleets were in the …

Owing to their sleek lines, tall masts and decks gleaming with polished winches and varnished woodwork, the five attending J-Class boats catch many admiring glances on the docks of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The America’s Cup boat of choice in the 1930s, victim of the steel shortage during World War 2 when a number of its kind were destroyed, has enjoyed a revival since the turn of the century. In 2000, the J-Class Association was formed encouraging the construction …

An international fleet of 35 Maxi yachts have arrived in Porto Cervo, Sardinia for one of the sailing calendar’s great annual occasions. 2014 marks the 25th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, a competition sponsored by Rolex since 1985 and organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) and the International Maxi Association (IMA). It’s a meeting of elegance, power and speed. Week-long racing starts today. Lord Irvine Laidlaw’s Wally 82.8m hybrid Highland Fling, competing in Maxi Racing, will …

Here they are – convincing winners of the Lipton cup with 2 Firsts and a 2nd.

There is no more worthy team than the ZVYC team who have turned heads and had everyone talking about their performance this week. This is a young team that has shown immense commitment to sailing through the Royal Cape Yacht Club sailing academy. The team is a very diverse bunch who have jelled into a formidable crew – and now have pushed some of the best sailors in the country right out of their comfort zones. In the two weeks …

Greg Davis has won the Lipton Cup today for the 12th time – that’s more than any other individual. So why is he such a prolific winner? In researching the answers to this question, I asked David Hudson his opinion as he has sailed with Davis, and is managing the RCYC team this year. Hudson said: “Contrary to popular belief it is not because he has the fastest boat – known in the fleet as 074 – as he notched …