Sailing Magazine
by Kirsten Veenstra
Recently the Holiday 23 class had an informal sailing get together at Saldahna, which was attended by 8 boats from the fleet and the crew. It was a perfect example of how classes can sail for fun – and have great turnout and energy around the event. Coenie Thiart, Chairman of the Holiday 23 Class, does an incredible job of communication to the class, constantly keeping the energy and excitement for events and Holiday 23 Sailing in general right up there.
The sailors got together on Friday night at Mykonos and Saldahna for a quite braai and a night on the boats – always a pleasure as these 23 footers are so well appointed and spacious downstairs and sleep 4-5 adults very comfortably.
On Saturday morning, everyone mustered at Mykonos before setting out into the bay for a fun race around a cardinal marker and then down to Skaapen Eiland – a race of one and a half to two hours, won by Kevin and Diane Webb and crew on Maximilian, followed by Patrick Knobel and his crew sailing Barato. After rafting up at Langebaan Yacht Cub and a lazy lunch, there was another race from Skaapen Eiland all the way to Saldahna in a nice stiff breeze, with spinnakers up the whole way, Brad and Saskia Stemmett and their crew on Grace beat the Webbs and crew on Maximilian over the line by half a boat length. Even in the Holiday 23 Class, there can be tense racing!
Saldahna Yacht Club is a beautiful little Club and their hospitality was overwhelming! A lovely evening of braaing and kuiering followed, and a night on the boats again.
Sunday dawned beautiful and windless – and was spent lazing around in the sun and model boat racing on Brad Stemmetts now significant fleet of models yachts.
Sailing needs more of these weekends!
