A FLEET of ILCA dinghies will take to the waters off Durban this Women’s Day long weekend as Point Yacht Club hosts the KZN ILCA Regional Championships, with the regatta celebrating the growing number of women making waves in competitive sailing.

Around 24 sailors will compete in the three-day event, one of the highlights on KwaZulu-Natal’s sailing calendar following a busy winter season that included the 505 KZN Regional Championships and the successful MSC Week. The International Laser Class Association (ILCA) dinghy is one of the world’s most popular Olympic sailing classes, attracting sailors of all ages and abilities.

Adding to the significance of the regatta, almost a third of the fleet comprises young female sailors who are carving out their place in what has traditionally been a male-dominated sport.

Among the competitors to watch is Karkloof’s Daniela Cantarelli, who has been sailing for almost a decade. The St John’s D.S.G. matric pupil heads into the championships after an outstanding season, having finished as the first youth female sailor at the ILCA National Championships in Langebaan over the May Day weekend.

Also Read: Durban University of Technology launches solar boat

“ILCAs have been my focus this year; they have always been my favourite boat. I was so proud of myself at Nationals. I really pushed myself to stay out in some rougher weather and felt so grateful for the opportunity and support that got me through it,” she said.

Cantarelli has also enjoyed success at the Richards Bay Grand Slam, where she claimed her first regatta victory against the entire fleet, male and female, before winning line honours in the demanding 9 Hour endurance race.

Despite balancing the demands of her matric year, she travels to Durban most weekends to train with coach Rudy McNeill ahead of the KZN Regionals, the Midmar Cup and the Youth World Championships in Portugal this December.

McNeill, a six-time national ILCA champion, said coaching Cantarelli had been a rewarding experience. “It has been an honour coaching Dani. I am trying to impart as much knowledge as possible before her worlds. It’s been fun and she is getting faster after each session,” he said.

The regional championships will also feature experienced sailors Thomas Funke, Luke Wagner and Cape-based Alistair Keytel, promising an exciting weekend of racing while celebrating women breaking barriers and inspiring the next generation of sailors.

For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here