Gusty winds and choppy waters turned the Benoni Sailing Club’s (BSC) annual open regatta into a thrilling test of nerve and skill on February 14 and 15 at Homestead Dam, as sailors were pushed to their limits in highly competitive conditions.

The blustery weather made for spectacular viewing on the second day, with several boats capsizing as crews battled to stay upright and in control, before Bruce Cameron, on a laser, emerged victorious in the senior fleet after an immense showdown on the water.

Phil Bennet, on the sprog, claimed the second spot and Duncan Hawksworth (third in 2023 and second in 2024), on a laser, rounded up the top three.

Mika Malan claimed his back-to-back junior fleet title after his victory in last year’s event, with Maximillan Malan, victorious in 2023 and second in 2024, taking the runner-up spot while Ethian Biagio completed the podium.

“It was a successful regatta with a wide variety of boats. The wind was medium and gusty on the first day. On the second day, the wind picked up with stronger gusts, cooler temperatures, and a total of seven races were raced in the two-day event,” said the BSC commodore Dudley Thomson.

The action on the water featured a mix of classes, with Optimists, Dabchicks and Flying Dutchman boats all taking to the course, adding a variety and depth as sailors across age groups tested their skills in the challenging conditions.

“It was nice to see four Optimists and 12 Dabchicks competing in the junior class. For the senior fleet, there was a variety of classes. The Flying Dutchman had a good turnout. About 40 boats in total competed in the event,” Thomson added.

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