Top sailor in the making
His 90 per cent mark for theory and full pass for sailing landed him top of his class, a big triumph considering he was also the youngest.
About 11 years ago, a local dad took his five-year-old son to sail on Boskop Dam. Situated on the border of a picturesque nature reserve where fish eagles sore the sky, it is no wonder little Pieter-Gert van Wyk fell in love with the sport.
Today, the 16-year-old Oos-Rand Akademie learner is an inland licensed skipper and a good one at that. His 90 per cent mark for theory and full pass for sailing landed him top of his class, a big triumph considering he was also the youngest.
“I look up to my dad, Cobus,” Pieter, as he is known to friends, shares. Seated next to him is mom Lilly, who couldn’t be more proud.
“Since Pieter was little I couldn’t get him out of the water,” she says. “He loves sailing and is extremely passionate about the sport.”
Although Pieter could already sail from a young age, he had to get a license to sail motorboats smaller than 9m and that has more than 15 horsepower.
“For the test, you have to study different weather patterns and learn the rules of different dams,” Pieter explains. “You also need to be able to do first aid and have at least 25 hours of sailing experience.”
This preparation Pieter juggled with school subjects business studies, physical science and computer studies.
“Before exams started I made a schedule so I could study in advance and sail in my free time.”
In his spare time, this outdoor enthusiast also enjoys fishing and mountain biking. In future, he hopes to compete in a national sailing competition.
“My advice to young people is to follow their dreams,” he says. “They mustn’t let people who don’t understand their dream bring them down.”
On weekends, one might find Pieter at Boskop Yacht Club on his boat, a Hobie 14 Turbo, where he enjoys teaching younger children about his beloved sport. Perhaps the student has finally become the master.
