Ballito’s Rudy McNeill sails to another national title
Since returning from a sabbatical from the sport earlier this year, Rudy has taken gold in the KZN and SA national laser racing events and is bang on form.
Ballito yachtsman Rudy McNeill continues to sail his way back into peak ocean-racing form and recently claimed another national championship.
He teamed up with Durban’s Aaron Ward to claim gold in the Flying Fifteen Nationals held by the Royal Natal Yacht Club off Durban on November 25 and 26.
It was just the second time that McNeill had raced a Flying Fifteen regatta, and the first time in seven years.
The Flying Fifteen is a 6.1-metre long racing keelboat that has been a popular class in international sailing since 1981.
“I really enjoyed sailing in the class again. I received a phone call just three days before nationals saying there was a very good boat that had become available, and do I want to sail?” said Rudy.
“The answer of course was yes.”
There was only one race held on the first day given poor conditions and the team of Patrick Harris and Jeremy Kriek took pole position.
“We had a shocker of a start, getting squeezed out completely. We had to gybe around and were almost last off the start line. We slowly nudged our way forward, gaining on the front two boats but didn’t manage to haul them in, settling for a third,” he said.
It proved to be a perfect way to get to know the boat and each other and the duo returned for Sunday’s three races, hungry for results.
The day went exactly as planned, with two comfortable wins from the first two races, which left them tied in overall first with Harris and Kriek.
Race three proved a tactical exercise which McNeill and Ward executed to perfection to claim the win over the final stretch and earn a clean sweep on Sunday.
“For Aaron, this is his first national title, the first of many, I am sure. He is super stoked with our result. It was an awesome regatta; I wish there had been a bit more breeze but nonetheless, it was great fun, and I can’t wait for the next one.”
Since returning from a sabbatical from the sport earlier this year, Rudy has taken gold in the KZN and SA national laser racing events and is bang on form.
The hiatus was self-imposed after a push for Olympic qualification in 2020, but he appears to have rediscovered his love for being out on the ocean.
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