Ballito sailor Rudy McNeill sweeps ILCA KZN Regionals
The six-time national champion now swaps classes in preparation for the J22 regatta at the Lipton Challenge Cup in Cape Town from August 24.
Ballito’s Rudy McNeill stormed to overall victory by winning every race at a major ILCA sailing regatta over the Women’s Day long weekend.
Hosted offshore by the Point Yacht Club, the PYC ILCA KZN Regionals drew some of the country’s best sailors to Durban waters from August 8-10. McNeill has raced in top regattas around the globe and combined that experience with home-water advantage to sail clear of the competition in the main ILCA 7 class.
“I am very happy with my regatta. I have been spending some time on the boat, getting my body used to the motions again and I could feel it paid off,” said McNeill.
“It was great to be offshore competing in one of the best venues in the world. The conditions were perfect overall, a bit of something for everyone.”
McNeill cited race two on the second day as the standout of the competition. He got off to a poor start by his standards and was placed third or fourth off the line behind the Western Cape’s Alistair Keytel.
“It was fun having to chase someone. I couldn’t catch him on the first lap. We had a great battle on the second upwind where I was able to pass him,” he said.
“It’s always great competing against these guys. It was fantastic to get 10 boats on the start for the full rigs, and we all had our moments.”
McNeill – a six-time national champion – now swaps classes in preparation for the J22 regatta at the Lipton Challenge Cup in Cape Town from August 24.
“It should be good racing down there, but I am looking forward to the ILCA Nationals next year in Durban. I’ll be training as much as possible to give myself the best chance to retain my home-water title!”
Meanwhile, the Point Yacht Club now gears up for the Mirror KZN Regionals in October, before an exciting summer season celebrating its 135th birthday.
ILCA KZN Regionals Results
ILCA 7s – 1st Rudy McNeill (5 points), 2nd Alistair Keytel (10), 3rd Luke Wagner (19).
ILCA 6s – 1st Blake Madel (8 points), 2nd Paul Changuion (12), 3rd Aydin O’Hara (14).
ILCA 4s – 1st Joshua Keytel (5 points), 2nd Nathan McCombe (11), 3rd Maximilian Malan (12).
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