Making waves recently at the interschools Dinghy Regatta, held at Victoria Lake Club, was Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg (DSJ) Grade 9 learner Maximillian Malan.

Facing strong competition from nine other school teams, DSJ sailors demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork, and determination, earning them 1st place in both the senior and junior fleet divisions.

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Maximillian explained that the competition was tough due to the weather conditions. “The wind was challenging, as the strength changed regularly with massive wind shifts. Patrick, my teammate, was sailing well, which added to the pressure I felt.”

The Grade 9 learner said he took interest in the sport at 8 years old, following in his father’s footsteps, and enjoyed being outdoors and using the elements to compete against other sailors.His accolades in sailing include winning the youth open regatta in 2024 in Benoni. Maximillian highlighted that the recent regatta was momentous because he’s always wanted the school to win the senior division. “It felt good achieving the win for DSJ, especially as the team put everything in to get a good result.”

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The sailor concluded that he was preparing to compete in Kwa-Zulu Natal for the regional championships at Midmar Dam on May 1.

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