Summer sailing season launched in Richards Bay

Blessing of the Waters ceremony at the Zululand Yacht Club to mark the beginning of the sailing season

4 hours ago

Dave Savides 1 minute read

A colourful scene as the revelry continues

In a tradition that goes back locally for decades, and globally for centuries, the sailing new season was launched on Sunday with the Blessing of the Waters ceremony at the Zululand Yacht Club.

After a briefing by Rear Commodore Offshore Charl Taylor, the event opened with the hoisting of the national flag and that of the Zululand Yacht Club by the 1st Richards Bay Sea Scout troop.

ZYC chaplain Dave Savides led the short service petitioning for a safe sailing season and asking blessings on the club’s management and members.

Pack leader Gray Robinson and members of the 1st Richards Bay Sea Scouts troop hoisted the flags

Then it was time for ‘war’, as a fleet of colourful boats, led by the NSRI, in turn paid tribute to ZYC Commodore Wikus van der Merwe by saluting as they passed.

The formalities over, the well-armed crews blasted the commodore and the other boats with water balloons, water cannons, foam machines, hose pipes, buckets and more to ensure a soaking start to the season.

Back on land, the party continued with braai fires lit and the music blaring – and not even the strong southwester could spoil the party.

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