Port Elizabeth Sailor in 2009 Optimist African Continental Championships
www.MyPE.co.za: The
2009 Optimist African Continental Championships will be held in
Richards Bay, South Africa, from the 11th to the 19th of July 2009.
These championships will see sailors ranging in age from 9 to 15 from
African Countries competing against each other in One Class design
sailing boats, the Optimist, over 5 days. Sailing Takes place outside
the Richards Bay harbour in the open sea and they sail a ‘square
course’ consisting of the start, a top mark, a reach mark and the
choice of one of two bottom marks and a finish. Each race takes
approximately 45 minutes.
Each team consisits of a maximum of seven sailors and the following
countries are represented; Angola, Algeria, Australia, Egypt, Kenya,
Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zimbabwe (at the time of
writing the United States still had to confirm numbers). South Africa,
as the host country has fourteen sailors entered in this event.
Local Port
Elizabeth sailor, Josh Woolard was recently selected to represent South
Africa
at the 2009 Optimist African Continental Championships.
Josh started sailing in 2004 at the Algoa
Bay Yacht Club in their
Development Program. He received his first Optimist for Christmas that
year. During the next 2 years he sailed in Regattas at ABYC, Redhouse,
Knynsa, George Lakes and Swartvlei.
In 2008 Josh sailed in his first Western Province Regatta at Saldanha,
the Eastern Province Provincial Regatta and The Youth Nationals Regatta
in Mossel Bay. During the 2008 Sailing season Josh won the Optimist
class at all the Eastern Cape Interclub events that took place in
Knynsa, George Lakes, ABYC and Redhouse Yacht Clubs. In addition he won
the Optimist High School Interschools event held at the Redhouse Yacht
Club recently.
Josh is a member of both the ABYC and Redhouse Yacht Club’s in Port
Elizabeth and sails out at sea as much as possible either on his
Optimist or with Rob Onvlee and Andrew Ward on Rob’s J27, KMG
Met.
Over the passed few months since Josh’s selection in March for the
African Optimist Team, at the Selections Regatta sailed in Richards
Bay, Josh has sailed at the Western Province Provincials and finished
in 10th place. Josh is particularly chuffed with also having sailed an
Optimist off of Durban’s Vetchies Pier on a number of occassions.
Many local senior sailors have assisted Josh to get to the level where
he is. Of special mention are; Bevan Galloway, his 1st coach as well as
Rob Onvlee and Andrew Ward, himself an ex-Optimist sailor, who
represented South Africa in the Optimist Class.
Port Elizabeth hosted the 2003 Optimist African Continental
Championships, sailed out of ABYC.
Related Links:
Africans
Optimist Web Site | Wish
Josh Well.
Port Elizabeth Budget Accommodation
Go to:MyPE.co.za
