GEORGE NEWS - The George Lakes Yacht Club (Glyc) successfully hosted its traditional New Year’s Regatta last weekend, attracting a fleet of 32 boats and competitors from across the region.
Alongside local sailors, several visitors travelled in from Gqeberha, Cape Town and the Knysna Yacht Club, adding depth and excitement to the event.
The Glyc gratefully acknowledged its major sponsor, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, whose support played a significant role in the regatta’s success.
The sailing got under way on Saturday with three races completed in a light and patchy southerly breeze, demanding patience and tactical sailing from the competitors.
The conditions improved markedly on Sunday when a fresh southeasterly wind filled in, providing more challenging and rewarding racing. Two races were sailed in the morning and a further two after a short lunch break, bringing the total to seven races.
Under the scoring system, each sailor’s worst result was discarded, and the remaining six counting towards the final standings.
Each race featured two starts, the faster boats starting first, followed by the slower fleet. The slower fleet comprised six boats: three Optimists, a Gypsy, an ILCA 4 and a Loch Fynne. In Saturday’s lighter conditions, the Optimists dominated, led by Owen Conradie and Cameron Simpson.
However, Sunday’s stronger breeze suited the Gypsy sailed by Ruan and Riaan Labuschagne of the Redhouse Yacht Club, who won all four races sailed that day to claim overall victory. They finished ahead of Optimist sailors Owen Conradie, Cameron Simpson and Arthur Watson.
The fast fleet consisted of 26 boats, including 15 single-handed Lasers, as well as the Sonnet, Finn, Dabchick, Sprog, Fireball and GP14 classes. The competition at the front was close, with consistency proving decisive.
After seven hard-fought races, veteran Laser sailor Alan Keen of the Zeekoevlei Yacht Club, Cape Town, emerged as the overall winner. Keen secured one race win and finished in the top three in all his other counting races.
Second place went to Drew Scott of the Knysna Yacht Club, and the Glyc’s Michael Magner finishing third. All three these competitors sailed on Lasers.
The first non-Laser boat was a Finn, sailed by the Knysna Yacht Club’s Commodore Ken Reynolds, who finished a commendable fourth overall.
With strong participation, varied conditions and close racing across fleets, the 2026 Glyc New Year’s Regatta once again lived up to its reputation as a highlight on the local sailing calendar.
The George Lakes Yacht Club welcomes anyone interested in sailing to join its open day on 25 January. Whether you are new to the sport or an experienced sailor, it promises to be a fun and relaxed day on the water and an opportunity to experience sailing on George Lakes.
For more information, follow the George Lakes Yacht Club on Instagram and Facebook.
The fast fleet winners were Alan Keen, Drew Scott and Michael Magner.
The slow fleet winners are Riaan Labuschagne, Ruan Labuschagne, Cameron Simpson and Owen Conradie.‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
