GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Two local school boys from the George Lakes Yacht Club, John-Marc Olivier and James Hellström, recently returned from France after competing in the RS Tera World Sailing Championships, in the Baie de Quiberon at Carnac, Southern Brittany.

During the week of July 24 to 30, Olivier, the South African RS Tera top sailor, finished ninth overall and James Hellström finished 21st after just 15 months of sailing.
This young, growing and vibrant sailing class welcomed competitors from seven nations including France, Ireland, Britain, Italy, Denmark and Sweden.

A total of six children from South Africa represented their country and competed, the other four young sailors were from the Red House Yacht Club, Eastern Cape.

The RS Tera World Championships was a bi-annual regatta alternating with the RS European Championships, but a decision was taken in Carnac that this event will now take place annually, with the 2011 event to be held in Denmark and the 2012 event to be hosted in South Africa.

The RS Tera sailing class has established itself as a popular and versatile training, and race training boat which already has a strong representation within some key clubs and centres around South Africa.

Article courtesy of the Knysna-Plett Herald, sister newspaper of the George Herald.