Redhouse Yacht Club

[
frame|right|RYC_Burgee] The Redhouse Yacht Club (RYC), which is amongst the oldest yacht clubs in South Africa, [ [http://www.ectb.co.za/destinations/page.aspx?index=213 East Cape Tourism Board] states: “Redhouse … yacht club being one of the oldest in the country.” Retrieved 2007-01-29] hosts large dinghy races, and operates a training program that has recently produced international champion sailors. [* [http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?PID=15405 International Sailing Federation site] , Phillipa Baer (statistics), 2003 African Optimist Championship (international event)] ["Feature Article - January '05 - Sailor of the Year". "Sailing: Inland & Offshore". [http://www.sailing.co.za/oldfeat/2005/fa_2321.htm http://www.sailing.co.za/oldfeat/2005/fa_2321.htm] . Optimist Champion Justin Onvlee, from RYC. Retrieved 2007-01-28.]

The Club is located in the village of Redhouse, Eastern Cape, South Africa within a fifteen-minute drive of Port Elizabeth. It is situated on the Zwartkops River, a tributary to Algoa Bay which is a popular vacation destination, and major South African sailing centre.

Activities

The Club primarily caters to dinghy sailors, sponsors a major dinghy racing program, is an affiliate of the South African Sailing Academy [ [http://training.sailing.org.za/index.php?module=Clublist&func=view South African Sailing Academy] – roster of affiliated facilities - Retrieved 2007-01-29] and is a member of the International Sailing Federation as well as part of South African Sailing (organization). ["South African Sailing :: The Home of SA Sailing". "South African Sailing" (website). [http://www.sailing.org.za/index.php?module=Clublist&func=display&tid=40 http://www.sailing.org.za/index.php?module=Clublist&func=display&tid=40] Retrieved 2007-01-28.] The climate around Algoa Bay allows for year round sailing and river sailing provides a more sheltered environment for smaller craft. There are usually about two races per week throughout the year with periodic larger events including national regattas. During its evolution the Club has featured large fleets of diverse dinghies with the predominant race fleets presently consisting of Lasers, Mirrors, and Optimists.

The Club hosts the annual Eastern Cape inter-schools sailing championship, the 23rd event was held in 1999 [Stirk, Tim. "Shooting the Breeze". "Daily Dispatch" (South African newspaper). [http://www.dispatch.co.za/1999/03/12/easterncape/YACHT.HTM http://www.dispatch.co.za/1999/03/12/easterncape/YACHT.HTM] . 1999-03-12. Retrieved 2007-01-28.] It also sponsors the annual Redhouse River Mile swimming race each February, which grew from 48 participants in 1924 to nearly 1,000 men and women by 2003. ["Redhouse River Mile set for mid-February". "The Herald" (South African newspaper). [http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2002/12/13/sport/sp07_13122002.htm http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2002/12/13/sport/sp07_13122002.htm] . 2002-12-13. Retrieved 2007-01-28.]

The Club provides marina services for local and visiting boaters, [Marinas in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. "Marina Info" (website). [http://www.marina-info.com/minfo/sa/sa01/sa01mil.htm http://www.marina-info.com/minfo/sa/sa01/sa01mil.htm] . 2004-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-28.] and is endorsed as one of the regional attractions by the Eastern Cape Tourism Board. ["Bluewater Bay Tourism - Bluewater Bay, Swartkops, St George's Strand, Amsterdamhoek & Redhouse - all part of the Nelson Mandela Metro." "Bluewater Bay Tourism" (website). [http://www.bluewaterbay.co.za/bluewaterbay.php http://www.bluewaterbay.co.za/bluewaterbay.php] . Discusses Swartkops River Sailing. Endorsed and supported by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism and the Eastern Cape Tourism Board. Retrieved 2007-01-28.]

History

The Club began in 1904 when a group of yachtsmen met under the leadership of Mr. R.P. Jones, at the Zwartkops Rowing Club in the Village of Redhouse, South Africa. Three types of boats were featured in the first race under Club colors: five-ton, three-ton and two-ton though, by contrast, today’s popular raceboats such as Lasers and Optimist are limited by a minimum weight of 55 and 35 kilograms respectively.

A National Regatta was held at Redhouse in celebration of the Club’s 50th Anniversary of the Club in 1954 and the Centenary Regatta took place fifty years later in October 2004. [Heathcote, Andrew. "Redhouse Yacht Club's Centenary Regatta". "Smooth Sailing" (website). [http://www.smoothsailing.co.za/ryccentenaryrpt.asp http://www.smoothsailing.co.za/ryccentenaryrpt.asp] . 2004-10-25. Retrieved 2007-01-28.]

In the nineteen-seventies, the Mirror class became popular with more women and children becoming involved while junior sailing was boosted by the appearance of the Optimist single-handed dinghy, which has since served as the Club’s training boat. By 1975, the single-handed Laser had made its appearance at RYC and now dominates the fleet, in part since it is an Olympic class.

The Club's facilities were damaged by a major flooding of the river in August 2006. [alan [at] sail-search.com. "Redhouse Yacht Club Under Water". "Sail Search" (website). [http://sail-search.com/news/index.php/a/2006/08/06/redhouse_yacht_club_under_water http://sail-search.com/news/index.php/a/2006/08/06/redhouse_yacht_club_under_water] . 2006-08-06. Retrieved 2007-01-28.] [ [http://www.mype.co.za/gallery/details.php?image_id=537 "03 August 2006 - Rain - Redhouse"] , MyPE Images Gallery]

References

* [http://www.ryc.co.za/ Redhouse Yacht Club] (Official site)
* [http://www.smoothsailing.co.za/archive/ssn330.htm SmoothSailing website] discusses Redhouse Centenary Regatta and historical perspective of RYC and its location.
* [http://www.ibhayi.com/nelson_mandela_bay/nelson_mandela_bay.asp Nelson Mandela Bay government website] - regional information
* [http://www.mirror.org.za/mirror2004nat.htm "MIRROR NATIONALS 2004"] Mirror.org - further information on Justin Onvlee and RYC as host to national event.
* [http://www.sailing.co.za/oldfeat/2005/fa_2321.htm Sailing: Inland & Offshore] , November 2001 – discussion of Justin Onvlee's international competition.
* [http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2004/08/02/sport/sp10_02082004.htm “Another world gold for teen sailor Justin”] The Herald (online), By Helga van Staaden, February 8, 2004 – two gold international medals for Redhouse sailor

Notes