Thank You Zululand Yacht Club

Zululand Yacht Club has been home to the World ARC fleet over the last week. It is with huge thanks to the Adminitration Team, Committee and Members of the club who have worked so hard to ensure the fleet’s stay has been full of entertainment, good food and lots of laughter.

There has been an exciting programme of events enjoyed to the full. Day 1 began early with an enthusiastic number of participants taking part in the Richards Bay 5k Park Run through the local forest. A little later the energy levels raised as many crews took part in the Mike Leigh Memorial Dinghy Race and it was the international (World ARC) team who won the trophy for the first time in 20 years! Congratulations to Eimer, Dugald, Mahina and Harri for their astounding efforts to lift the shield. As celebrations continued, Zululand Yacht Club hosted welcome drinks at the Wet Deck Bar. To quote Nicolaas on Isabel “it’s been a 10 out of 10 day”.

At each destination participants can look forward to a tour organised by World Cruising Club, and the tour in South Africa has been long awaited by participants. Being in South Africa the tour was a safari drive and the visit to Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve did not disappoint. Jumping into safari jeeps, crews were treated to an array of native animals to include giraffe, elephant, buffalo, zebra, lion and rhino along with many others. Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve is a Big 5 Game Park in the KwaZulu Natal Regine of South Africa. The oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa is made up of 96,000 hectares of wilderness and is home to some of life’s most beautiful and extraordinary creatures. Our thanks to Tata at Mnce L3gacy Yours for providing an unforgettable experience.

Organised by the Club, the programme of fun events continued with Monday Night Braai. It was a lively atmosphere as everyone gathered in the Jib & Anchor bar. With a feast of lamb, steak and boerewors served up with pap (maze mash) and gravy, crews lapped up the delicious meal and had another fabulous evening together. Thank you to Clinton Gauld at UK Sailmakers for generously providing all the Braai packs.

Tuesday night’s treat was a wine and cheese evening. Sampling 6 different wines, the club’s wine expert provided local knowledge about the 3 whites and 3 reds offered. South African wines straddle Old World and New with the Chenin Blanc being the most widely cultivated variety in the Cape. But there are a wide variety of very good grapes grown in the Cape’s sunny climates and these are sure to be sampled by the fleet during their visit.

The grand finale of the fleet’s stay in Richards Bay was a spectacular Farewell Dinner at the Yacht Club. The main restaurant area was transformed into an elegant dining room complete with twinkling lights and personalised water bottles. Every detail had been thought of.

The evening began with a high energy Zulu Dance. To the beat of African drums, the fleet were transfixed on their warrior style dance moves which include some very high kicks and mesmerising chanting.

This was followed by some words of thanks. World ARC Event Manager, Andew Pickersgill, on behalf of the fleet and World Cruising Club, conveyed his thanks and praise to Zululand Yacht Club for welcoming the fleet and providing a spectacular array of social events over the last week.

This was followed by kind words from Commodore Brent Craig who welcomed the fleet to his club and said, “it’s such a pleasure to have the World ARC here again and it’s been great to see so many of you taking part in the Club events”.  On behalf of the municipality, we were honoured to have Kirsto Bhota, Deputy Mayor of uMhlathuze, in attendance and he also thanked the World ARC participants for coming to his region and was excited to be part of the celebrations.

The awards were then presented. To spice up the prizes, this leg was awarded on an overall basis with Katy and Tony on Tam Lin of Gloucester coming 3^rd, Heej and Andy on Kaja 2^nd and to much applause Sian and Martin on Bahati came 1^st. Not to forget the two multihulls in the fleet, they were also awarded prizes with Navillus 3 beating Esperanza.

Crossing the Indian Ocean over the last 3-months is no mean feat and it was only right to recognise those boats who have completed the entire route double handed. Gifts of fizz and chocolates were presented to Esperanza, Tam Lin of Gloucester, Escapde of London and Kaja.

As for the fun competition it was Saphir af Stockholm winning the closest ETA and Bahati were the closest with the bonus question, guessing the number of combined engine hours for Leg 14. 

Dinner was then served, and it was spectacular. The event staff at the Club had gone to enormous efforts to dress the main restaurant area and thransform it to a magical venue complete with ARC blue tablecloths, beautiful ceiling drapes and twinkly lights. After a spicy bean soup, the main attraction was a feast of traditional South African Potjiekos which on this occasion was a casserole of venison cooked on the open fire.  The evening continued with fun after dinner games and musical entertainment from local band Qadasi & Maqhinga.

The fleet have had quite a time in Richards Bay and it is with enormous thanks to Commodore Brent Craig for leading the way to a very successful stopover. There is a long list of thanks to all the staff, committee, members and volunteers who have worked so hard to ensure the World ARC were so warmly welcomed. Special mention to; Fiona and Rowane for all their front of house and administration, Leon for managing all the spectacular events and Donald & Lize for staying up all hours to escort the fleet through the estuary to their slips on the dock. 

With the festive season looming and a will to make it to Cape Town in good time, most of the fleet are on the move again. There is now a cruising period until the New Year whereupon the rally will regroup for a programme in Cape Town prior to their departure for Namibia on 11 January 2025. 

To sum up the journey across the Indian Ocean and all the wonderful stops on route, Susie Sami on Skyelark 2 said “I will take memories home to last a lifetime”

Huge thanks to all at Zululand Yacht Club!