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I had the opportunity of watching the last two days of the Lipton Challenge Cup, held at the Club Mykonos resort in Langebaan last week. It certainly must rate as one of the closest Lipton events ever sailed with the leading boats continuously changing positions on the course. Our RCYC team certainly did us proud and led for the entire regatta. It was only in the last race and the last leg of the course, approaching the finishing line, that a change in the lead occurred, resulting in the Royal Natal Yacht Club winning the event. A big congratulations to RNYC on their win.
This weekend sees our iMvula Ladies Race take place, with two races planned for the day. We certainly encourage all our ladies to try and participate in this important event whilst we are celebrating Woman’s month .
On to Spring celebrations where we start with our popular food and wine pairing on the 1stSeptember hosted by Glen Carlou.
On Sunday, the 5th of September, we are doing our second marina clean up and do encourage our members to participate and support this initiative. It was wonderful to see so many of our members come together last time to assist in cleaning our marina.
On the sailing front, Twilight Sailing starts 30 minutes later from September, with the first class off at 17h00 from the Bridge Hut.
On the international front Siyanda Vato and Michaela Robinson will be competing in the Marina Militare Nastra Rosa Tour in Italy from the 26th of August to the 26th of September. The first half of the event encompasses the Mixed Offshore European Championship, while the latter half of the event is the Double Mixed Offshore World Championship. Siyanda and Michaela are one of 11 mixed teams all sailing the one design foiling Bénéteau Figaro 3. We wish them all the best for this event.
The TP52 Super Series Sailing Week and the TP52 20th Anniversary Invitational started on the 24th of August out of Puerto Portals in Mallorca. Hasso Plattner and his South African crew are competing on Phoenix and we will be watching their progress closely.
A reminder to view our social media platforms to keep up to date with daily news, events, restaurant offerings and competitions.
Back on the home front, our restaurant and bar are open and operating according to Covid regulations and our popular Friday Night Draw is back with increased funding from Warwick Wealth.
I always look forward to seeing you at the Yacht Club
Yours in sailing
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Veritas, by Lindani Mchunu
I have always spoken about the privileged life I have lived. I don’t go into much detail, but when I tell you that I come from a privileged background I really mean it. It has only been apparent to me, just how privileged my life has been during the past four years in my tenure as the Academy manager. I knew my experiences were not the same as my cousins from the township, but I just thought it’s because their parents didn’t work hard enough.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. Meritocracy as I have come to learn is a pipe dream. The world stopped recognizing people for their value a long time ago, if it ever did for that matter. The world recognizes people for their allegiance to and proximity to power and their influence thereof. One climbs the ladder of life in accordance with one’s eligibility to maneuver all three levers; allegiance, proximity and influence. Power is the ultimate privilege. Everything that one is required to achieve from a very young age, is merely preparation for one to get as close to power as possible. There are exceptions of course to every rule, but that is all they are, exceptions.
On the 22nd of August the Academy had its inaugural graduation, this time we were celebrating the achievement of those learners who were part of the TETA programme, which ran over 2 years benefiting in total, thirty students. An interesting fact, it costs about R78 000 a year to train and upskill one student in our Academy and they only come once a week. We worked out that it’s more expensive than most of our country’s top private schools and universities. Yet those learners in private schools and universities definitely get more out of their education than any of our learners and definitely have more opportunities waiting for them.
The graduation on Saturday was amazing, we had learners who have been with the Academy for five years now. Young ladies who arrived as a group of 18 in 2016 and only three of them were still present. I admired their grit, for sticking it out for so long, coming from a background where sailing should be the least of their concerns. Statistics recently released in Gauteng say that in the last 12 months, 23000 teenage pregnancies have been recorded by the Department of Health, of that number 1000 teenage pregnancies were from youth between the ages of 10-14.
That is the reality of what girls have to face in the township, their bodies are under siege. Where are their parents? Where is the safety net? Gangsters, crime, corrupt police, drugs, alcoholism, unemployment, single parent households, HIV etc. Somewhere in the middle of all that, their parents are trying to survive. I have not worked my way up the ladder sufficiently to have a meeting with our President and to ask the simple question of “when”. When will it be enough, how many have to perish before it’s enough? Then pose the next question, “how much” suffering justifies real action? I don’t know when I will ever be able to have this private conversation with power, if nothing else, then just for my own sanity. Looking into the abyss has its drawbacks, it takes something from you, the very thing we protect our children from, innocence.
I beg, I plead, I write proposals and give presentations, I charm and cajole, I manipulate and influence. What more can be done? Well so much more. I am pleading with you, those of you that read this newsletter, do something, anything, most importantly I am pleading with you to meet these kids, chat with them and tell them your story, then allow them to tell theirs. I have no doubt in my mind that if we can get it right here in this Club, we will find a purpose that will take this institution to the stratosphere.
Thank you to all who attended our graduation ceremony, thank you to TETA who believed in our programme and supported us. Thank you to the committee that puts its weight behind me. Thank you to Sibu Sizatu our senior instructor who has managed to train so many kids without a single injury. You are a gem man, and thank you to Jennifer Burger my Anchor. We have an Academy Centre that we want to build, a Centre that will be a place where all youth can congregate, socialize, learn and feel a sense of belonging within our Club. I am looking for funding everywhere for this Centre. We have a Rio campaign that we must accomplish. I am currently pushing government to give me more funding so that we can take more learners. Support us where you can. You may not see what I see. All I ask of you is to have a little hope. Have hope that our course is true, our crew is capable and our boat will get us there…
To read the full article, click here.
For the photo gallery, click here
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Application Process for Manual Port Entry Permits
The Port is still facing challenges with issuing Port Entry permits. The latest communication from them describes the updated application process.
- Applications to be made via email to TNPACPTPortPermit@transnet.net only. No walk-in applications will be acccepted.
- Subject heading must reflect the ID/Passport number of the applicant only.
- Each email must contain the relevant documents for the individual only. Only submit one application at a time.
- The following completed documents must be attached in PDF format:
- Fully completed Annexure A fillable form. This must be filled in on the computer, printed, signed and then emailed to them.
- Signed Annexure C.
- Signed letter from RCYC confirming you are a member. Please contact Sazi at reception@rcyc.co.za for this letter.
- Certified copy of South African ID.
- A copy of your current Port Permit to determine the quality of the print and if a reprint will be required.
If you are a foreign national you need to include your Bio page of your passport and your visa.
After approval, the permit will be automatically updated without the need for a physical visit to the Port Tower, unless the quality of the existing permit is of a nature whereby the identity of the holder cannot be confirmed by the security officials. All communication regarding the application status will be via email. This process seems to be working and requires less effort than the online system.
Download Annexure A
Download Annexure C
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According to Portia Derby, Transnet Group Chief Executive, women in the maritime Industry “have fought hard against gender stereotypes and undertook maritime journeys even when they were the first women to work aboard ships, often alone with otherwise entirely male crews. They have helped redefine the industry and in so doing, have allowed Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to lead the global shift towards gender equity in the maritime industry.”
TNPA has certainly embraced the idea of gender equality in the maritime industry. Of the eight commercial ports, seven have female Harbour Masters and Deputy Harbour Masters, including our very own Yael Wearley and Thokozani Mthethwa, who are the Deputy Harbour Masters in the Port of Cape Town. While three of the commercial ports, namely Cape Town, Ngqura and East London are headed by female Port Managers.
Port of Cape Town’s first black female manager, Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana, took over the reins from Sipho Nzuza in 2017, after a stint at the Port of Ngqura, in Nelson Mandela Bay. Dweba-Kwetana considers it an honour it is to have been appointed as the first black female to manage the Port of Cape Town.
Dweba-Kwetana said it was important that the gap between males and females in the workplace grew smaller and that by supporting women, TNPA as well as other role-players, were bringing about positive change in the previously male dominated maritime industry. “It is assuring to see more women show an in interest in maritime and marine careers. TNPA strives to create equal opportunity for all South Africans and we look forward to more female firsts,” she said.
At the centre of TNPA’s journey to transform its maritime department and the maritime sector was the development of their maritime personnel. TNPA’s first group of transformation marine trainees were dubbed the ‘class of 1999’. Twelve candidates were selected for an accelerated training programme in Rotterdam aimed at bringing in a new generation of marine pilots, managers and other marine professionals into an industry which at the time was reluctant to change.
The only woman in that class of 99 was Theresa Williams. She would go on to break boundaries, becoming Africa’s First Female Marine Pilot in 2001. Ms Williams spent 11 years at Transnet, ultimately becoming the Marine Operations Manager and obtaining her MBA with UNISA. In 2018 she earned her Chief Ship Navigation Licence. Currently she is guiding a new generation of maritime learners as Head of Maritime Studies at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
"I've been able to go beyond the circumstances of my birth because I received help, mentorship and coaching. I’m happy that I didn’t remain the first or the only. There are so many women now in the ports."
Click here to find out how the following ladies are breaking through the maritime glass ceiling and the steps they took to get where they are today:
Lathiswa Binza - the first female Chief Marine Engineer Officer at the Port of Cape Town.
Jabulile Shandu - female marine technical officer (MTO) at the Port of Cape Town
Sanette Robinson - Cape Town harbour pilot
Ellen Moletsane - Open Licence as a marine pilot in the Port of Cape
Historically, the maritime industry was known to be predominantly male-dominated. Transnet is definitely on the right road to bridging that gap, as Dwebe-Kwetana concludes: “I commend my female colleagues for joining me in changing the face of the shipping industry and for playing a huge part in contributing to the overall economic development of South Africa.”
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This weekend is the iMvula Ladies Race – if you have not entered yet, there is still time. We have a beautiful day planned with two short races scheduled. Meet the Sailing Office Ladies in the Main hall at 10:30am to receive a complimentary gift bag with some lovely goodies for every lady who is racing. We also have some amazing prizes to be won.
Prize giving will commence straight after racing on the deck, followed by the lovely Louise Day performing live. There will be great food specials for the ladies from our amazing Chefs Chad and Justin. Join us as we celebrate women in sailing.
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Meet Jennifer Burger - Operations manager, RCYC Sailing Academy
The first thing you notice about Jennifer Burger is her piercing blue eyes. Or perhaps for you, it’s her majestic mane of silver hair that stops you in your tracks. She has presence. Either way, this ex-radiation therapist who found her way into sailing, has a calm presence that belies her intense love for adventure sport – from sailing, to mountain biking and hiking. On the slopes, or on top of Table Mountain, is her happy space and you will often find her there with Ringo, her ten-year old Boerboel.
Jennifer discovered her love for sailing and the water in her early twenties. She achieved her SA colours in sailing in the early 2000's and mentions the 10-day race to St Helena as one of her sailing highlights. On second thoughts, she says that juggling sailing and raising three babies were properly the biggest achievement of all.
All three of her kids have become stars in their own right with Alex (25) having just returned from the Olympics where he competed in the 49er class in Tokyo; mechanical engineer Heidi (26) serves on the World Sailing Equipment Committee, and the youngest of the three Nicola (23), is busy with her Masters in Public Health at UCT.
Jennifer believes strongly in food as medicine and you will often see her nibble on her favourite veggie dishes. Wanting to understand the role of food in her life and body, she studied Natural Medicine for three years. She manages to turn any old boring salad into a dish fit for royalty with a dash of goat’s cheese, a sprinkle of pine nuts and a drizzle of balsamic. But her slippery slope? Chocolates. Any kind. So when Jennifer says she loves you more than chocolate, you know you have her attention.
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SPRING WEEK CELEBRATIONS
We have a number of exciting competitions and events lined up for our members during Spring Week. Enjoy any of our Blackboard Specials or menu items, enter your till slip for a meal, and stand a chance to win one of many prizes. All details will be announced daily on our social media channels.
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