If you want to learn how to sail a boat, feel the wind through your hair and harness the power of nature, then the Milnerton Aquatic Club’s (MAC) skills development programme is just the answer.
This programme, in association with the vision of South African Sailing and World Sailing, invites youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years old to apply to join.
Melissa Hayes, communications manager for MAC, says the aim is to create opportunities for previously disadvantaged youth and address the imbalance of representation of people of colour within the sailing community and sailing clubs.
“It is an ideal opportunity for students who would otherwise not get the opportunity to learn how to sail and learn the fundamental principles of all aspects of boat maintenance, rigging, weather conditions, and safety to mention a few key skills required to fulfil a sailing way of life. All we require of the successful candidates is that they are active, willing to learn and apply their very best at achieving their goals,” Hayes says.
The 29-year-old Athenkosi (Athi) Vena is running MAC’s Sailing Centre where he teaches both advantaged and disadvantaged children coming from different backgrounds and introduce them to a completely different sport that they never imagined they could do.
Athi recruited 12 children from Atlantis about a year ago and all of them are still strongly learning everything he teaches over the weekends and school holidays. Food is provided after a long day of sailing and transportation fees are paid for by the club.
“Our aim is to help fulfil their dreams or at least teach them a skill to help in future because sailing itself offers a lot of opportunities such as sailing abroad, boat delivery, becoming a sailing instructor, boat builder, sail making and many more,” he says.
Rietvlei closed in the past
Although Rietvlei (the lake) was closed for many months in 2021 and January 2022 due to apparent high E.coli bacteria readings, MAC was able to prove that the previous measurements of the City of Cape Town were wrong and that E.coli bacteria are minimal within the lake.
Hayes says since then, the water quality is being tested twice a month for various bacteria and chemical parts.
“In order to keep the water source clean and safe, MAC is engaging on a regular basis with the City of Cape Town as well as the Protected Area Advisory Committee of Table Bay Nature Reserve.
MAC also launched a new weather station which shares detailed wind information & history, daily temperature, humidity, pressure, dew point, wind chill, solar radiation, UV levels and precipitation.
It will be a huge asset to all our aquatic sport activities at MAC.
More about MAC
MAC, founded in 1976, is situated on the banks of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. A Dutch company, HAM, was contracted in 1973 for a project in the docks to dredge Rietvlei. The excavation started by removing cubic meters of soil from Rietvlei, pumping in sea water resulting in a slurry that was pumped back to the harbour through giant pipelines that had been laid for the construction of the Ben Schoeman dock.
Locals found this huge expanse of water as an invitation to launch their watercraft in relatively safe waters.
This became a hotspot for families to spend time on the water, also free for all with no rules or regulations in place.
In June 1976 a group of 13 concerned boat owners got together with the mayor and town clerk to form the Rietvlei Development Committee. The agenda was to discuss the ecology and the uncontrolled aquatic activities. At the next meeting, on 17 June 1976, it was proposed that the committee be formed under The Rietvlei Aquatic Club Steering Committee. The name was later changed to MAC.
“It is the only inland recreational water accessible to residents of Cape Town proper. This means that it is the only place in Cape Town where youth development can take place and where people can learn water sports in a safe environment. It also recently became the only place in Cape Town where the disabled have access to sailing,” Hayes says.
Largest inland sailing club in SA
With over 450 members, MAC is the largest inland sailing club in South Africa. Given its status as one of the top windsurfing spots globally, it attracts hundreds of tourists and professional windsurfers each year resulting in global coverage in traditional and social media. As such, it draws hundreds of tourists each year to Cape Town and contributes to the hospitality and water sports industries creating much needed jobs.
“A dedicated and professional management team head up the club management committee as volunteers, which ensures the smooth running of the club on behalf of all its members, committed to establishing an inclusive sailing centre. The innovation we offer is an amalgam of the SV14-boat, a ground breaking innovative new product specifically designed for people with disabilities that is affordable, easy to handle, stable and safe and wheel chair friendly. As an accredited National South African Sailing Centre and World Sailing, we offer an additional level of support, an establishment of volunteers, infrastructure and equipment.”
To join the programme or for any enquires, send an email to mac@milnertonaquaticclub.co.za or call021 557 7090.
