Action on the water is coming to St Helena Bay thanks to the first F1 Powerboat Water Festival.
Over 24 and 25 February South Africa’s fastest powerboats will make their way to the West Coast for the second round of their 2023-’24 national championship.
The idea for the Water Festival came from Veldriwwer Morne Herholdt, who himself is a powerboat champion.
According to Gilda Nunes, who is helping to organise the event, there is a lot of excitement about the event.
“There is excitement here in Velddrif and, of course, in St Helena,” she said.
“We have had people from Cape Town who are coming. This is a first and will be something to see.”
F1 Powerboat racing is a Grand Prix style event where teams compete to be the first over the finish line.
At the weekend visitors will see the current champion Keagan Frankiewicz in action. He will lead the F1 Powerboat contingent. Frankiewicz won two of the three races at the opening round of the championship and has a slender lead over teammate Ronan Dixon, who claimed his first victory in his new boat at the season opener.
Herholdt made his presence felt on his return to the Formula 1 fold after a long absence by claiming third place in the standings and will be looking to improve his results in his home waters.
As most racing takes place in Johannesburg, Herholdt was sure bringing the event to the West Coast would expose more locals to the sport.
In the lead-up to the festival he started a development programme with six St Helena Bay learners, teaching them the finer points of the sport.
“They did very well,” said Nunes. “The first class was held last Sunday. The children will also be on the water at the festival along with all the other participants.”
Along with the local youngsters showing off their new skills, hard-bottom racing and jetskis are also on the programme.
Father-and-son duo Nico and Michael Wessels will also make the trip from their Hartbeepoort Dam base for the weekend, while John-Ross Duncan will make the trip from Witbank.
Benoni’s Bruce Repsold is also keen to show his speeding skills at the coast off.
There will also be live music, stalls, food and drinks, and a kid’s play area.
The festivities at the St Helena Bay harbour start at 08:00.
