As the West Coast’s familiar summer winds make way for colder days and approaching winter fronts, another sailing season has come to an end at Port Owen Yacht Club.
Members marked the occasion on Saturday 30 May with the club’s traditional closing cruise in near-perfect weather conditions.
A fleet of vessels departed from Port Owen, sailed past Rooibaai and circled Commodore Bruce Quayle’s vessel in salute before continuing via Laaiplek Harbour and back to the yacht club.
Weslander joined Derek (73) and Sharyn (71) aboard their Ocean 31 yacht, Reflexion.
For Sharyn, sailing has been part of her life since childhood. Having sailed with her parents from the age of nine, she describes it as a unique connection between people, the wind and the sea.
Derek, who originally preferred rugby and cars, met Sharyn when he was 19 years old.
The couple has been sailing together ever since and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Their passion for sailing has also been passed on to their son, Brad, who completed the prestigious Cape to Rio yacht race.
“There is no other place like Port Owen and the West Coast,” Derek said. “The weather and ocean conditions are ideal for our way of life, and sailing is our life.”
Among their many adventures, the couple sailed from Port Owen to Cape Point via Valsbaai on three occasions. Derek also spent 27 days at sea in 1992 while sailing a yacht back to South Africa from Rio de Janeiro.
As the cruise ended, Derek paid tribute to the volunteers of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), whose crews assist sailors in distress at sea.
The celebrations continued later that evening with a “How the West Was Won” cowboy-themed party at the clubhouse.
Established in 1985, Port Owen Yacht Club has grown from 72 members to more than 400 and remains a vibrant part of the local boating community.
Speaking in true Western style as “Bad Buck Bruce”, Commodore Bruce Quayle said the closing cruise marked the end of another successful season.
He thanked members for their enthusiasm and highlighted events such as the Festival of Lights and the upcoming Winter Wonderland on 13 June.
Quayle also expressed his passion for introducing young people to sailing and praised the work of the Saldanha Sea Cadets and Saldanha Sailing Academy.
Vice Commodore Jeff Hampton will now take over the reins.
Having retired two years ago, Hampton describes Port Owen Yacht Club as “one big family”. Fittingly, he named his vessel Never Look Back.
“Once you come to Port Owen and become part of this beautiful family, you will never look back,” he said.
