Dear Sailors

Welcome to this, the 103rd of the monthly newsletters.

President’s Update July 2026

I had occasion to sail with Kathryn on a Sigma 38 in the JOG Royal Dartmouth Yacht Club regatta. It was a fun, less serious event, preceding the more illustrious Cowes Week. The event included a race from Cowes to Dartmouth and, after the event, we delivered the boat back to Cowes. It was an interesting sail along, what the locals like to refer as the "Jurassic Coast". Don’t worry, as tempted as I may have been, I drew no analogy to the age of some of the competitors!

The delivery back was an opportunity to experience the notorious tides that happen along this coast.  Read more...

SA Sailing 2026 AGM 

To all South African Sailing Affiliated Clubs and Class Associations, notice is given of the 27^th Annual General Meeting of the Association which will be held as follows:

Date:             Thursday, August 27th, 2026                                     

Time:             18h00

Venue:           Microsoft Teams 

For the purpose of transacting the following business:

AGENDA

1.            Welcome, Apologies and acceptance of Proxy letters

2.            Obituaries

3.            Confirmation of the Minutes of the 2025 AGM

4.            To receive and if thought fit, to adopt the President's report and to adopt the Annual Reports of the Standing Committees

5.            To consider and if thought fit, to adopt the Independent Auditor's report on the consolidated financial statements and to approve the auditor’s remuneration

6..            Ratify any new By-laws or amendments to the existing By-Laws, if relevant for this meeting.

7.            To consider and if thought fit adopt any motions submitted by members of which notice was given.

No motions were received for this meeting

8.            To appoint Independent Auditors for the next financial year.

9.             Such general matters or motions that the general meeting, in meeting may resolve to allow.

BY ORDER OF SA SAILING COUNCIL

See further details here SA Sailing National AGM - South African Sailing 

Firsts, fast learning and a race win for Africa

South African 49er sailors Sean Kavanagh and Max Celliers returned from their first senior international campaign with plenty of reasons for optimism after competing at Kiel Week and the 2026 European Championships in Germany.

Despite facing significant challenges before and during the tour, the young duo achieved a historic breakthrough by becoming one of the youngest African crews to win a race at a major 49er championship.  Read more...

Charting Our Course: Charter Barometer Q1 2026

The latest SA Sailing Charter Barometer provides a snapshot of where the sport stands as of 30 June 2026, highlighting areas of progress, identifying key challenges and tracking our journey towards the goals of Charter 2029. The report examines participation, transformation, youth development, training pathways and membership trends, while outlining the collective actions needed to build a stronger and more inclusive future for sailing in South Africa. Read more... 

A reminder: Intasure SA Sailing member benefit

SA Sailing is continuing to develop new direct benefits for its members, and we have recently launched two benefits available to our valid paid-up members. Further offers are currently being negotiated.

Please contact us should you be interested in becoming a SA Sailing benefit partner. Visit the Member Benefits - South African Sailing page to click through to Intasure's online quoting system.

A reminder to sailors intending to compete internationally

Any sailors intending to compete overseas need to complete their notification of international participation and should also take note of World Sailing’s anti-doping policies.

All necessary information can be found at: https://www.sailing.org.za/what-we-do/performancesailing

Regional News

Western Cape News

• TSL Training Event Report

•  Upcoming events

World Sailing News

Over 400 sailors already confirmed for 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships

https://sailing.org/2026/07/01/over-400-sailors-already-confirmed-for-2026-youth-sailing-world-championships/

Have Your Say: Consultation opens on the Provisional 2027 Para Sailing Classification Rules

https://sailing.org/2026/07/06/have-your-say-consultation-opens-on-the-provisional-2027-para-sailing-classification-rules/

All nations confirmed for the 2026 Team Racing World Championship

https://sailing.org/2026/07/08/all-nations-confirmed-for-the-team-racing-world-championship-2026/

World Sailing President celebrates record-breaking Optimist World Championship in Morocco

https://sailing.org/2026/07/03/world-sailing-president-celebrates-record-breaking-optimist-world-championship-in-morocco/

World Sailing announces Global Inclusion Development Programme schedule across 2026 and 2027

https://sailing.org/2026/07/08/world-sailing-announces-global-inclusion-development-programme-schedule-across-2026-and-2027/