SA's Sail Africa win big at World Sailing Awards

The Durban-based Sail Africa Youth Development Foundation received a massive boost, winning World Sailing’s prestigious 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award at a virtual ceremony held on Thursday night.  

Four projects from around the world were shortlisted for the award – all aiming to make a difference to the world of sailing by reducing its footprint, increasing its participation, reaching out to underrepresented groups, and finding new innovative ways to reuse material.  

Sail Africa, whose objective is to provide education, skills training and personal development and empowerment through the medium of sail training, for young South Africans who could otherwise not afford the privilege of participating in sailing, was announced as the winner of the award and the US$10,000 that goes with it – along with a trophy made from recycled carbon fibre from an America's Cup boat.

According to the foundation: “In 2008, sailing in Durban was dominated by elite white males.  

“The Sail Africa Youth Development Foundation set out to change this by growing the number of sailors from across South Africa's diverse ethnic groups. This has been successful with several sailors having been youth captains at yacht clubs, sailing the two-handed Nastro Rosa Tour, being named sailor of the year at different clubs and having received provincial sailing colours.  

“The foundation has also focused on growing the number of girls from diverse groups in the sport through its school and university programmes – to empower and increase the number of girls racing and their local podium places. The foundation coupled this with a life skills programme to ensure positive sustainable outcomes.  

“It has also supported the South African Government's Blue Economy thrust, through quality maritime education programmes linked to sailing. This earned the foundation the Ethekwini Maritime Cluster Award for Empowering Youth in 2017. The programmes enhance sailing sustainability by raising awareness in non-sailors, including government, of the impact of sailing, bringing people into sailing that would never have had the opportunity and reducing inequality and ensuring social sustainability, while investing in human capital by developing education, reducing poverty and creating environmental awareness.”  

In response to winning the award, an overwhelmed Praise Baras, one of the project’s senior instructors, said: “First of all, thanks very much. I’m just out of words right now. It really means a lot to us as Sail Africa.”  

Chairman of Sail Africa Nigel Milln added: “The benefit to Africa and I think the big benefit to development bodies like ourselves is huge because when small bodies like us come together to benefit the community – when we do this and win trophies of this nature, which is absolutely tremendous, it gives encouragement to the rest of the world and the rest of the development programmers.  

“It’s an amazing thing that sailing does for everybody and we’re very grateful that we’re part of it – and grateful to be winners of this magnificent trophy.”  

Sail Africa’s Operations Manager Cay Hickson added: “In Africa there is a saying: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and here at Sail Africa it’s taken a world of people to make a difference. We are so grateful to every person who voted for Sail Africa. You made a difference. Thank you for your support. To everyone who believes that sport can change lives, to our directors, funders, donors, patrons, supporters, instructors, assistants, associates, teachers, students, learners, yacht clubs, and the parents too, thank you for your all you do.”  

Quanhai Li, World Sailing President, said: "I would like to also draw special attention to Sail Africa Youth Development Foundation, winner of the 11th Hour Sustainability Award. This has been a life-changing project and ensures that under-represented communities have the opportunity to take part while showing that the sport prioritises responsible development and inclusion. The potential for this project to be replicated is huge and it will make a lasting difference to the sport and to the world."