Amir Yaghya, captain of the 420 fleet, had the privilege of competing in the Western Cape Championship alongside his sailing partner, Renton Geduld. This regatta was especially meaningful to them as it marked the final event they sailed together as a team.

“We had a tough start to the event. In one of the early races, we were penalized for a port-starboard incident and unfortunately, disqualified. Despite the setback, we kept our focus and stayed in the game.”

Day 2 brought strong winds, reaching up to 20 knots — challenging conditions but incredibly fun. It turned out to be our best day on the water, where we secured 4th, 4th, and 3rd place finishes across the three races. We were thrilled with our performance.

Day 3 proved to be even more intense and demanding, testing our teamwork and resilience on the water. But through it all, the experience was unforgettable.

Competing at this event was a huge honor, especially being among some of the best sailors in the 420 class. It was an emotional but proud moment to sail alongside Renton for the last time. Representing The Little Optimist Sailing Academy and our sailing center at this year’s Western Cape Champs was a privilege.

A massive thank you to our sponsors for making this journey possible and to The Little Optimist Academy for their ongoing mission to make sailing more inclusive. Thanks to your support, we’re not just racing — we’re sailing through life.”