Sailing season is now open

AMID plenty of pomp and ceremony, the Zululand Yacht Club (ZYC) welcomed the start of the new sailing season in fine tradition.

The day began with the traditional ‘Blessing of the Waters’ service, where yachties and guests also bowed in a minute’s silence in honour of deceased club members Ernst and Lilo Boller.

Flags were flown at half mast and bugler Captain Bradley added his notes of respect.

Then it was the briefing followed by all boats to the water as craft of every kind wended their way down the Mzingazi canal where ZYC Commodore Rod Banwell and his wife Michele waited on a floating deck to receive and acknowledge the salutes and ‘three cheers!’ from yachts as they passed.

They also received plenty of flak from the well-armed crews on the return sail up the canal, as they tries to ward off water balloons, buckets and hoses from the passing brigade.

Having saturated the VIP’s, the crews then turned their attention to other boats as they engaged in a ‘war of water’ to welcome another summer of sailing fun.

See photos from the yacht club’s mafia party HERE