Sailor flies Boksburg’s flag high
This is the third major national event that Brown has participated in, competing in the ILCA 6 class.
Natasha Brown, a matriculant at St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls, made her mark in the ILCA Laser Nationals hosted by Point Yacht Club, based in Durban, recently.
This is the third major national event that Brown has participated in, competing in the ILCA 6 class. She has been racing in this highly competitive class for two years now.
“I have had the opportunity to compete offshore quite a few times on my Laser. I have sailed in Simons Town, and Port Elizabeth too. Leading up to the nationals, I was lucky enough to train offshore of Durban in the build-up to these nationals. And I have sailed on a variety of other boats offshore too.”
Sailing for Stillbaai Yacht Club, the inland sailor claims that surfing downwind was by far the best part of her regatta. Durban dished up epic conditions for the massive fleet participating, with monster swells and a big north-easterly breeze keeping things interesting.
“The conditions were challenging but allowed for everyone to have their moment of glory in their favourite, preferred winds. The waves were amazing and made for some really good surfing.”
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Asked what lessons she learnt in the big gusty conditions, she replied, “I learnt that I need to work way harder to keep up with the bigger guys in the heavy wind and that there are always people willing to help if things go wrong or if I just need a hand in the laser fleet. Laser sailors are really cool people!
“The Lasers was great for two reasons; to get away from the books briefly and a good test for what needs tweaking before my international debut.”
After finishing her matric exams, Brown will be focusing all her energies on the upcoming Youth Worlds taking place in Búzios in Brazil. She will be competing in the ILCA 6 class, sailing offshore in the most exquisite setting, an ocean peninsula east of Rio de Janeiro.
“I’m going in with the mindset of learning and experiencing. I am being realistic, and not expecting outstanding results as I have never completed at that level before. I will be pushing myself to give my best from start to finish. If I can achieve this, I will be happy.”
Having just celebrated Women’s Day by being on the water with some other phenomenal women sailors, Brown revealed who she most looks up to in the male-dominated sport.
“I truly admire fellow SYC member, a true inspiration to anyone lucky enough to sail with her, Shellee Nel. She is just amazing. She can sail anything and is so competent. And then Michaela Robinson who is part of the Robinson family who are true pioneers in the sport of South African sailing, having raced in several Cape to Rios as a family and competed in a whole bunch of international events. Michaela is a powerhouse sailor who I respect greatly!”
Brown can be respected too for her fantastic results offshore of Durban. She placed ninth overall in a fleet of 53 yachts competing in three classes. She notched up a seventh, four eighth places, two ninths, two tenths and an eleventh with one of the tenth places and her eleventh place being her allocated race discards.
Passports almost at the ready, Brown has loads of concentrating to do writing her matric finals and then will be eagerly jetting off to compete in the Youth Worlds taking place from December 8 to 16.
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