Hillcrest sailor navigates competitive waters
With a bit of Mediterranean flair, young sailing star Jessica Curtis is competing in the highly competitive MSC Week hosted by the Point Yacht Club.
UNIVERSITY of KwaZulu-Natal student Jessica Curtis is one of the competitive sailors from around South Africa taking part in the annual MSC Week. The event, which is a highlight on the national sailing calendar, is taking place offshore of Durban until July 5.
The week-long event incorporates the ORC Nationals and the L26 KZN Regional Championships and is hosted by the Point Yacht Club.
Also read: Young Durban sailor gears up for national event
Speaking to the Hillcrest resident, Curtis said she used to sail socially with her dad when she was little and has been sailing competitively for a year.
The 21-year-old is a member of Point Yacht Club and UKZN Yacht Club.
“I was inspired to get back into sailing when two of my friends joined the UKZN yacht club and invited me to tag along for a social sail. I then joined the club and sailed MSC Week 2023 a few weeks later,” she said.
The former St Mary’s DSG learner said she loves spending the day out on the water in the sunshine surrounded by friends.
“It’s always exciting to be involved in a national event. Everyone puts their best foot forward, and it’s always impressive to see that. I’m especially happy that we have 12 entries in the L26 class – the boat that I’m sailing is an L26 called SLFC Spindrift – so the competition will be fierce.”
To be a successful competitive sailor, Curtis said you need a sound knowledge of physics and how boats work as well as keen intuition to predict shifts in the wind and race tactics.
“I try to get out on the water at least once a week, especially in summer, but I am always maintaining my fitness off the water,” she said.
For more info, visit www.pyc.co.za or follow Point Yacht Club.
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