Frances sets sail for nationals
La Lucia resident, Frances van Breda, is gearing up for the Laser Nationals that take place later this month.
WHEN it comes to the sport of sailing, La Lucia’s Frances van Breda is the proverbial rose among the thorns. In a male-dominated sport, Van Breda has made a name for herself in more ways than one. In 1996 she won the Point Yacht Club (PYC) ‘Yachtsman of the Year’ award, the first and only woman to win the award in the club’s 122-year history, and last week she was the first woman to be appointed honourary vice-chairman as a result of the recognition that she has brought the club over the years.
Now she’s gearing up for the SA Laser Nationals off Durban’s shores, kicking off on 30 April.
The Laser is the most popular single-handed sailing dinghy race in the world, and the annual event will see close to 80 boats from around the country. Top South African sailors, along with a handful of international competitors, will take to the Indian Ocean in the hope of being crowned national champion.
She enters the nationals as defending champion, but insists this year is more about enjoying herself and doing her best.
“I’m not aiming for any position, but I want to have some fun. The conditions in May are great, there are light winds and that makes for great sailing. At the moment I’ve not been able to train as much as I could ahead of the nationals because of family commitments, but this year it’s about enjoying myself out on the water,” she said.
Van Breda, who recently returned from the Audi Laser Master World Championships in France, said, “It was very competitive, but it really helped me in terms of gaining valuable experience and knowledge. The field was made up of former Olympic and national champs, and it was fantastic sharing their headspace and learning from them,” she said.
