Still sailing at 80 and loving it

THE sailing community in Durban will be gathering on the water to celebrate Aldino Gorlei’s 80th birthday with The Captains Challenge on Sunday, 30 November. The challenge is to get 80 boats on the water for Gorlei’s milestone. The fun event hosted by Point Yacht Club invites boats of all shapes and sizes to be part of the celebrations, racing around a fun course and then enjoying cupcakes and champagne.

The birthday boy stated, “I am so overwhelmed by everyone’s response. It started out that it was just going to be a few of my friends celebrating my birthday on the water, I was going to take a bottle of champagne out to drink on the water and that was going to be it.

“I am excited that loads of people will be coming down to share the occasion with me.”

Gorlei, who moved to Durban in 1962 from Port Elizabeth became a member at Point Yacht Club in 1980, buying his first Hobie 14 in 1982.

“I have always sailed hobies. My first was a Hobie 14, I then upgraded to a Hobie 16 and sailed with my daughter or my son-in-law. Then I had crew problems, they were too busy so I downgraded to a Hobie 14.”

“A moment that stands out for me in the three decades of sailing would have to be when my daughter Terry-Anne and I competed in a long distance race to Ballito where 40 boats started off with half the fleet not making the cut off time near uMhlanga. It took us six hours to finish in a strong head on wind; we were one of only 16 boats to finish. That was an exciting trip.

“Sailing gives you an amazing feeling of freedom. There is nothing better than being out there. The sea is never the same, with the conditions always changing.”

For more info visit www.pyc.co.za