Honeydew resident sails from strength to strength
Inland sailing team shows their mettle by wining a race in the Hobie 16 National Championships in Durban.
Honeydew sailor Stephanie Goodyer has reason to celebrate after finishing well at the Hobie 16 National Championships in Durban over the long weekend, September 22 to 25.
Goodyer was joined by her long-standing sailing partner Ciara Neumann, as well as her father, Mike, running rescue and mother Louise helping on the bridge, making it a family affair.
The inland sailors represented Stilbaai Yacht Club at the race hosted by Point Yacht Club. Their Hobie 16, with colourful sails, crossed the finish line first in race number five, allowing the team to finish sixth overall in the series.
Shrieks of delight with high fives were witnessed by everyone nearby as the girls celebrated the victory.
“I have crewed for my dad, and so many other talented sailors, so when I was about 13 I decided it was time to learn to skipper, and since then I have been skippering my own boat,” Goodyer explained. “All in all, I have been sailing since I could walk.”
She said it was especially good to win her first-ever race at nationals in a small but highly competitive fleet. “As a skipper, this is an amazing accomplishment and it is an honour as it is tough to achieve.”
It was also her partner’s first-ever Hobie event and her first time sailing at sea, which Goodyer enjoyed being part of.
“I have only ever won a race as a crew with my dad when I was about 10, so achieving this as a skipper was such a highlight. Winning a race in nationals is a dream come true and doing it as an all-girls’ team just makes it even better.”
Their next event will be at the Vaal Dam, competing in the Hobie 16 Provincials. Racing on familiar waters, she said, “For me, this event should be where I achieve more as I have better knowledge of dam sailing than I do of sea sailing.”
Goodyer’s next major goal will be learning to skipper a Hobie Tiger, which is a high-speed and high-performance boat. It is also difficult to sail and traditionally only crewed by men. “To be a woman skipper on this boat would be such a huge feather in my sailing cap.”
Related Article:
Go for walks and play sports to become fit and healthy – Thabiso Maffa
