THE Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa’s (Osasa’s) third Cruising Seminar will take place at the Zululand Yacht Club on Wednesday, 7 July.
Osasa was founded in 2020 with the aim of supporting cruising yachts and working collectively with the government to grow the number of visiting yachts and the cruising sector’s contribution to South Africa’s economy.
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The seminar will serve as a foundation to understanding the components of recreational keelboat sailing (cruising) and the potential it provides to the economy.
The first seminar was held in Cape Town during April this year.
About Osasa Osasa has been at the forefront of assisting yachties affected by the Covid pandemic that saw many harbours and anchorages closed, entry visas refused and many independent small yachts left stranded far from home in precarious situations.
South African cruisers, Peter Sherlock, John Franklin and Jenny Crickmore-Thompson stepped in and tirelessly lobbied key government authorities, resulting in a directive in October 2020 giving permission for the entry of small craft into South Africa for a six-week period on humanitarian grounds.
Over the next two months, this allowed the clearance of more than 80 yachts, both international visitors and local South Africans returning from abroad.
The project extended beyond the initial period, with small craft still being allowed entry into South Africa as the lockdown levels eased, provided they fulfil all Covid regulations.
During this time it became increasingly obvious that there was a clear need for a liaison body to work with government on behalf of the offshore and coastal cruising communities; to help them understand the world in which a yachtie lives, their needs, their limitations and, just as importantly, the financial contribution they can make to a cruising destination or region.
It also became evident that no national body in southern Africa fully represented offshore cruisers and their unique set of circumstances, and hence Osasa was born.
Its immediate goals are to:
• encourage local cruising in small vessels along the southern African coast and further afield
• encourage foreign small vessels to visit South Africa and to cruise in its waters
• create an online portal, initially for entry registration, but later for berth booking and other add-ons
• manage pre-notification notices with Department of Transport and incoming small vessels • negotiate smoother flight plans for local coastal passages
• encourage and motivate development of better facilities for coastal cruisers • collate and publish current navigation information for the Southern Africa coastline
• popularise Southern Africa (Indian and Atlantic Ocean shores) as a cruising destination of choice, especially with the myriad choices for land travel combined with cruising.
For more information on the seminar contact ZYC commodore Jackie Smit on 035 7880256.
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