The Deneysville Aquatic Club recently hosted the Formula One (SA) Class Nationals 2024, marking 40 years of this iconic boat in South Africa. This momentous occasion was celebrated in style, with esteemed guests, heart-stopping races, and an impressive display of camaraderie.
Distinguished Guests
We were honoured to have Johnny Velloza (NSRI Chairperson) and Michael Robinson (SAS President) join us for the 40th celebration and participate in the event.
World Record Fleet
The event saw a record-breaking fleet of 22 boats compete in the regatta, confirmed as the largest ever assembled for a Formula One (SA) Class event worldwide. The competition was fierce, with sailors battling challenging conditions. The nationals drew participants from various clubs, including Aeolins, DAC, LDYC, PNYC, SPYC, SYC, VCA, BYC, ESC, VLC, and LIBC.
Testing Conditions
Saturday’s racing was characterised by gusty winds of up to 29 knots, pushing sailors to their limits. The demanding conditions resulted in torn main sails, broken equipment, and exhausted crews. In contrast, Sunday’s sailing offered improved conditions, albeit with impending rain.
Charity Auction and Tribute
The event included a special tribute to Dicky Manten, renowned class boat builder. The charity auction raised an impressive R17.000 for Station 22 Vaal dam NSRI, featuring stunning paintings donated by Lyn Jones and 3D-printed F1 boats crafted by Andre du Plessis. Neil Armstrong (Sailquip) customised, beautiful branded bags.
Podium Finishers
- 1. FAAFO (Dirk Manten, JJ van Niekerk, Nico Croucamp)
- 2. Finesse (Jessica Roussouw, Neil Armstrong, Leon Rossouw)
- 3. Inpulse(Damien Muller, Aydin O’Hara, Kaynisa Mancobe)
Looking Ahead
Save the date! Preliminary plans are in place for next year’s Nationals, scheduled for 17-19 October 2025 (venue to be confirmed).
A Heartfelt Thank You
We extend our gratitude to our generous sponsors:
- Quest Equipment & Process – Jeremy Tucker
- Ridge Systems – Brad Woolley
- Sail Quip – Neil Armstrong
- Ullman Sails South Africa
- Andre du Plessis
- Grandfather’s Cat Brewery
This year’s Nationals celebrated a significant milestone and showcased the resilience and spirit of the sailing community. We look forward to another exciting event next year!
