Sailors revel in success

Five sailors from Durban townships will break new ground by becoming the first all-black team to compete in The Lipton Cup competition in July.

But it has not been plain sailing. Siyanda Vato, 19, from Berea, the captain of the team, said they encountered challenges.

“Starting out was especially hard because the sport is mainly dominated by white people, so one of the challenges was that we were not taken seriously. It’s difficult to get respect from people when you are black in sailing. To try to get where we are, we had to prove ourselves to earn respect,” he said.

Vato, who is a fulltime sailor, said a sailing bursary he received while at Eden College introduced him to the sport, sidetracking him from his childhood dream of becoming a pilot. “Sailing was something unplanned, it was an opportunity that presented itself and I took it. I used to tag along to sailing lessons with my teacher until I got hooked and now I love it. It’s the use of natural elements in the sports that I love the most, the water and the wind,” said Vato.

Boundaries

Nhlanhla Phakathi, trimmer for the team, believes they have broken racial boundaries. “We are the first all-black team of sailors, we are part of the pioneers for the next generation of black sailors.”

The first-year maritime student from Inanda said sailing was not ordinary.

“Life is about trying something new and that’s what sailing has been as well for me. It’s just different from everything else,” he said.

After playing soccer while growing up in uMgababa, Nqoba Mswazi, 20, said he had finally found his passion. “I’ve played most sports, but water relaxes me. My mind is clear each day and I learn something new each time. I now coach at the development school I started at; it’s my way of giving back to society,” he said.

“I took it as a challenge the first time I sailed when the boat capsized because of the winds. I thought to myself I will not be defeated by something that doesn’t speak. Ever since I have been learning, it’s an extreme sport, sometimes it feels like I am surfing,” said Thokozani Latha, a fulltime sailor from KwaMashu.

Refeloa Zililo, 20, from Seaview, said not even the sea sickness he used to get when he started turned him from sailing, and taking a gap year from his studies to focus on sailing is proof of the love he has.

“I can’t see myself doing something else. My parents were sceptical at first, asking me what sailing will do for me. They were totally against it. But at the end it was my choice and they respect it. I can never see myself doing an office job, that’s just not me. I prefer the outdoors and open air,” said Zililo.

The Choose Life Lipton team will be representing Bluff-based Island Sailing Club during the competition in a boat sponsored by Point Yacht Club. They started their sailing career five years ago with Sail Africa, a youth foundation, and they say participating in the Lipton Cup is a dream come true.

“I can’t describe it in words, I don’t think anything can compare. It’s the one thing we have been waiting for and winning it would really mean a lot,” said Phakathi.