24 Hour Sailors put to the test in light conditions

24 Teams started the MAC 24 Hour Challenge at noon on Saturday, the 28th March 2026, at Milnerton Aquatic Club, Cape Town, South Africa.

The Challenge is to sail the greatest distance non -stop in 24 hours. This is the 27 th 24 Hour hosted at MAC.

There were Sea Scout and Cadet groups that came from Knysna and Saldanha to compete. There was a Topaz from Theewaterskloof and the rest from local Cape Town Sailing Clubs. 11 Saldanha Dinghies, 7 Sonnets, 2 420s, 2 Mirrors, 1 Topaz, 1 Enterprise.

The 2 Mirror Dinghies from Saldanha enjoyed their MAC 24 and the team spirit from their supporters on shore was something to witness – singing and cheering when their team completed laps.

The 24 Hour had periods of very light wind conditions – crew positioning in the boat was critical, too much weight aft and the transom drags and slows the boat down.

The wind filled in the early morning. Light W/NW and the Challenge ended with the boats sailing around in medium breeze.

A Durbanville Sailor – John “Guppy” Visser sailed the full 24 Hour in a Saldanha dinghy – and was rewarded with the Endurance trophy.

A real challenge developed between the MAC Enterprise Electra Glide and a Sonnet from ZVYC for overall laps – both finished on 94 laps. The Sonnet ahead by just 17 seconds after 24 Hours!!

This event is a must for South African Sailors wanting to experience something completely different. All in all another excellent event hosted by Milnerton Aquatic Club and a great success. Many thanks go to the New Event Sponsor Ullman Sails.

Results – Final Overall Results (Handicap) — ranked by Laps (Handicap)

Pos Boat Class Laps (Handicap):

1. Electra Glide Enterprise 94.00
2. MAC 1 420 88.35
3. ZVSC1 420 87.40
4. 2nd Plumstead Saldanha 85.43
5. Team Gosling Topaz 84.00
6. ZVSC 2 Sonnet (after 2000) 83.66
7. MAC 2 Sonnet (pre 2000) 82.88
8. Maroon Machine Sonnet (after 2000) 82.77
9. 18 Plus Saldanha 80.32
10. Maties Mayhem Sonnet (after 2000) 80.10
11. TSW01 Saldanha 79.05
12. Black Magic Saldanha 79.05
13. Maroon Marines Sonnet (after 2000) 75.65
14. Catch 22 Saldanha 75.23
15. 1D Saldanha 73.95
16. Triple Threat Saldanha 72.68
17. TS Knysna Saldanha 72.68
18. TS Saldanha Kasper Mirror 66.12
19. Team Hooligan Sonnet (pre 2000) 65.33
20. TS Saldanha Abby Mirror 64.96
21. Thin Blue Line Saldanha 63.75
22. Midnight Blue Saldanha 53.55
23. Nova Sonnet (pre 2000) 48.75
24. Bergvliet Scouts Saldanha 42.08