28th March 2009 - Raft up & Wreck Party
Skippers briefing at 13.30. Raft up off Hobie Beach, swim, spinnaker fly, sleep, sail, chill, sun, socialise and back to the club for a JOL at the Shipwreck party. Music, liquid refreshments, Fish and Chips at R30.00.

11 to 12th April - ABYC Splash Festival Regatta
Saturday planned start: 2:00 p.m. Sunday planned start: 11:00 a.m.

Start from off the Shark Rock Pier. Sail to a mark off near Bird Rock, to Bell Buoy then to either Chanel Mark or Coke Can, then Bell Buoy and Coke Can to Finish.

Starts will happen around every 90 minutes - two on Saturday and probably 3 on Sunday. Courses weather dependent. A duck will be out to move marks to suit weather conditions.

30th April to 3rd May - Algoa Bay Week
The Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and Entry Form are out. Incorporating Pacer 27 Provincials.

A number of sponsors have come to the fore - Eikos Insurance, Prestige Auto, Xtreme Projects, Trevor Bielby, Eugene Fincham. There is still time to join this illustrious list of supporters - contact the man with the inappropriate surname!

This year we will have the normal T-Shirts given away and subsidised food for hungry sailors.

31st May - NSRI Pursuit Race
The pursuit race will benefit NSRI. More details to follow

27th June - Jubilee Sail Past
You need to be involved - circle your calendar, tattoo your wrist, postpone that wedding or funeral. Dress your boat up in it's finest livery and don't forget yourself. Time to dust off that Great Gatsby suit and boater, shine up the Martini Glasses and cut the crusts off your cucumber sandwiches. Join the Naval Reserves for a brush up on your salute, shine the brass and hand out the Rum Ration.

TBA - Nav Exercise
Cryptic clues, mystery destinations, confusion, fines, fear factor, amazing race - take your pick.

12th Sept - Birthday Dinner Dance

14th Sept - Birthday Party
The actual day that ABYC is OFFICIALLY 50 years old come and blow the candles on your Birthday Cake out.

The 2009 ABYC week has been moved to 30 April to 3 May 2009.

At present we have three sponsors (BUT, are looking for more to join!):

1. Eikos Insurance
2. Prestige Auto
3. Xtreme Projects

Last year's regatta was an unqualified success with lots of coverage in the media and some really memorable sailing.

The challenge this year is to ALL ABYC members to take part and sail.

We have courses planned to suit the different classes:

1. Round the cans for Class 1 and 2
2. No Spinnaker Sailing
3. Bay Furniture for the Cruising Class.

The Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and Entry Form are available as a pdf download:

1. ABYC Week 2009 Notice of Race
2. ABYC Week 2009 Sailing Instructions
3. ABYC Week 2009 Entry Form

The comments section is open for your input:

The Splash Festival is being held in Port Elizabeth over the Easter Weekend.

ABYC will be holding a regatta on the 11th and 12th of April in support of Port Elizabeth's efforts to promote our town as the Watersports capital of South Africa.

Sailing will start at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. Sunday with the courses set in such a way as to maximise the exposure of sailing to the expected thousands of people on Hobie Beach attending the Splash Festival. The start and finish will be off of Shark Rock Pier.

Please let Alan know if you will be taking part.