Ahoy all sailors – yes you read right – 12- HOUR MAC CHALLENGE – South African sailors have thrown down the gauntlet & are challenging their British counterparts, in an Historic Endurance Sailing Event. You are all invited to sail in this inaugural 12-Hour MAC Challenge which will be sailed at Milnerton Aquatic Club (MAC) on Saturday 20 September 2008 from 06h00 until 18h00.

Teams of 4 – 6 helmsmen will sail LASER & DABCHICK dinghies, using a relay format & changing every hour or so.

Twenty-two teams, sailing Laser dinghies, competed in the U.K. based West Lanchashire Yacht Club’s (WLYC) 12-Hour Challenge recently. Their triangular sailing course will be duplicated at MAC.

MAC will also host an Aquatic Expo on the day of the challenge. A display of the latest sailing dinghies, windsurfers, radio control yachts, wakeboards & junior powerboats will be on show. MAC’s Lipton Cup Team, MACnificent/Hitachi will have a display & show the video of the Lipton Cup race.

For further info contact Gurney Blackbeard 083 659 5229
or Pat Downing 072 603 5904 or MAC 021 – 557 7090 for NOR & entry form.

See you on the water.
Pat Downing

This series will be sailed over four rounds, and throughout the season these events will vary from standard round the buoy class racing to pursuit races.

Last season’s Club Trophy, ‘The Eric Burner Trophy – Eric Burner was the Club Secretary at Zeekoe Vlei and then became the secretary to SAYRA,’ was won by James Stock.

Who will be the recipient at our next prize giving, you?

Millicent
Sailing ZVYC
(021) 705 3373
zvyc@iafrica.com

Please will all those doing the Optimist Training Course be at the club to register from 9.30 on Sunday August 10th.

The Opening Cruise is on Saturday, August 16th at 14.00.  Please note the slightly earlier start time which is to enable us to complete the proceedings in time for those who want to go upstairs to watch the rugby.  Remember too to bring a cake or a plate of snacks.  Boerewors rolls will be on sale in the evening.

Alfred Rowing Club

Come Rowing

Where:      Alfred Rowing Club at Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club

When:      Saturdays: 6 August 2008 to 20 September 2008

Time:        09h00 to 11h00

Cost:        R600 payable to ZVYC in advance or at registration

Contact:   Jenny McDonald, Tel: 021 761 2123 (evenings), E-mail: jenmed@iburst.co.za

Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club
Tel / Fax: (021) 705-3373
E-mail: zvyc@iafrica.com
Website: www.zvyc.org.za
Skype: zeekoevleiyachtclub

The draw up has taken place and the weir has been closed. The Vlei is filling rapidly; rowing and probably sailing as well should be possible this weekend.

Herewith Jimmy’s report back on what has recently been done at the Vlei:

The Vlei and False Bay Ecology Park

At the FBEP committee meeting on Thursday 24th, the ZV Manager, Asieff Khan, reported as follows:

1. Drawdown notes:

100 casual workers employed during good weather conditions.

Removed from shallow water and reeds:
9 000 black bags of refuse
7 refrigerators, 2 washing machines
18 large motor car sections or components
4 trolleys
4 dead dogs
Massive volumes of alien growth, including water hyacinth.

2. The estimated R6m. Cut-Off drain between the sewerage works and the vlei will be completed shortly. Leeching from the pans into the vlei has been estimated as contributing 30% to vlei contamination, and the efficiency of the cut-off drain in reducing this will now be monitored.

3. 3 x R1,5m has been spent on Low-Flow diversion points upstream the Lotus River catchment areas.

4. Specialist sealing of the new mechanical sluice gates in the weir is being completed. From August onwards overflow of clean water over the weir will be prevented by drainage of more contaminated bottom water through the mechanically-lifted new sluice gates.

5. Sludge sampling and analysis continues towards finding a commercially viable extraction and compost-related recycling process.

Note: 70% of greater Cape Town environmental education is conducted through the ZV Peninsula and South Shore education centres. With declining water quality now reversed, the single biggest threat to the Park, the flora and fauna, the tourism potential and to the present user groups is the recently-revived proposed R300 route close to the south shore.

Application for RAMSAR status as a world environmental heritage site is currently under way.

Participating organisations in FBEP: Zandvlei Trust, ZVYC, Friends of ZV and Rondevlei, ZV Environmental Forum, CAFDA, W Cape Fresh Water Angling, ZV Civic, Cape Town Environmental Education Trust, Wildlife & Environmental Society of SA, Cape Nature, Botanical Society of SA, Cape Bird Club, Imvubu Tours, Table Mountain Fund, 8 Dept’s of CT City Council.

Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club
Tel / Fax: (021) 705-3373
E-mail: zvyc@iafrica.com
Website: www.zvyc.org.za
Skype: zeekoevleiyachtclub

If this date should changes we will let you know.

Steven Rhodes