Blustery winds, midnight repairs, and broken gear marked the action-packed 26th annual MAC 24-Hour Challenge, held at the Milnerton Aquatic Club recently.
The endurance sailing event, which runs continuously for 24 hours, drew 25 teams from around the Western Cape, each competing to clock the furthest distance sailed in a day – part of a broader Guinness World Record attempt.
Despite starting in near-perfect sailing conditions, several boats suffered serious gear failures over the course of the event. An Enterprise Dinghy, CV6, lost its mast mid-race, while a Gypsy Dinghy crewed by the Plumstead Sea Scouts snapped its centreboard. Numerous other teams were forced to carry out running repairs to stay in the race. But the spirit of the event remained undeterred.
“This is exactly what the MAC 24-Hour Challenge is all about – teamwork, endurance, and resilience,” said Mark Algra. “It’s not just about who sails the furthest, but how you get there. Watching these teams pull together under pressure was incredible.”
How it began
The race began under light north-westerly winds that made for a flawless start. Sonnet Dinghies quickly led the pack, followed by Enterprise, Bosun, 420s, and the 16-foot Saldanha dinghies from various Sea Scout groups. As the sun set, conditions began to shift. Winds dropped significantly in the evening, demanding careful helming, until a light southeasterly picked up around 03:00. By the midnight finish on Sunday, winds had increased to a robust 25 knots, propelling boats across the course in dramatic fashion.
“By 07:00, boats were literally flying – especially the Saldanha Dinghies, pushing up big bow waves,” said Algra.
A 12-Hour Challenge ran alongside the main event, with five teams entering, including a Windsurfer and a solo Illusion micro keelboat. The 12-Hour teams completed their sessions from 07:00 to 19:00 on Saturday, resuming again at 07:00 Sunday morning.
Race results
12-Hour Challenge:
•MAC Relay Team – Windsurfer;
•Team Kia Paarl – Illusion;
•Team CV6 – Enterprise Dinghy;
24-Hour Challenge:
•Plumstead Sea Scouts – “Sea Queen” (Saldanha);
•Zeekoevlei Sailing Club – Sonnet;
•MAC – “Team Naleidi Reloaded” – Sonnet;
•UCT Yacht Club – Sonnet;
•Sea King – Saldanha;
•Team Defence Sailing – Bosun Dinghy.
Now in its 26th edition, the MAC 24-Hour Challenge is South Africa’s version of the long-running event hosted annually at West Lancashire Yacht Club in Southport, UK. In 2022, a South African GP14 named “Red Baron” made headlines by setting a world record of 226 km sailed in 24 hours.
Sailors and supporters are encouraged to visit the MAC 24 Hr Challenge Facebook page for a full list of results and photo highlights from this year’s event.
