North-West University (NWU) senior IT technician Nico Kroucamp is brimming with pride as his sailing team, Albatross, won three regattas in the last three months.

The three regattas the four-member team won, were the SA Sailing 75th Anniversary Regatta, the King of the Vaal Regatta and the L26 Class 2023 Free State provincials. The team is now awaiting an invitation to compete for national honours in KwaZulu-Natal.

During the L26 Class 2023 Free State provincials, the team competed against 15 boats and eight in the L26 fleet. They won the last three races and came fourth in the middle of the dam race with the J22 class. The team won eight of the nine races they have participated in and is currently leading the middle of the dam league in the J22 class. The team is also set to compete at the L26 Class nationals late this year.

Nico, who controls the midship section of the boat, says winning the provincials was personally his biggest achievement. "Winning the provincials has opened many doors, and we cannot wait to compete at the nationals. Our dream is to enter international competitions and to be recognised internationally."

The yachtsman adds that his team's biggest dream is to be invited to the iconic Cape to Rio Yacht Race, also known as the South Atlantic Yacht Race, from Cape Town to South America.

He says though he enjoys the sport and loves that it is sociable, rewarding and fun, it is expensive and physically taxing.

"It takes work and muscles to keep the sailboat trimmed and moving accordingly. You must constantly check the weather and move around the boat to tweak the sails or turn the boat in the required direction. When the weather is unkind, sailing can turn dangerous,” he says.

“Sailboats are expensive to maintain, and you need matching team clothing and other materials. Fortunately, we recently received a sponsorship that included new sails, a jib and a spinnaker.”

The 31-year-old who lives in Deneysville, a small farm town in the Free State, says he was first introduced to the sport by a friend and was instantly hooked.

"Sailing started as a hobby, but now it is part of my life I am a member of the Seal Point Yacht Club from Manten Marina, and all the crew members are my childhood friends. We meet every first Sunday of each month," adds Nico.

Nico Kroukamp proudly shows off one of the trophies his sailing team, Albatross, scooped recently.