The South African coastline is one of the most challenging in the world to sail, with few harbours, stormy conditions and, often, very rough seas. So it's not a good bareboat option.
The sailing fraternity has discovered the port cities of South Africa in a big way. From Cape Town around the coast to Durban, thousands of yachts ply the ocean, many of them heading out to far-off destinations like the Seychelles group of islands. Others sail north past Mozambique to Zanzibar, and inland there are a number of dam-sailing destinations that people and their boats flock to each weekend. The yacht-building business in South Africa is rated in the top five globally, because of the local expertise and affordable labour costs. But the SA coastal settings also make for ideal marina developments.
However, South Africa is a great place to learn to sail -- there are affordable sailing schools in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. South African sailers feature in all the major round-the-world races with the Cape to Rio being one of the most accessible ocean crossing races in the world, attracting a large cruising contingent. South Africa hosts many local races that are more suitable to amateurs.
South Africa has some awesome windsurfing and kitesurfing spots. Langebaan, near Cape Town, is internationally recognised to be one of the top boardsailing venues in the world - and there are others.
Surfers in wet suits brave the colder waters of the Cape Peninsula, but in general the Indian Ocean off the east coast of SA is best for surfing. Take Victoria Bay near George, for instance. This is a great spot for older surfers, 'baby boomers' who travel the world in search of good waves and foreign experiences. But the real surfing still happens in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape, home of the perfect wave and the endless summer. Durban, too, is an international surfing zone where the great board-legends have taken many a trophy.
South African Sailing, Kitesurfing, Wind Surfing (Boardsailing) Organisations and Tour Operators:
The Knysna Yacht Club is renowned world-wide for its hospitality and facilities. The visiting Yachtsman has, after he has passed through the infamous Knysna Heads, a safe navigable lagoon where he may moor his yacht whilst visiting Knysna and surrounding district.
Warlock Racing has two main goals: [1] to develop, construct and successfully campaign a Mini 650 sailing yacht in 2005 Mini Transat Race and [2] to promote offshore yacht racing in South Africa for those aspiring sailors who would otherwise not be able to take part competitively.
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