MSC Week 2026 at Point Yacht Club - Preview
by Sophie Thompson 22 Jun 03:11 PDT
6-10 July 2026
Sailors, Chaz Hansen, Minenhle Ngcobo, Shamir Rampersadh and Anna Correa are pictured on Donna Mia as they prepare for the five day regatta, the MSC Week taking place in the July holidays hosted offshore of Durban by Point Yacht Club © Bev Reith
A strong fleet of competitors from around South Africa will be lining up for the 49th year since the inception of the MSC Week hosted by Point Yacht Club offshore of Durban from 6 - 10 July.
Entries have been flying in for this popular event with yachties travelling from Bloemfontein, Cape Town, East London, Johannesburg and just up the road, Richards Bay. Offshore of Durban offers some of the best yachting conditions in the world, with ideal winter sailing raved about by locals and visitors alike.
The weeklong regatta incorporates the highly competitive ORC Nationals as well as the L26 Championships. The ORC or Offshore Racing Congress is an internationally recognised measurement-based system used to handicap sailboat racing. Currently 12 ORC entries will be vying for the honours of national champion.
On the back of the historic mighty duel in the recent 55th Vasco da Gama, Durban's two big hot shot boats that finished the 265nm race a mere two seconds apart; Regardless 2 skippered by Peter Blofield and Nigel Milln's CFM II will be continuing their offshore battle. The local big boats will have to dig deep against a highly skilled fleet that will be invading Durban's warm waters.
Included in the ORC line-up, Captain Salvatore Sarno has entered his beloved J33, MSC Donna Mia. Donna Mia has been leading the charge in the last three years, claiming the national trophy in 2023 and 2024 and the ORC Division last year. Hoping to continue dominating the class, Kenwin Daniels from Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation, will be skipper of the classic J.
Reminiscing, Capt Sarno shared, 'My J is a good and honest boat, I love her. Drive her correctly and you will win. I have a soft spot for her name which means "my woman". It was chosen by my family - my wife and two sons. Kenwin and the guys are coming to keep the title, I hope. They will have to work really hard against the strong fleet!'
Running racing, Ron Pet will be standing in his second regatta as Race Officer. A long-time supporter of the event, Pet organised the busy week for eight years on the trot from 2010 to 2017. In 2022, he had the honour of being the Assistant Race Officer to Jimmy Melville for the J22 World Championships which ran in conjunction to the MSC Week.
Off the water, the organising committee have created a fun filled programme to keep competitors entertained in the evenings. Yachties can test their knowledge on Trivia night, sing to their hearts content on karaoke night and learn about different brews and wines at the two pairing evenings.
Wrapping up the blue water winter season, after the MSC Week, the Point Yacht Club goes into a short hibernation where they will start planning for their celebratory 135th year. 2027 promises to be action packed with the 50th year of the MSC Week as well as the annual ocean race, the 56th Vasco da Gama.
For more info visit www.pyc.co.za