Royal Natal Yacht
Club
Interview with
Patrick Harris
“Lipton is the most prestigious regatta in the country
with South Africa’s best sailors competing! Just to be part of it is an honour
but to win would be fantastic.” these are the determined words of Patrick
Harris who hails from Kloof ahead of the Ola Lipton Challenge Cup that begins
on Sunday.
Harris has the responsibility of being the helmsman of
the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s entry Orion B2G2, “We are a new team on deck but
we are getting better every single time we go out on the water. It is great
sharing this experience with some seriously talented young sailors who are
eager to do well!”
Harris, who started sailing at the age of seven in
Pretoria on the Rietvlei Dam, is no stranger to big events, “I have done some
long distance sailing, Mauritius and Gibraltar come to mind. I have competed in
regattas in Europe, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and also New York which was
particularly fascinating but the best racing conditions are in Durban with a
sunny southwester, warm seas, great swells you can’t beat it.”
Harris, a well-respected Flying Fifteen sailor, was
recently crowned provincial champion along with his partner Jeremy Kriek, “I
love sailing on most boats but probably my favourite is the Flying Fifteen
which is a small two man boat. Jeremy and I have a fantastic understanding of each
other’s strengths and weaknesses out on the water. It feels like I know what he
is thinking when racing, we enjoy being out on the water and the results show
this.” the sailor states proudly.
Chatting about life off the water, Harris spends his days
working in short term insurance, “As with the rest of the economy, things are
difficult and our business is no different. After school, I did all the usual
things, bummed around the UK and Europe, then had to work, got married and now
have a wonderful wife and two incredibly special children.” the dotting father
says.
Hobbies outside of sailing, “I am an avid reader, enjoy
watching cricket otherwise I can be a professional relaxer but haven’t had much
chance recently to perfect these skills as training has been taking up most of
my free time.”
The skipper is highly decorated, with some highly awe-inspiring
awards, “I was selected to sail for SA twice as a youth, winning both the
respective Youth Nationals and got a 2nd at the Laser Nationals out
of about 80 boats, all a long time ago. Since then I have won a few Flying
Fifteen Nationals and getting a 10th in the World Champs here in
Durban was pretty special.”
“I still have a number of races that I would like to
participate in, Cowes Week in the UK would be great, and so would Antigua Sailing
Week in the Caribbean. Any international regatta wherever it is, still attracts
me, sailors are an interesting bunch all over the world. Regarding long
distance sailing, I must admit nowadays, I prefer aeroplanes.” he says smiling.
With the entire world all praying for our phenomenal
icon, Nelson Mandela, Harris tells us with pride, “In life he has to be every
ones role model, he certainly is mine! What an extraordinary person. He has
taught us so much.”
“My nautical hero is South African Dave Hudson. When I
was young, he seemed to win every national championship in every class and now
he is still sailing internationally, having just returned from competing in
Palma in Spain last week. He is nearing 60 and still is a force to be reckoned
with on the water.”
“What I most enjoy about sailing is the different places
you go to and the variety of people, most of them are passionate about their
sport!”
Asked what a perfect day sailing would entail, the
passionate sailor smiles, pauses and then concludes, “Winning the Ola Lipton Challenge
Cup would be one, on the final day, crossing the finish line.”
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