MAC 24 Hour Challenge at Milnerton Aquatic Club, Cape Town, South Africa
by Mark Algra 4 Apr 10:25 BST
28-29 March 2026
24 hour sailors put to the test in light conditions
24 teams started the MAC 24 Hour Challenge at noon on Saturday 28th March 2026, at Milnerton Aquatic Club, Cape Town, South Africa.
The challenge is to sail the greatest distance non -stop in 24 hours. This is the 27th 24 Hour hosted at MAC.
There were Sea Scout and Cadet groups that came from Knysna and Saldanha to compete. There was a Topaz from Theewaterskloof and the rest from local Cape Town Sailing Clubs. 11 Saldanha Dinghies, 7 Sonnets, 2 420s, 2 Mirrors, 1 Topaz, 1 Enterprise.
The two Mirror dinghies from Saldanha enjoyed their MAC 24 and the team spirit from their supporters on shore was something to witness - singing and cheering when their team completed laps.
The 24 hour had periods of very light wind conditions - crew positioning in the boat was critical, too much weight aft and the transom drags and slows the boat down.
The wind filled in the early morning. Light W/NW and the Challenge ended with the boats sailing around in medium breeze.
A Durbanville Sailor - John "Guppy" Visser sailed the full 24 Hour in a Saldanha dinghy - and was rewarded with the Endurance trophy.
A real challenge developed between the MAC Enterprise Electra Glide and a Sonnet from ZVYC for overall laps - both finished on 94 laps. The Sonnet ahead by just 17 seconds after 24 Hours!
This event is a must for South African Sailors wanting to experience something completely different.
All in all another excellent event hosted by Milnerton Aquatic Club and a great success. Many thanks go to the new event sponsor Ullman Sails.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Class | Laps (Handicap) |
|---|
| 1 | Electra Glide | Enterprise | 94 |
| 2 | MAC 1 | 420 | 88.35 |
| 3 | ZVSC1 | 420 | 87.4 |
| 4 | 2nd Plumstead | Saldanha | 85.43 |
| 5 | Team Gosling | Topaz | 84 |
| 6 | ZVSC 2 | Sonnet (after 2000) | 83.66 |
| 7 | MAC 2 | Sonnet (pre 2000) | 82.88 |
| 8 | Maroon Machine | Sonnet (after 2000) | 82.77 |
| 9 | 18 Plus | Saldanha | 80.32 |
| 10 | Maties Mayhem | Sonnet (after 2000) | 80.1 |
| 11 | TSW01 | Saldanha | 79.05 |
| 12 | Black Magic | Saldanha | 79.05 |
| 13 | Maroon Marines | Sonnet (after 2000) | 75.65 |
| 14 | Catch 22 | Saldanha | 75.23 |
| 15 | 1D | Saldanha | 73.95 |
| 16 | Triple Threat | Saldanha | 72.68 |
| 17 | TS Knysna | Saldanha | 72.68 |
| 18 | TS Saldanha Kasper Mirror | | 66.12 |
| 19 | Team Hooligan | Sonnet (pre 2000) | 65.33 |
| 20 | TS Saldanha Abby | Mirror | 64.96 |
| 21 | Thin Blue Line | Saldanha | 63.75 |
| 22 | Midnight Blue | Saldanha | 53.55 |
| 23 | Nova | Sonnet (pre 2000) | 48.75 |
| 24 | Bergvliet Scouts | Saldanha | 42.08 |