Hout Bay Yacht Club

Sailing Hunter 19 Winter Series – 🇿🇦

Another great Saturday of Hunter19 racing in Hout Bay, with 19 boats now in the running for the Winter Series.

Bleu continues to lead the standings, with Artemis and Fundi keeping the pressure on.

There was a little extra motivation to sail fast this weekend — everyone wanted to get back to shore in time to watch the Springboks take on the All Blacks! 🇿🇦🏉

HUNTER 19 RACING IS BACK TOMORROW!

After an epic weekend of sailing in Hout Bay, the Hunter 19 fleet is ready to do it all again tomorrow!

See you on the start line!

🏉 ROUND TWO. LET’S GO BOKKE! 🇿🇦

After last week’s result, the Springboks are back for the rematch against the All Blacks this Saturday - and we’ll have it live on the big screen at Hout Bay Yacht Club.

📅 Saturday, 29 August
⏰ Kick-off: 5pm
📍 Hout Bay Yacht Club

Come down, grab a drink, find your spot and get behind the Boks. 💚💛

Booking is essential: WhatsApp 082 337 5713 to reserve your place.

🌬️ Hout Bay Sailing Forecast — 23–30 August*

Sunday–Tuesday (23–25 August)
• The week starts with mostly dry conditions, but active swell remains present outside the harbour.
• Tuesday brings stronger SE winds, reaching around 17–20kts with gusts into the mid-20kt range.
• SW swell sits around 2.6–2.8m on Tuesday, making the harbour entrance and exposed waters more demanding.
➡️ Best for: Experienced sailors only on Tuesday, with caution around the harbour entrance.

Wednesday–Thursday (26–27 August)
• Winds ease significantly on Wednesday, becoming light through the afternoon and evening.
• Swell gradually drops from around 2.6m early Wednesday to closer to 1.9–2.1m later in the day.
• Thursday looks like the cleaner midweek window, with lighter winds and a more manageable 1.4–1.5m swell.
➡️ Best for: Training, social sailing and relaxed harbour sessions after checking live conditions.

Friday–Sunday (28–30 August)
• Friday looks cloudier and less settled, with onshore conditions affecting the 1.2m swell.
• Saturday is the standout swell day, with WSW swell building from around 1.5m in the morning to approximately 2m in the afternoon with a long 14-second period.
• Sunday becomes messier again, with SW swell around 2.4m, onshore winds and light sprinkles possible later in the day.
➡️ Best for: Saturday may offer the best weekend window, while Sunday is better suited to experienced sailors only.

Water Conditions
• Sea temperatures are sitting at approximately 14°C.
• Full wetsuits are strongly recommended for sailing and other water activities.

Keep in Mind
• Tuesday brings the strongest wind and wave combination of the week.
• Thursday looks like the most manageable midweek window.
• Saturday has good swell energy but still needs live wind and harbour checks before launching.
• Always check the latest wind, swell and rainfall forecasts before heading out.

*Information is compiled from the Hout Bay forecasts on Windfinder, Surf Forecast, Yr and Windguru.

⛵ THREE CLASSES. ONE BIG DAY ON THE WATER.

The Vulcan Challenge is set for Saturday, 12 September, bringing together a mix of boats and crews for a long-haul race from Hout Bay.

The Challenge takes sailors beyond the familiar waters of Hout Bay and into the open South Atlantic, rounding Vulcan Rock below the Sentinel in the same waters that produce the legendary waves of Dungeons.

For many Hunter 19s and Hobie Cats, simply making that rounding is an achievement in itself, testing navigation, seamanship and good judgement.

And there’s another challenge on the table: 25 Hunter 19s are currently on the water, with three more being prepared for launch. Imagine 28 Hunters on one start line. It would be more than a club record. It just might be a national record.

This year’s challenge will include:

• Hunters: with a strong HBYC turnout encouraged
• Small multihulls: including the Hobie fraternity
• Small keelboats: with visiting boats also encouraged to take part ahead of the FBYC Spring Regatta later in September

As always, the sea gets the final say. The Race Officer will determine the final route on the day, based on the wind and sea conditions.

📅 Saturday, 12 September
📍 Hout Bay Yacht Club

Ready to line up at the start?

Find all the event information and sign up here: hbyc.co.za/vulcan-challenge/

With thanks to Centurion Systems , main sponsor of the Vulcan Challenge.

HUNTER 19 WINTER SERIES UPDATE

14 races down and the battle at the top is still tight!

🥇 Bleu — 21 pts
🥈 Fundi — 24 pts
🥉 Artemis — 26 pts

Just 7 points separate the top four, with some seriously competitive racing throughout the fleet.

The Hunter 19s continue to deliver — close racing and plenty still to fight for.

Make sure you book in time. Secure your table , sit back and enjoy good old Springbok rugby on the big screen!

The forecast called it on Tuesday... and Hout Bay has delivered. ☀️⛵

We're in for another beautiful winter weekend, with some great sailing conditions expected today and again on Saturday. If you caught our weekly sailing forecast earlier this week, you'll know these were the days to make the most of.

Whether you're heading out on the water, watching the boats from the harbour, or simply soaking up the sunshine from the clubhouse, there's no better place to spend a winter's day than Hout Bay Yacht Club.

Come down, enjoy the harbour, grab something to eat or drink, and make the most of this incredible weather. We hope to see you on the water this weekend.

🌬️ Hout Bay Sailing Forecast: 3–9 August*

Monday–Tuesday (3–4 August)
• The week starts with light winds and relatively manageable conditions inside the bay.
• Tuesday shows light, shifting winds with SW swell around 1.3–1.5m and periods of 11–12 seconds.
• Conditions may be suitable for relaxed harbour sessions, although swell remains active outside the harbour entrance.
➡️ Best for: Training, social sailing and relaxed sessions inside the bay.

Wednesday–Thursday (5–6 August)
• Conditions become more active from Wednesday as N–NW winds strengthen through the day.
• SW groundswell builds sharply, reaching approximately 2.2–3.1m with long 15–16 second periods.
• Thursday carries larger, more powerful swell with onshore conditions, making exposed waters more challenging.
➡️ Best for: Experienced sailors only, especially outside the harbour.

Friday–Sunday (7–9 August)
• Friday continues with large, messy swell of approximately 3–3.5m and onshore conditions.
• Saturday may offer the cleaner weekend window, with SW swell easing slightly to around 2.5m and lighter winds.
• Sunday becomes more unsettled again, with showers possible and SSE winds strengthening through the day.
➡️ Best for: Experienced sailors on Friday, a possible Saturday window after live checks, and caution on Sunday.

Water Conditions
• Sea temperatures are sitting at approximately 14°C.
• Full wetsuits are strongly recommended for sailing and other water activities.

Keep in Mind
• The main caution this week is the powerful SW swell building from Wednesday onwards.
• Thursday and Friday look like the most challenging days outside the harbour.
• Saturday may be the best weekend window, but swell remains strong and should not be underestimated.
• Always check the latest wind, swell and rainfall forecasts before launching.

*Information is compiled from the Hout Bay forecasts on Yr, Windfinder, Surf Forecast and Windguru.

For most Hunter 19s and Hobie Cats - Vulcan Rock is a chance to leave the familiar waters of Hout Bay and venture into the open South Atlantic, sailing in the same waters that produce the legendary waves of Dungeons.

Vulcan Rock itself is steeped in local maritime lore. Lying offshore below the Sentinel, it demands respect. Finding it, approaching it safely and rounding it cleanly is a true test of navigation, seamanship and good judgement. Simply rounding Vulcan is an achievement in itself.

This race offers something few club races can: the thrill of sailing beyond the bay, feeling the long Atlantic swells beneath your boat, learning to work with them instead of against them, and sharpening the skills that make better sailors. With the prevailing winds, expect a beat or close fetch out to the rock and, if the weather plays its part, an exhilarating broad reach home.

Consider this for a moment … We currently have 25 Hunter 19s on the water, with another three being prepared for launching. Imagine Twenty-eight Hunters on one start line. This would be more than a club record … it just might be a national record!

Add HBYC racing keelboats, cruising yachts and our coastal rowing skiff plus a visiting Cornish Gig, and this promises to be one of the most memorable days on the Hout Bay sailing calendar.

No crew? That’s not an excuse—it’s a challenge. Put the word out. There are plenty of people looking for a chance to race, and this is the perfect event to match skippers with enthusiastic crew.

Whether you cross the line first or last, you’ll return with something far more valuable than a finishing position: confidence, experience, stories to tell and memories that will last long after the sails are packed away.

And after the finish? Plenty of prizes. Plenty of beer. Plenty of laughter. And the satisfaction of knowing you were part of something special.

Don’t miss it. Find a boat. Find a crew. Be on the start line. 12 September 2026

“Let’s put 28 Hunters on the line and make club history.”