Hout Bay Sailing Academy ️

Congratulations Theo Yon, Robyn Patrick & team for your unbelievable 3rd place achievement at Lipton Challenge CUP this past week! 🥉🎉

Meet Our Helm: Theo Yon!

Introducing Theo, the experienced helm and co-skipper for our Lipton Challenge CUP team. Theo's sailing journey began in Hout Bay in 2000, and since then, he's made waves both inshore and offshore, locally and internationally. With 14 Lipton Cups under his belt, including a triumphant 1st place finish in the 2023 Lipton Cup. He received his SAS WC Seniors Colours for 2023, and was also nominated for the RCYC Male Yachtsman of the Year Award.

Theo's impressive sailing career includes representing South Africa at the Bondex Logistics Cup in Qingdao in 2015, where he secured a 3rd place finish overall. He also took on the world in the SSL Gold Cup final in 2023, finishing 16th, and demonstrated his skill at the J22 Nationals 2023 by earning 3rd place overall. His expertise in offshore racing is further highlighted by his 1st place victory at the ORC Nationals in 2022 and participation in three Cape to Rio races. He won the Mossel Bay Race in 2021 onboard Atalanta, and in 2016 onboard Gryphon as skipper. While also cleaning up in the 2023 Mykonos Offshore Race with First Cape31, First Overall in the Distance Race, and First Overall in Class A onboard Nitro.

With a clear goal for this year's Lipton Cup, Theo believes in the strength and potential of his team. He is confident that the exceptional crew they've assembled will sail their way towards the podium.

Fun Fact - Theo is from a long-standing fishing family, and loves spending time alongside his father and son catching fish on his boat.

KSYC Centre of Sailing Excellence
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Introducing the muscle of our team - Lorenzo Yon! 💪🏼 Our hardcore muscle and brother to our skipper embarked on his sailing journey at the age of 11 or 12. He's a seasoned sailor with a résumé boasting big events like the Mossel Bay Race, and the legendary Cape2Rio. Lorenzo has a love for dinghies and has sailed on everything from Dabchicks and 29ers to 420s and Sonnets. This Lipton Cup will be his 4th or 5th time participating, and he's even helmed a few in the past. His favourite events? Definitely the Lipton Cups and offshore races. Although he took a long sabbatical from sailing to focus on work, we are stoked to have him back! Renzo's only goal for the Lipton Cup is to win. Fun fact: he might be a powerhouse on the grinder, but he has even more insane skills fixing a boat engine. So proceed with caution if you ever bring up playstations or engines around him, you might never get to leave the conversation.

💪🏼 The dynamite duo are taking on Lipton 2024 🧨

📣NEW CHALLENGER ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

This 2024 Lipton Challenge Cup sees a remarkable team with a cumulative attendance of over 30 Lipton Cups onboard. Co-skippers Robyn Patrick and Theo Yon have been sailing together since 2015, playing between multiple keelboats and dinghies. To say they have spent an incredible amount of time sailing together is an understatement. Theo stated that his goal for this Lipton Cup is to come out at the top and believes that they have put an amazing team together. Representing King Shaka Yacht Club (KSYC), a Club that was created after its founders noticed a lack of transformation and development in the industry and the sport, a Club well aligned with the team's campaign mission. This will be the KSYC's first representation at Lipton.

Helmsman, Theo Yon significantly contributes to the 30 Challenges onboard tally with his 14 participations, including a first-place finish in 2023 and three-second places. He first began sailing in 2000, at the age of 12, in a school program and has now competed in multiple international events representing South Africa, including the SSL Gold Cup, Bondex Cup in Qingdao and 3 Cape2Rio races.

Robyn's Lipton journey began under the mentorship of Heidi Burger onboard "Team Tiletoria," and competed as an all-female racing team. Since then, Robyn has participated in multiple Liptons onboard that team. Notably, in 2015, they competed against a second all-female team, whose helmswoman, Megan Eccleston, is now part of Robyn's 2024 Lipton campaign.

The average age of this crew competing is under 30. This committed and competitive team has grown from grassroots to seasoned sailors, competing locally and internationally. They have all participated in many major regattas and races, including the Cape to Rio Race, Youth Worlds, China Cup, Lady Liberty Regatta, and Star Sailing League. Onboard is Raaid Pentolfe, Megan Eccleston, Chiara Fruet, Lorenzo Yon, & Lance Curtis. Theo, Raaid, and Lance are National ORC Champions for 2022, winning together onboard Gigi.

"The success of our campaign isn't measured solely by our results but by our vision and purpose. This diverse group we have onboard is not only competitive but also dedicated to promoting inclusivity and representation in the sailing community. We proudly carry the hashtag as our campaign slogan." Says Robyn, whose passion lies in promoting female sailing in South Africa.

KSYC Centre of Sailing Excellence
South African Sailing - SAS
City of Cape Town

Team Nitro Sailing Team taking the win again! 🥇🏆

Well done to Theo Yon and the rest of the team onboard for winning 3 out of the 7 races ! As well as all the incredible teams on the water, says something amazing about the racing if almost every team wins a race ⛵️

“The Cape Sports Boat Regatta was held in Saldanha Bay, South Africa over the past weekend. Five Cape 31s participated in the close, competitive racing. “
Read more about what the Class had to say below 👇🏼👇🏼

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=587945640044309&id=100064866335200&mibextid=ncKXMA

Thank you to all those that that contributed into the organisation of the event and a massive thank you to Mike Hayton !

📷 leslie
Cape31 South African Sailing - SAS

Thursday and Friday have been busy with deliveries of yachts back to Cape Town after the Mykonos Race, with Theo skippering Double Helix and Tenacity back in super great time!

The ocean was showing off with dolphins and whales guiding the crew back to Royal Cape Yacht Club

Theo Yon has not even been back a week after skippering Atalanta from Rio and he is already up to amazing things!

Nitro Sailing Team cleaned up at this weekends Mykonos Offshore Regatta, taking home the First Cape 31 Overall, First Overall in the Distance Race and First Overall in Class A
🥇🥇
Well done to the amazing team for their incredible sailing performance! Next weekend will be a Cape 31 event in Langebaan, where Theo will be sailing again for team Nitro!

📷 Matt Du Toit Photography

✔️ Solid land
✔️ Food
✔️ Shower
✔️ Customs
✔️ Beer

Skipper Theo Yon , Matchette , & Lance Curtis have successfully completed their sail from Rio De Janeiro, delivering the JPK 1030 “Atalanta”. Owned and skippered for the Cape2Rio Race by Adrian Kuttel. They arrived back home at Royal Cape Yacht Club with no damages and only took an impressive time of 20 days !

Well done guys, we are all super happy to have you home safe 🎉🎉

Cape 2 Rio Yacht Race South African Sailing - SAS Sentinel Ocean Alliance Atalanta = Sentinel Ocean Explorer

They’re coming in HOT!!

Currently with 8.7knots boat speed and 136nm to go till home! We’re expecting the team to arrive at Royal Cape Yacht Club between 15h00 and 17h00 tomorrow afternoon.
We hope to see some of you on the dock ready too welcome them back !

Cape 2 Rio Yacht Race
South African Sailing - SAS
Atalanta = Sentinel Ocean Explorer
Theo Yon Matchette Lance Curtis