Events & Competitions
The Wheelhouse Regatta 2025, hosted from 16th to 18th May at The Wheelhouse, Salima, was a spectacular blend of thrilling races, laughter-filled mishaps, and true community spirit. With good winds forecast—and delivered—each morning provided ideal trapezing conditions, followed by gentler afternoon breezes.
Preparation began weeks earlier with sailors retrieving club boats stored at Cape Maclear, thanks to Commodore Bouke and his team. The logistical challenge of moving the boats from Whistlers to the regatta site was heroically solved by Beth and Jeremy Barr, who towed four boats in a single day and even offered their speedboat as the official Bridge vessel after the original plan fell through.
Racing on Saturday kicked off with eight Dart boats on the water, some still bearing sponsors from the upcoming Lake Malawi Sailing Marathon. With blue and red markers defining the course, sailors battled around the windward buoy—often with multiple collisions, laughter, and wild recoveries. Children joined in the fun too, manning helms and clambering around boats in their own mini-adventures.
By Sunday, sailors hit the water early to take advantage of fresh winds. The Bridge laid a new course, testing skills on reaches, beats, and runs. A few unlucky collisions—including a dramatic T-bone that forced one boat off the course—added to the regatta lore.
After the final races, packing up turned into a community effort, with all hands helping store boats, patch damage, and share stories. The regatta concluded with thanks to Jenna, Clint, and the entire Wheelhouse team, whose hospitality made the weekend unforgettable.
