Durban University of Technology’s sailors rise through five days of intense racing to claim a historic podium finish.
Vaal, South Africa (17 December 2025) – After five demanding days of racing at the Vaal Dam, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) sailing team walked away with a milestone achievement, making it their first podium finish at the University Sport South African Sailing Regatta.
Hosted by Wits University from 11 to 15 December, the annual regatta brought together eight varsity teams from across the country for an intense week of team racing. Competing in the one-design TSL 14 class, which accommodates just two sailors per boat, teams tested their tactical decision-making and endurance across a tightly contested programme.
For DUT, the result marked a significant breakthrough. Led by skipper Minenhle Ngcobo, the team arrived at the Vaal Dam fresh from months of preparation, including multiple training camps and competitive racing in the Twilight Series, where they currently sit fourth overall in the L26 Class.
The Durbanites wasted little time announcing their intent. In the opening race, they stunned one of the tournament favourites, the University of Cape Town, with a confident victory.
Reflecting on the early stages of the regatta, Minenhle said the weather posed a slight challenge.
“The weather conditions at first took some getting used to, if you are not used to light winds, it was quite a challenge and a mind shift for us.”
The DUT squad featured skipper Ngcobo, back-up helm Mthobisi Ndovela and crew members Sbonga Sibiya, Asiphe Ntozakhe, Lindokuhle Nsibande and Dale Shandu.
As the regatta progressed, DUT continued to exceed expectations. DUT claimed the opening race, TUKS responded in the second, setting up a decisive final round-robin encounter.
In the must-win race, DUT rose to the occasion, holding their nerve to secure victory and clinch their maiden podium finish at the event.
“The last race went down to the wire and certainly will be going down in the memory books where we will cherish the memories. The conditions were favourable for us with heavy winds, and it was quite an adventurous race. We took all the lessons we have accumulated along the way and put them into practice, which much to our delight, paid off!”
DUT coach Gregg Dobson praised both the performance and the broader significance of the result.
“They acquitted themselves so well both on and off the water. They achieved the success against a strong field of generational sailors earning their competitor’s respect. Thanks to DUT and SA Sailing for facilitating access to a sport with a traditionally high barrier to entry.”
With the festive season now approaching, the DUT sailors will take a short break before returning to the water to complete the 2025/2026 Summer Sailing Season. Their next major challenge will see them lining up against the country’s top L26 sailors at the iconic MSC Week.
Sources: Supplied
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