Lost in Translation

RCYC ACADEMY REPORT – by Lindani Mchunu

Richard Thomson, place of residence Durbanville, Keisha Thompson, Durbanville. Ewonke Nyakanani, Observatory, Sufyaan Solomon, Mitchells’ Plain. Micah Lurie, Melkbosstrand, Matthew Cloete, Melkbosstrand. Taariq Botha Mitchells’ Plain, Ncaweni Coma, Khayelitsha, Ovayo Myiva, Khayelitsha, Natasha Jack, Khayelitsha. Johan Swanepoel Malmesbury, Damita Olsson Milnerton, Athenkosi Vena Phumelela Fishhoek. On any given Sunday this is our make-up, these are but a few of the young aspiring sailors that walk through our doors.

We are different in every way, from our skin colour, social class, background, gender and age. All these differences challenge us on most days, make us break barriers we never knew existed, question prejudices we never knew we had, challenge stereotypes we adopt subconsciously.
Yet somehow on a boat big or small all these differences come together to forge a whole. We went to Milnerton Aquatic Club last week the 17th
of February and as always we were welcomed with open arms and warms hearts, in my hubris I thought it must be me who makes all the people at Mac treat us so well, my charm and debonair manner, dare I say my exceptional looks. Nothing could be further from the truth, the reason we get such a warm welcome everywhere we go is because, people see the diversity we represent, they see all the differences come together and operate as one. My kids we sailing Picos at Mac and diversity in all its forms was represented on the water. I now realise that everyone
looks at our academy and they feel a sense of hope in the future of our country, I realise we all love this country and are heavily invested in making it work, everyone is looking for a way to make all our differences come together and unite us rather than divide us.