Watersports festival makes a Splash

NELSON Mandela Bay’s beaches will be transformed over the 22nd annual Splash Festival 2012 from their usual idyllic selves to a vibrant, watersports infused stretch of strand as the festival’s athletic offering is showcased.

“The beaches are an incredible site of action year-round in Nelson Mandela Bay,” said Zanoxolo Wayile, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor. “But there is something special about the Splash Festival. Not only is it one of the longest running city festivals, but it capitalises on the excellent weather over this period. The watersports festival is one of the elements that captures the late summer feel.”

Beach action includes a new 32-team knockout Beach Touch Rugby competition, which will take place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival.

Another new entry is a Beach Tennis Tournament, which will take place in the main beach arena on the Friday of the festival.

In addition to the entertainment and action on land, swimmers, lifesavers and jet ski riders will be making a big splash the whole weekend.

Watersports festival events organiser, Mike Zoetmulder of Zports, said up to 40 of South Africa’s top jet ski riders will be in action for Round 3 of the City Lodge Hotels Group SA National Jet ski Championships, which will also take place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Easter weekend.

Around 100 of SA’s top surf ski paddlers will also be in action on the Friday morning as they tackle a 26-kilometre Madiba Classic course within Algoa Bay.

On Saturday, around 100 of the country’s “bravest swimmers” will tackle the eight kilometre Nelson Mandela Bay Bell Buoy Challenge – known as “one of the toughest open water swims in the world,” said Zoetmulder.

Youngsters from the Masakhane Future Stars Development programme will be given the opportunity to swim with some of the top open water swimmers in the Izani Siqubhe one kilometre swim on the morning of Easter Sunday.

Also on Easter Sunday is a one kilometre beach run/walk for children under 12. The water sport action peaks on Easter Monday, with the King / Queen of the Bay competition, which includes Malibu Board, Beach Sprints, Beach Flags and Surf Swim events – all with men’s and ladies divisions. “This is a high powered, exciting event,” added Zoetmulder.

“The city is looking forward to the jam-packed programme over the Splash Festival weekend and we encourage you to get splashing,” said Wayile.