Knysna - a tribute to the town and the Knysna Yacht Club

I was born in Knysna Hospital 47 years ago. My father, a celebrated sailor, was a proud member of the Knysna Yacht Club. It was here that my brother Craig and I first learned to sail. Over the years, much has changed in Knysna, yet so much has remained wonderfully the same.

I left Knysna at 18 and have only returned for brief visits since, never quite managing to reconnect with many of my childhood friends. Oddly, I don’t have any memories of the Yacht Club’s bar or restaurant. As kids, we spent our time running amok outside, oblivious to what went on indoors.

A month ago, I sailed back into Knysna on an emotional homecoming. Before even entering the Heads we were greeted by and old friend Di and her son on a small rib. It really felt like a homecoming. My eldest daughter, Arabella, helmed our yacht through the Heads while the proudest dad in the world watched on. It felt like life had come full circle. Now, it was my kids’ turn to play outside every day and soak up the incredible hospitality of the club.

I can confidently say that Knysna Yacht Club is the most vibrant, lively, and welcoming club we’ve encountered—and that’s saying something after visiting clubs in over 40 countries! I know some of you might think I’m biased because this is my hometown, but I assure you, I’m not exaggerating.

From kids learning dinghy sailing to Wednesday and Saturday races, from the Swimming Seahorse ladies braving open water to the paddlers racing on Tuesdays, there’s an incredible buzz of activity. And let’s not forget the quirky canoe soccer—what is that about? Add to this the four yacht builders launching vessels, and the entire place feels alive and thriving.

This vibrancy is a credit to the extraordinary people—staff, volunteers, and participants—who make it all happen. There are too many of you to name here, but you know who you are. Kudos to each and every one of you!

Then there are the longtime members who took the time to reminisce with me about my dad, my mom, and my stepdad. Through these conversations, I learned so much about them and their lives here. It was deeply moving and gave me a renewed sense of connection.

For me, this return to my roots has been both exhausting (in a good way) and incredibly rewarding. Having just completed a four-year circumnavigation, I couldn’t have chosen a better place to land. Knysna—and the Garden Route—are as magical as ever, a reminder of just how special this corner of the world truly is.

Thank you, Knysna Yacht Club, for the warmest, most memorable welcome. For a moment, I felt like that little kid running around again. Knysna I truly love you and i promise to be back.

P.S. Let’s get those old cruiser photo albums online and keep building the history of this remarkable club. What do you say, Colin?