The Algoa Bay Yacht Club has voiced it’s opposition to the proposed Algoa Bay Fish Farm and submitted an appeal.
The proposed site is inshore of the Shipping zone and offshore of Port Elizabeth’s beaches placing it in the path of many of the Algoa Bay Yacht Club’s sailing regattas. ABYC exists to foster sailing as a sport.
The local, provincial, national and international events that ABYC host bring many tourists to the region, city, port and club – all hosted by volunteer club members eager to promote the sport.
Media coverage for a National event such as the Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals – which ran for four years offshore of Hobie Beach – was shown to be worth in excess of R420 000 per year for the event.
International media coverage for an event such as the 60th SAP 505 World Championships to be held in Algoa Bay from 23 March to 3 April 2015, will easily exceed R3 million – valuable exposure for the club, the Port of Port Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela Bay.
Tourism SA uses a figure of R1 350.00 spend per tourist per day – for 320 visitors ONLY to the 505 World Championships over 14 days that will represent a conservative boost to the city coffers of R6 048 000. Add the bed nights for around 250 international sailors at a conservative R500.00 per night for 13 nights and we add R1 625 000 to the expected spend.
Add the expected spend by local sailors at the 505 SAP World Championships plus the expected spend by sailors in the Vasco Da Gamma Ocean Race from Durban to Port Elizabeth and we can conservatively expect another R1.5 Million in spend in Port Elizabeth.
From one international sailing event, one offshore race, the annual ABYC Sailing Week and the many local sailing regattas the sport of sailing alone is expected to contribute in excess of R9.2 Million in turnover from tourism in Port Elizabeth during 2015.
As a consequence ABYC is a valuable partner to all the tourist orientated business in our city.
An ongoing youth development program continually introduces sailors to the Port of Port Elizabeth, the club and sailing. Some of these youth (most notably youth from the ABYC/Lovelife partnership) have gone on to long term employment and sailing on the international stage. Some of the youth are now active in the maritime field as ship’s captains and other officers of the line.
Images of ABYC, the marina and bay sailing are used by citizens of the city as an example of the idyllic tourist lifestyle and as a means of attracting people to the city.
Every year close to 100 international and local yachts moor in the ABYC Marina during the season as they make their way down our coast. These cruising boats spend varying amounts of time in the Port and are a valuable ongoing source of tourism spend. The ‘uglification’ of Algoa Bay and decline in revenues from sailing as a direct result of the Algoa Bay Fish Farm will place this valuable source of tourists in jeopardy.
International sailors rate Algoa Bay as an ideal venue for one design racing as the bay presents varying conditions and wind speeds for the days of sailing that these regattas normally take place – anywhere from 5 to 14 days depending on the class. The proposed Algoa Bay Fish Farm will negatively impact on our ability to attract such events.
ABYC Commodore, Alan Straton says; “We have a dream to attract a high profile international event with a worldwide audience to Algoa Bay. An event such as the Volvo Ocean Race, will be the one that will place Port Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela Bay on the world stage as the watersport capital of Africa.”
Related: Political Opposition to Fish Farm
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- Embroidery or Print? EMB Designs in Durban North Checks the Artwork and Runs a Sample Before a Full Staff, School or Club Order Is Stitched - 4 November 2026
- PrintAcademy 3D in Stellenbosch Trains Teachers First, Then Learners, so School 3D Printers Get Used Beyond the First Term - 4 November 2026
- From Estate Agency Posters to Museum Panels: Laminator in Kya Sand Lists Which Jobs Call for Cold or Hot Roll Wide-Format Laminating - 4 November 2026
- Spice Jars, Sauce Bottles and Pharma Packs: Bottle Sealers in Jacobs Matches Induction Sealers and Foil Liners to the Product on the Line - 4 November 2026
- Before You Sign an ERP Quote: Bizmatics in Centurion Publishes Plain Guides on Budgets, Data Clean-up and Go-Live Week for SA SMEs - 4 November 2026
