Thursday 18 March 2004

This site will be updated on 25 March  2004 at 17:30

People - Mense

• Close call for sailor
• Teenager falls to death

SPORTING GREATS. At the launch of Project Sozo by members of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation were (from left) Wilfred Daniels (president of the Boland Sports Council), Morné du Plessis (president of Laureus Sport Academy South Africa), Jannie Beukes (head of Winelands West Coast Education Centre) and Hugo Porta (Laureus Academy member and former Argentinian flyhalf). 

Close call for sailor

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A PAARLITE, William Jelbert (19), is a very relieved young man after weathering a cyclone while sailing in the Mozambique Channel on the way to the East.

Jelbert, who matriculated at Paarl Boys' High with an A average last year, recently completed an advanced sailing course in Durban.

In Richard's Bay he joined the crew of the Vega III, a 114-year-old freighter under traditional sail, which is on its way to Thailand for refurbishing.

The vessel of 19,3m supports marine conservation efforts and training.

On their way to the Seychelles, north of Madagascar, they ran into cyclone Gafilo.

For three days they battled winds howling at 102 knots, strapped to the mast of the ship.

When the storm abated, they had lost part of the rigging. The rudder and diesel engine were also damaged.

It was only when the battered ship limped into the Seychelles to be met by a barrage of press photographers, that the exhausted crew realised that they were celebrities.

They had nearly lost their lives, but had been fortunate to miss the eye of the storm.

This week they are resting in port, to recover from their ordeal.

According to William's mother, Joretha, their hands suffered heavily, as the sails are all raised by hand in the traditional way.

"Had they sailed a day later, they would have been caught in the centre of the storm. We are just thankful that William is alive," said his relieved mother this week.

A TEENAGER from Franschhoek, Arthur Heywood (14), fell to his death while mountain-climbing in the Cederberg Mountains on Saturday.

Arthur and his cousin, Vincent Carloni from Minneapolis, were with their grandfather, Prof Brookes Heywood of Kommetjie, when a rockfall hurtled down the steep ravine, knocking him off the mountain.

Vincent watched in horror as he saw his cousin fall 60m in a hail of rock, stones and dust. When he reached Arthur he was unconscious, and he died soon after.

Arthur has always been a very good sportsman and climber. At the age of six he was the youngest climber to summit the Tandjiesberg in the Richtersveld with his father Alexander, a medical practioner in Franschhoek.

Arthur was in Grade 8 at Franschhoek High School. He was a happy balanced pupil liked by staff and pupils alike.

He excelled in science and achieved the highest score in the recent general knowledge test at the school.

He leaves his parents, sisters Rosemary (19) and Lara (17), and a brother Toby (15 months). The funeral service was held in the Franschhoek NG Church yesterday.

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