Approximately 500 paddlers will participate in the Ocean Racing World Championships 2025 in Durban between October 17 and 19, 2025. Image: PaddleSport South Africa
The Durban Undersea Club (DUC) is ready to open its doors to approximately 500 paddlers for the Ocean Racing World Championships 2025 between October 17 and 19, 2025.
Angie van der Hoogen, the DUC secretary and freediving officer, said that DUC is the event hub and the start venue for both races held along the Durban coastline. The club's facilities will house the athletes' skis and provide the facility for the final prize-giving ceremony.
eThekwini councillors gave the go-ahead at a council meeting on Tuesday for the municipal Parks and Recreation to partner with the International Canoe Federation (ICF) to host the Ocean Racing World Championships for the next three years.
The municipality was also given the go-ahead to enter into and sign a one-year contract with PaddleSport South Africa to ensure leverage of branding, destination marketing rights, and citizen participation opportunities.
The municipality stated that this was a multi-departmental approach between Parks and Recreation, Durban Tourism, and Invest Durban to provide both financial and in-kind support for the event at an estimated R390,000.
“The municipality has only recently supported this event after months of planning and support of the Durban Undersea Club,” said Van der Hoogen.
According to PaddleSport South Africa, racing on both days will start at the Durban Undersea Club (DUC).
Paddlers will paddle to Amanzimtoti (28km - north-east wind), or Westbrook Beach (34km - south west).
In very light wind conditions, the provisional course will be from DUC to Umhlanga and back. In extreme conditions, an inshore triangular course may be used. In unsafe conditions, a Durban Harbour Course will be used.
Race director Colin Simpkins expressed immense excitement as South Africa, particularly Durban, prepares to host paddlers and supporters from across the globe.
Simpkins said that a group of intrepid lifeguards from the Pirates Lifesaving Club paddled the first-ever long-distance open ocean race in 1957. The race course was from the Pirates club to Umhlanga Rocks and back.
“The diverse coastline of South Africa has created some of the most ideal downwind racing conditions, resulting in the country becoming one of the leading ocean racing nations in the world,” he said.
The municipality’s Community Services Committee (CSC) stated that the influx of global participants and spectators will boost local hospitality, increase hotel occupancy, and reinforce Durban’s beachfront as a premier sports and leisure precinct of international repute.
The CSC stated that the event is expected to expose local athletes and communities to international standards of competition, inspire youth participation, and support transformation in ocean-based sports.
The municipality added that the event will also contribute to talent identification, inspire youth participation, and support transformation in ocean-based sports. By