Nineteen days at sea. No phone signal. Just three hours of sleep a day.
And a broken boom that nearly ended their campaign mid-ocean. Yet against relentless Atlantic swells and mounting fatigue, a team of young South African sailors — Yonela Temela, Philasande Gwala, Yobanathi Klaas, Sesona Ntsaluba, skipper Sibusiso Sizatu and Renaldo Mohale — has etched its name into sailing history, clinching victory in the 2025 Cape to Rio Yacht Race. Having spent nearly three weeks battling the elements, the Alexforbes Angel Wings crew crossed the finish line first after completing the gruelling 3,300 nautical mile crossing from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro.
The race started on December 27 in Table Bay and drew seasoned sailors from across the world. The winning crew, made up of four young women and two men, hails from Khayelitsha, Grassy Park and Athlone, a powerful symbol of what is possible when talent meets opportunity. Sailing under the banner of the Royal Cape Yacht Club Sailing Academy, the team held their nerve to secure a landmark win for South African youth sailing.
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“The boom that holds the sail broke in half. I honestly thought the race was over,” Burger said. “They all sat down, and you could see the despair on their faces.
But Sibu was such a strong leader, he managed to motivate them to keep going.” With limited equipment and no chance of external assistance, the crew improvised, pooling their skills and resources to manage the damaged boom and stay competitive. Burger said preparation for the Cape to Rio race began nearly two years ago, with meticulous planning and hands-on training. Since its establishment in 2012, the RCYC Sailing Academy has focused on providing young people from marginalised communities with access to sailing and career pathways in the maritime industry.
“It was actually me and Sibu who put the boat together. We worked closely with the crew selected for the race so they would know the boat inside out,” she said.
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