Please select your home edition
Edition
sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZ

Voortrekker tackles the High Seas in 2009 Heineken Cape to Bahia

by Lisa Duthie on 17 Jan 2009
Voortrekker - 2009 Heineken Cape to Bahia Voortrekker .

On the 10th January 2009 the iconic yacht Voortrekker set sail, after a gap of 15 years, to compete in the Heineken Cape to Bahia 2009. The yacht is being sailed by a team of seven young sailors trained at the Isivunguvungu sailing school in Simonstown, including three that are now on the schools staff.

The Voortrekker has a rich history of competitive sailing and has been sailed by South African legendary single-handed ocean racers such as Bertie Reed and John Martin.

Due to the vigorous campaigning by Rear Admiral JG Louw and commodore of the RCYC and Race Director John Martin, sponsorship was raised to enable the yacht to set sail. The charity sponsor is Pick n Pay Race4change, a web based sponsorship programme that enables event participants to raise money for charity as they race.

The Isivunguvungu Sailors are competing professionally in the racing class of this prestigious yacht race, and they are also using the opportunity to raise funds for their school, in an effort to afford future young sailors similar opportunities. They are using the Race4change fundraising platform to raise sponsorship.

This entry is a culmination of years of development training where the first ever crew of colour, from Skipper to Bowman, is participating in this prestigious event. I encourage everyone to support these sailors in their endeavor to raise funds for future sailing talent' said John Martin, Commodore of the RCYC and Race Director.

Izivunguvungu, which means 'sudden strong wind' in Isizulu, is the first school in South Africa to provide opportunities for disadvantaged children. The project teaches life skills through the medium of sail training and boatbuilding. The School also has a focus on education based on the environment, health and literacy. The children do not only learn to sail; the array of activities they are exposed to and the mentorship they receive are invaluable to creating adults for the future of South Africa.

'At present Voortrekker is sailing really well. I gave them advice on which route to take, which is the more northerly route to ensure they keep in the wind most of the time. They have been averaging 10 knots since they left and have had no problems on board. On handicap, they are lying 4th at present, but over the next three days their routing should pay off and I expect them to go up in the handicap ratings' said John Martin.

Voortrekker's return to the race is appropriate, since the yacht was instrumental in motivating the first staging of the classic South Atlantic Race in 1971.

The Voortrekker crew:

Skipper
Marcello Burricks, 24

Co-skipper
Kader Williams, 28

Navigator
Marlon Jones, 19

Bowmen
Kenwyn Daniels, 18
Wandisile Xayimpi, 19
Eric Netanya, 30
Nico Steward, 18

Visit www.race4change.co.za to donate today

sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZSea Sure 2025Excess Catamarans

Related Articles

Women's Match Racing & The Magenta Project partner
The Magenta Project will be named as an Official Charity Partner of the Women's WMRT The Women's WMRT today announced a new strategic partnership with The Magenta Project, the award-winning global charity founded in 2015 to promote and build greater equity and inclusion for women in the sport of sailing and the wider marine industry.
Posted today at 12:29 pm
America's Cup: Partnership Agreement reached
The clock is now ticking to the close of entry period on the 31st October 2025 Establishing a bold new governance structure bringing all participating teams in the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup together to govern and grow the America's Cup collectively.
Posted today at 11:59 am
2025 Aloha Classic Grand Final day 1
Strong performances and early signals in the world title race The 2025 Aloha Classic Grand Final, presented by WINDSURF AI, opened in classic Ho'okipa conditions, with steady trade winds and clean mast high set waves, setting the stage for the Challenger Rounds.
Posted today at 9:56 am
LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup Weekend 1
Marcus Blackmore's Hooligan had a cleansweep of the TP52 results The LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup combining TP52 Australia and Super 40 racing commenced this weekend from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Posted today at 9:34 am
2025 Australian Sailing Awards Finalists Announced
Volunteers and sailing stars from around the country have been named A stellar line-up of clubs, volunteers and sailing stars from around the country have been named as national finalists for the 2025 Australian Sailing Awards.
Posted today at 9:23 am
Pyewacket 70 - Unfinished business
Imagine owning one of the most celebrated offshore racing yachts in modern sailing history Imagine owning one of the most celebrated offshore racing yachts in modern sailing history — Pyewacket 70. More than just a fast yacht, she's a proven platform for performance, prestige, and adventure.
Posted today at 8:28 am
Spotlight on Evening Star
An ATL Composite solution from start to finish Eighteen months of construction are drawing to a close at Mahi Boats on the full-custom Schionning 1520 Solitaire performance catamaran, Evening Star.
Posted today at 5:24 am
Etchells Worlds coming to San Diego
The highly anticipated event is bringing the best of the best from all around the world Next spring, the International Etchells Class will descend upon the waters of San Diego, California for the 2026 Etchells World Championship hosted by San Diego Yacht Club May 7 - May 15, 2026.
Posted on 14 Oct
Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race Day 5
Fleet slows down as breeze lightens The Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race (S2A) is evoking all sorts of emotions aboard the yachts remaining at sea, as conditions go from wild and wet to light and tricky as breakages start to take their toll and New Zealand seems so far away for some.
Posted on 14 Oct
The Winner-Takes-All Race
Event format at the 49er, 49erFX & Nacra 17 Worlds could be the best option for the Olympics The 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships just held in Cagliari, Italy, could well be the most important held in the class. Not just that, it may influence how sailing happens at the Olympics.
Posted on 14 Oct