Global Ocean Race - A sudden, strong, South African wind

by Oliver Dewar on 29 Apr 2011
The Global Vision Sailing Trust is delighted to announce that the charity’s team will be working with and supporting the Izivunguvungu Sailing School during the Cape Town stopover of the Global Ocean Race 2011-12.

This unique initiative is a further step forward in the GVST’s goal of introducing underprivileged young people to sailing and its core values in an ambitious programme that stretches around the globe.

Chief Patron of Izivunguvungu, Admiral Koos Louw, and Piers Williams, Chief Executive of the Global Vision Sailing Trust, have agreed to liaise closely over the next six months and GVST has readily accepted Admiral Louw's offer of arranging the most suitable location as well as assistance with transport, facilities and logistics to ensure that both GVST and Izivunguvungu achieve their mutual goals. 

In Isizulu – the language of 10 million Africans – ‘Izivunguvungu’ means ‘sudden strong wind’ while the Izivunguvungu Foundation for Youth is a non-profit organisation affiliated to and supported by the South African Navy. Based in the port of Simon's Town, near Cape Town, it is the first organisation in South Africa to provide sailing opportunities for disadvantaged young people.

Established in 2001, by Ian Ainslie, three times Olympian, world champion and qualified school teacher, together with Matthew Mentz, a qualified Ocean Skipper and instructor, the school runs a sailing programme, a choir, and a band as well as a crèche for disadvantaged children in and around Cape Town. 

Over the past ten years, Izivunguvungu has achieved a number of notable results: trainee sailors who started at Izivunguvungu include the South African Sailor of the Year 2011 and in the last month, Izivunguvungu graduates achieved second and fourth places in the International 420 South African Championships. The organisation’s development programme was also the training background for some of the younger recruits on Team Shosholoza, the 2007 South African America's Cup Challenge.

In October this year, the GVST will arrive in Cape Town with the GOR Race Organisation and a fleet of RS Vision dinghies. Through working with Izivunguvungu and Bob Holden, National Training Manager of the South African Sailing Academy, a programme of sailing and life skills coaching will be activated with the aim of establishing a permanent Global Vision Sailing Trust legacy in South Africa. 

For Piers Williams, Chief Executive of GVST, the formal alliance with Izivunguvungu is a landmark for the charity:

'I am delighted that Global Vision now has some traction in South Africa,' says Williams. 'I learnt about Izivunguvungu when I visited the sailing school during the Cape Town stopover of the 2008-09 Global Ocean Race and that day sowed the seed that has finally come to fruition today with the promise of close liaison and this immense opportunity for Global Vision and Izivunguvungu,' he continues. 'This valuable coalition will make a real difference to disadvantaged young people in and around Cape Town.'

Williams and Admiral Louw have already identified clear objectives: 'During our conversation, the Admiral reminded me that this was about ‘no drugs, no gangs and no sides’,' Williams confirms.

'It's about creating role models and building something that is tangible and lasting for young people who - through no fault of their own - have nothing to look forward to,' he adds. 'I genuinely believe that the opportunity now exists to make a real difference and for sailors and all who support sailing to be seen to be doing something for the disadvantaged young people in and around Cape Town.'

For Josh Hall, Race Director of the GOR, the Cape Town stopover of the 2008-09 GOR was the starting point for the entire concept of a meaningful, global sailing charity: 'I am really so happy that Piers and Global Vision have formed a partnership with the Admiral and Izivunguvungu,' says Hall. 'During our visit in 2008, we promised the young South African sailors we met that we would return to Cape Town and carry on sailing with them,' he recalls.

'It’s very exciting and a great privilege that the Global Ocean Race will be involved with the Global Vision charity, the Admiral and Izivunguvungu and the team at the South African Sailing Academy,' adds Hall.

Global Vision Sailing Trust is a UK-based Charity: Registered Charity Number 1140100. Created to promote encourage and advance the education of young people in the values and life skills of team work, responsibility, honesty, adventure and competition through the medium of sailing or sailing-related activities.

Global Ocean Race website