Vaal Dam sailors take on 3300 nautical mile Cape2Rio race
by Royal Cape Yacht Club 7 Sep 2022 16:06 AEST
2 January 2023
Vaal Dam sailors take on 3300 nautical mile Cape2Rio race © Royal Cape Yacht Club
The Vaal Dam sailors, Hubert Saayman and Wynand Grovè may be based at Manten Marina in Deneysville, but the call of the ocean has them back for another Cape2Rio race.
Having completed the previous Cape2Rio on a 34ft Van Der Stadt called Indulgence with four souls, they decided to nudge it up to a double-hand experience on 2 January 2023.
The pair jokingly explains that they are doing a double-handed sail "because no one else wanted to sail with us", but the truth is that they are ready for a bigger challenge. According to them, the previous race was such an incredible experience which repeatedly left them in awe... "we could not resist doing it again".
During their 2020 participation Indulgence had to retire, as they were over the cut-off time, but they still received a heroes' welcome after towing in the Rotary Scouts who landed in a spot of trouble. This time round, they bought Nyamezela (meaning Endure), a local L34, which they're busy prepping at Royal Cape Yacht Club.
Although they still regard themselves as newbies in the ocean crossing fraternity, with each having done two previous crossings, their idea is to double up on experience whilst also sailing back from Rio and hopefully being able to stop at an island or two on their return. Taking note of the intended menu which will include fresh bread made in a pressure cooker, Miami Boerie Relish, pre-cooked A-Mazing Pap and Gnocchi (served with sugar!), the Atlantic crossing will not be all hardship.