Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 TOP

Cape to St Helena Yacht Race

by Vince Thompson / St Helena Independent 6 Jan 2023 23:46 PST
Banjo approaching the Cape to St Helena Yacht Race start line in Cape Town © Simon McDowell

'Banjo' wins 3,060 km dash after fighting off 'Tin Tin'

The biennial Cape to St Helena Yacht Race ended with Banjo, a Farrier trimaran owned and skippered by Keith Webb making a dash to the finish line; cutting 7 hours off a previously estimated arrival time. As the yacht approached St Helena, Keith Webb reported to race control "Quick one - I'm on watch and it's hectic. Wind 18 knots, Waves 2m. All good on board. Home stretch! Cheers Banjo."

Regular race entry Banjo and first time entry Tin Tin were racing almost neck-and-neck in the closing stages of the first Cape to St Helena Yacht Race since the Covid pandemic. Tin Tin, is a 33 feet JPK 10.10 monohull owned and skippered by Di Hutton-Squire. The yacht was bought direct from the French factory in 2016 and is seen as one of the finest racing yachts available. Banjo is a 32 feet trimaran. Informed observers said before the race the yacht and crew of Banjo were capable of setting a new course record. Banjo also won the 2018 Cape to St Helena; the 2020 race was Covid-19 casualty.

The race started from Cape Town on 29th December. The starting gun was fired at 2pm and the yachts sailed into 30 to 40 knots winds and 4 metre swells. It wasn't long before flying fish landed on Banjo's deck, providing the evening meal. Tin Tin logged 215 miles in the first 20 hours clocking an average speed of almost 11 knots and a maximum speed of 22 knots. Banjo and Tin Tin were already at the front of the leading group.

As the yachts greeted the New Year the wind dropped to between 10 and 15 knots but Serendipity lost the spinnaker pole overboard and had some repairs to do. Serendipity was one of several yachts looking for the best course to set in response to slight changes in wind direction. The crew of Unwind were now complaining of lack of wind. Other crews also made the same comment.

The wind picked up again as the leading yachts closed in on St Helena. After struggling to make headway with speeds of less than 5 knots, conditions improved during the middle of this week, making it possible to race at 10 knots and slightly more.

The wind picked up further as the leading yachts closed in on St Helena. The improved racing conditions continued, taking Banjo to the finish line in fine style extending the lead over Tin Tin to about six hours.

The Cape to St Helena is organised by the Royal Cape Yacht Club in conjunction with the St Helena Yacht Club and St Helena Tourism. The Royal Cape Yacht Club prides itself on having a strong contingent of female competitors as members. In the Cape to St Helena race the youngest competitor of them all is 12 year old Anna Scheder Bieschin who celebrated her 12th birthday on board Naledi on 2nd January.

The Cape to St Helena race is gathering increasing interest from ocean-going racing crews and there is talk about making it an annual event. After the 2020 race was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions it was hoped the 2022 race would have 20 or more entries. However Covid restrictions at St Helena where lifted too late; several of the potential entries had made other plans. Two entries from the 2020 race retired leaving 10 crews to arrive at James Bay over the three days following Banjo's finish.

Related Articles

Rolex Fastnet Race IRC Four preview
The pinnacle of grass roots sailing has 97 entries The very largest yachts, including the 100ft Ultim foiling trimarans and 60ft IMOCAs are an essential part of the spectacle of the Fastnet Race, however a critical element in the race's enduring appeal is that this is predominately a grass roots event. Posted on 14 Jul
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 2
Classic Long Beach conditions return The weather conditions at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta shifted noticeably today, delivering the classic Long Beach breeze that many expect from this world-class venue. Posted on 14 Jul
NYYC International Women's Championship update
Third group of skippers includes Nicole Breault, Dominique Proyoveur, Laura van Veen While there is no nationality requirement for the crews that will compete in the 2026 New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship, a number of teams are embracing the opportunity to wave their respective national flags at the debut edition. Posted on 14 Jul
New Class 40 campaign for Global Solo Challenge
Ronnie Simpson aims to be first American to win singlehanded, non-stop around world race American sailor Ronnie Simpson has launched a new ocean racing campaign to compete in the Global Solo Challenge race; a singlehanded, non-stop around the world sailing race that begins and ends in Vigo, Spain in 2027. Posted on 14 Jul
The Sardinia Cup set to return in 2026
The competition will make its long-awaited return to the waters of the Costa Smeralda The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) is pleased to announce the return of the Sardinia Cup, one of the Club's most iconic regattas and a renowned international sailing event. Posted on 14 Jul
How inclusive is sailing?
Largest global survey aims to find out The Magenta Project has today launched the 2x25 global survey, marking the start of the most ambitious equity and inclusion review ever undertaken in sailing and the wider marine industry. Posted on 14 Jul
Aegean 600 - Snakes and ladders in extremis
Event was the sixth in the IMA's annual Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge If the previous two Aegean 600s were among the most brutal offshore races on record with storm force winds and violent gusts, conversely this year's fifth edition of the anti-clockwise lap of the Aegean Sea was largely the lightest. Posted on 14 Jul
Is Your Boat Ready for Racing Season?
Rooster has gathered some of the best videos and blogs to make boat care easier From fine-tuning your rigging to quick repairs before a race, keeping your boat in top condition doesn't need to be complicated. ? Posted on 14 Jul
2025 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta kicks off
The first week of the OCR includes five Olympic classes The highly anticipated 2025 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta officially commenced on Saturday, 12 July, marking the beginning of Olympic campaigns since the venues were announced. Posted on 14 Jul
How Transpac's first finishers earned the podium
The first teams to reach Diamond Head are as varied as they are inspiring From a maxi-sled to a doublehanded keelboat and a 68-foot catamaran, the first teams to reach Diamond Head are as varied as they are inspiring. Posted on 14 Jul
Sea Sure 2025Lloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px BOTTOMNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast