Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

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

Armstrong Foils Demo Days return for 2025
Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros. Armstrong Foils is proud to announce the return of Armstrong Demo Days for 2025. Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros. Posted today at 5:41 am
International 5o5 Euro Cup Leg 2 at Lake Garda
Stunning scenery, fresh water and great Ora breezes Between May 29th and 31st, 41 505's from 10 countries arrived in the small town of Riva at the Northern end of Lake Garda in Italy for leg 2 of the 2025 505 Euro Cup series. Posted today at 5:29 am
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 1
Austrians Prettner and Flachberger tip into early lead Keanu Prettner with Jakob Flachberger (AUT) were locked in a light air duel with defending European Champions Hernan Umpiere with Fernando Diz (URU). The two teams were tipped by their fellow competitors as the ones to watch in light winds and delivered. Posted on 3 Jun
New Dynamic Range of T-Shirts and Shorts
Just the ticket at sea and on shore Packing for a weekend away on the water and having fun onshore has never been easier, thanks to the new range of Dynamic shorts and t-shirts from Henri-Lloyd. Posted on 3 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 1
Top level consistency gives 2024 champions a strong start in Baiona The 2024 overall circuit champions, Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing, lead the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP after two good races on the beautiful but challenging race area off Baiona on the NW corner. Posted on 3 Jun
Getting excited for the Van Isle 360
Quoting a famous line from Pink Floyd's "Time" As I pack for the first half of the 2025 Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race, I find myself thinking about the last time I did this race, a certain Pink Floyd song, and the great adventuring, sailing and time with friends that awaits. Posted on 3 Jun
5.5 Metre titles head to Poland for the first time
Scandinavian Gold Cup and World Championship to be held back to back Over the next 12 days the International 5.5 Metre Class heads to Sopot in Poland for the Scandinavian Gold Cup and World Championship. It is the first time the class has held any of its major events in Poland. Posted on 3 Jun
Robert Burke on HRCS's Dyckman Marina facility
Robert Burke discusses the upcoming closure of HRCS's Dyckman Marina facility Community sailing organizations are a fantastic and affordable way of drawing new sailors into the sport. Unfortunately, the Hudson River Community Sailing is being forced to close one of its two locations in January. Posted on 3 Jun
Mirror dinghy Tuning Guide with Ben McGrane
A detailed guide to maximising speed with Hyde Mirror Sails Continuing the new series of tuning videos from Hyde Sails, One Design Sales Manager Ben McGrane gives a detailed guide to maximising speed with Hyde Mirror Sails. Posted on 3 Jun
Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang for larger yachts
Specifically sized for yachts measuring between 50 and 55 feet A rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing, preventing the boom from falling into the cockpit or onto the coach roof. Equipped with gas springs, it automatically elevates the boom upon release of the kicking strap. Posted on 3 Jun
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterMaritimo 2023 M600 FOOTERDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise BOTTOM