After many months of preparation and consideration, the Royal Cape Yacht Club’s in-house Sailing Academy has a entered a team crewed by graduates in the Cape2Rio Race 2023.

The Royal Cape Yacht Club’s Sailing Academy was formally established in 2012 to give marginalized communities access to the waters of Table Bay. Some of the Academy’s former graduates participated in the 2000 Cape2Rio Race on MTN Challenger and went on to represent South Africa at the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia as part of Team Shosholoza.

The Academy is proud of its ongoing efforts to introduce sailing to kids across the diversity of South Africa’s population. The Academy crew will sail on board Gryphon, a Simonis 40-footer led by Skipper Sibusiso Sizatu. The current crew list includes Olympic sailor, Asenathi Jim and the talented group of Joweal Klaase, Thando Mntambo, Azile Arosi and Daniel Agulhas.

Three reserves, Justine Peters, Lebogang January and Ovayo Myira, are in place and this list may grow. The Campaign Manager is Academy Director Lindani Mchunu, RSA representative on the World Sailing Trust, supported by long time Cape2Rio stalwart Bruce Tedder.

All the funding, marketing and public relations for the campaign will be in collaboration with the Valid Dreams Foundation.

“Valid Dreams Foundation is a non-profit organisation that is committed to creating social capital for talented dreamers in the African continent. We focus on identifying talent with a high growth potential that we can develop, add value and enable to realise their dreams and maximise opportunities in the world. We are committed to empowering the youth,” said Mandisa Ngcobo, Public Relations Manager of the team’s Cape2Rio 2023 campaign.

Watch Neil Gregory chat with Lindani Mchunu about the Royal Cape Yacht Club’s Academy entry on Gryphon for Cape2Rio 2023  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmFX_KgwYeg&t=18s

Read more from Royal Cape Yacht Club: https://cape2riorace.com/royal-cape-yacht-club-academy-enters-cape2rio-race-2023/