Legends of the Sea aim for lucky no 13
David Barnet and Tjaart Oosthuizen, known as the Legends of the Sea, are determined to win the gruelling five-day Trans Agulhas Inflatable Boat Race for an incredible 13th time.
The event, the world's toughest inflatable boat challenge, will be taking place from Plettenberg Bay and the Strand for the 31st time.
The race starts on 28 December in Plettenberg Bay and day one ends in Mossel Bay.
The next stage is from Mossel Bay to Stilbaai, while day three takes the racers from Stilbaai to Struisbaai, which includes a night race. Day four is from Struisbaai to Gansbaai and on 1 January, the last leg of the race, the boats race from Gansbaai to The Strand.
Barnet and Oosthuizen, both from Cape Town, have been teammates for sixteen years, which is a record in this competition.
Their paths crossed in 2002, when they joined forces and in the same year they were crowned as the South African National, Western Province, Trans-Atlantic and Trans Agulhas champions.
Preparation lasts the entire year, with a lot of gym work and time spent on the ocean in different weather conditions as the Trans Agulhas offers a variety of weather patterns and racers never know what to expect.
It is very demanding both physically and mentally, hence preparation for this is critical. The teammates say their adrenaline levels during the race help alleviate any of the immediate physical pain they may endure.
Communication and planning is crucial to this event, but both men believe part of their success is due to their 16-year relationship one of the reasons they have become such a well oiled machine.