Entries for St Helena yacht race sail in again
ENTRIES have started pouring in since the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) revived the St Helena yacht race to the island following a four-year break.
Anticipation is building as sailors prepare to race to one of the most remote islands in the world after St Helena Tourism earlier this year asked RCYC to organise a yacht race to their island, which RCYC eagerly accepted.
The Governor’s Cup, raced for biannually since 1996, gave the race its title until 2014.
Then, to the dismay of many blue-water sailing enthusiasts, both South African and St Helenian, the event was put on hold.
Even though the race constituted a highlight since its conception, logistical issues and waning entries eventually discouraged the organising clubs from continuing the popular race.
To date, 16 boats have entered the Cape to St Helena, the most exciting and longest yacht race of the local 2018-2019 sailing calendar.
It starts in Cape Town on December 26, so the crews will celebrate New Year on board their boats.
St Helena, which is one of the most remote islands in the world and is famous for harbouring Napoleon in exile until his death, is an attractive sailing destination for a multitude of reasons.
The recently added benefit of family members being able to fly out to the island and of sailors returning home by air travel – a huge and welcome change – meant yacht entries started flooding in.
The picturesque South Atlantic island of St Helena, which lies about 2000km west of Namibia and Angola and some 4 000km east of Rio de Janeiro, and was accessible only by sea until last year, is preparing a hero’s welcome for all the participating sailors, who are expected to arrive from about January 5.
St Helena Tourism and the St Helena Yacht Club have arranged numerous social and cultural activities for the visitors to ensure they experience an authentic taste of what the island offers.